Originally published March 4, 2021 Updated May 3, 2021 According to the Wall Street Journal, lumber prices have shot to fresh records, defying the normal winter slowdown in wood-product sales in a sign that the pandemic building boom is bowling into 2021. The last...
Light Steel Framing Industry News
How Cold-Formed Steel Framing Can Help Prevent Mold
Mold growth can be a serious concern for owners and tenants in older buildings — and for good reason. Mold is known to contribute to a variety of health-related issues. What’s discussed less frequently, however, is that mold growth isn’t limited to older buildings....
5 Projects That Saved Thousands of Dollars With Cold-Formed Steel
Controlling costs is essential to staying within budget for a project — but there are factors to consider beyond raw material prices, energy, and labor. The choice of certain systems, such as framing systems, can garner significant cost advantages. While each project...
Dispelling the Myths of Using Cold-Formed Steel as a Structural Material
When some building owners consider structural systems for their construction projects, they overlook cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. Why? There are many common misconceptions about the effectiveness of CFS as a structural material. However, a range of successful...
Cutting and Notching in Cold-Formed Steel Framing
How big a hole can be cut into a cold-formed steel (CFS) stud without compromising its performance?That’s an important question. A mechanical trade’s crews, for example, might cut, notch or bore holes into CFS framing members. Those holes and cuts can have a big...
DIYers Use Steel to Build Decks as Lumber Prices Soar
Photo credit: Lifespan Decks Most people are spending more time at home these days. As a result, there has been a surge in do-it-yourself home improvement projects. A recent Porch.com survey found: 76% of homeowners have completed at least one home improvement project...
California Homes Destroyed by Wildfires Being Rebuilt with Steel Framing
John Farrow, president of Farrow Development, is rebuilding homes in parts of Santa Rosa with cold-formed steel framing. The 2017 Tubbs Fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, burning parts of Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties. By the...
COVID-19 Creates New Markets for Metal Studs
Photo Credit: Modeco Construction A global, novel virus that keeps us contained is changing the way we interact in both our personal and professional daily lives. Some changes are presenting opportunities for business-minded entrepreneurs to develop and market new...
3 Design Trends Being Shaped by Social Distancing
Image Credits: Metreau Apartments, Green Bay, WI; this multi-family structure features cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, which supports a variety of balcony options and inset terraces. COVID-19 has brought changes to everything, and single-family homes, apartments, and...