When you visit a hardware store, you are likely to find only two main types of studs to choose from: steel and wood studs. However, commercial builders tend to prefer steel studs over wood studs. Wood was the traditional choice for framing in the construction industry. Not anymore—construction companies prefer steel studs. What's with the preference?

Structural Strength and Integrity

Though wood is tough, it is not as tough as steel, as it is vulnerable to delving insects like termites. Wood absorbs humidity, expanding and contracting as it soaks up water. This leads to attached coverings cracking and warping with the wood.

Steel stud framing is immune to pests and resistant to fire. It can withstand extremely high winds; one of the reasons why municipal buildings, metal schools, and churches are usually used as rescue centres in areas susceptible to natural disasters or tornadoes.

Saves Labor Cost

The more time spent on labour to cut lumber to size, boring holes for wiring among other things the more money spent. Thus, the saying time is money, which definitely applies to labour costs as well. Wood stud framing requires skilled labourers who must spend more time working on the wood, for example, cutting lumber to size.

With steel stud framing, you can have steel frames and panels done before it gets to work site for walling to be completed using just a set of instructions and fairly trained labourers. Wall panels can be pre-constructed at the manufacturer to ensure hole spacing and fitting will be meticulously completed at the site.

Convenience

Steel is lighter than wood and its hollowed shape means it occupies less space—half the space of wood. This translates to easier transportation and storage. Cutting of metal studs with aviation snips means no sawdust is produced, which translates to a cleaner environment. Metal cutting saw blade and a miter saw can be used to cut in bulk.

Steel studs have superiority in commercial buildings or large structures construction as it is relatively easy to pre-fabricate offsite, rather than doing onsite welding during the construction process. Patterns and hardened bolts can be prepared in advance for easy setup and connection of beams and posts to one another quickly, once they arrive on site.

This goes to save time and promotes efficiency at a construction site. Steel stud framing allows creating of uniquely shaped structures that are much taller than wood framing could allow. For more information, contact a local expert on studs and tracks.

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