Steel vs. Wood Framing: Which Really Costs Less?

Steelvs. Wood Framing: Which Really Costs Less?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNOMjZD4Cw

When it comes to home construction, managing material costs is essential to ensure that the project stays on budget. However, material costs may not be as straight forward as you think. For example, while wood framing does generally have a lower price tag than steel framing, it may lead to added costs later on that can ultimately increase your overall project budget.

In this blog and the video above, we’ll walk you through thecomplete picture of the real costs involved with wood vs. steel framing forhomes, ADUs, or guest houses.

MaterialCosts vs. Construction Costs

At first glance, you might assume that wood framing is cheaper than steel. And in terms of material costs alone, that is true.However, wood and steel framing are delivered and assembled much differently, so it is important to compareboth material costs and construction costs.

With steel framing, you’ll receive a complete metal frame house kit that is panelized with completed trusses, so it’s much faster and easier to put together. A steel frame home may be assembled in about half the time of a wood frame home. With a shorter construction timeline, costs are significantly reduced. Plus, steel framing may help save on construction costs by streamlining tasks for various subcontractors.

·        Steel framing does not warp or twist, so walls are exactly flat, which means truer door openings, smoother surfaces to install closet shelving and countertops, and no prep work required for shower stall or backsplash tiling.

·        Steel home panels are pre-punched to accommodate electricity and plumbing, so installing utilities is a much simpler process.

Long-TermMaintenance Costs with Modern Steel Frame Kits

One important consideration for homeowners is the long-term costs of home maintenance.In many cases, it’s worth spending a little more on higher quality materials to minimize home maintenance costs down the road. With steel framing, you can significantly reduce maintenance costs because you will not have to worry about the shifting, warping, rotting, or twisting of lumber framing. Once a steel frame is in place, it does not move, so you don’t see issues like cracking drywall or damaged stucco and siding. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about damage that may take place under the surface like termites or mold, which can slowly deteriorate a wood framed home.

DIYPotential with Steel Frame Kits

If you want to take the DIY approach to building an ADU or even a primary residence, steel frame kits can ultimately yield significant savings on labor costs. Frame assembly with prefabricated steel panels is simple and straight forward, so homeowners can actually do the building themselves without any guesswork.  

Pre-DesignedHouse Plans to Streamline Construction

Building a home or ADU is a much faster process than you might expect when you work with Frame Up Now. We provide several house plans with all the pre-engineered wall panels, and trusses you need, along with a complete assembly map to get your structure built in about half the time. These permit-ready designs can bring your project to life with ease.

To explore what you can do with a metal frame house kit,explore the many frames and plans we offer at Frame Up Now. You can also contact us directly to get answers to your questions about steel frame home construction and get started with your project.

‍