Are you ready for steel studs?

EilOR rhe builder, Oe decision to l' build with steel rather than wood is a difficult one. With concerns about wood's price volatility and fulue availabfrty, a grcwing number of builders are giving serious consideration to metal. But the dealer's move to sbck and O profitably sell srcel snrds can bejust as tricky.

The American lron and Steel Institute expects the industry to suF ply framing for one of every four single-fmily hmes in theU.S. by 1997. Even some conservative estimates say l5?o of all homes will be built of steel by 1999. Metal surds are being used predominately in Florida and in Texas, but the trend seems to be moving frorn Florida up the F^qt Coasl

Clearly, the biggest inducement to using steel studs is saving money. Naturally, interest in steel is high when lumber pices ae on the rise - and seems to &op again as quickly as pnces do. But the biggest drawhks !o wofting with steel a€ rmfrmilirity md be time md expense of training, meaning that selling to repeat Custonefs iS muCh €asbr th4n meking new oonvefts.

Many conpanies have been urrd onto steel surds by noting the int€rcst generated at recnt Natimal Association of Home Builders conrrentions. At last yeds sbow, a seminr on steel studs attracted a huge number of questioning contractors. For this year's NAHB sbow, oganizers hd a l,35Gsq. ft. steel-ftme bme built in the parking lot Thousmds insp€ctd the srucure.

Strucl by tbe ortractffs' curtosity and unfamiliarity, retail nerchandising menagers srrch as Camen Frazbf,, Terry l-umber, Tuzana, Ca- rcnnred from the shows with a mission. Instead of hqing interested builders wonld seek out the product and smehow find proper training, she took a proactive starrce. "I fornd a supplier tbat could belp as to train the framer to get into the m4rket " she said. 'We held sone seninars, bringing in Oe steel studs and the tools Oey'd nee4 and having strucur€s built bere at our corporate yard. We tben prt a large invenb' ry in our yard to let them know we were really in steel."

After showing Oey are committed to steel, dealers must promote oe product. There will be a time lag since most p,rojecs that are already engineered are usually engineered for wood, not steel. Builden can bave plans re-engineered for steel - at a cost of about $1.50 to $2.00 a foot. So, presum- ably, more steel should be sold as projects are engineered for steel from the start.

But the biggest problem is that few constuction worken ktow the material well, and its introduction slows down building. Initially labor costs will be higher, due to the learning curve required for working with steel. An average carpenter is said to have to build four to six homes before becoming proficient with steel.

Yet with proper planning builders reportedly can achieve a profit quicker. Fnzier has proof on film - a video she shows to other contractors considering steel. "We made a video of a framer on his second house," said Frazier. "He said he normally has four to five guys ftame a house working full-time. He did the house himself with a part-time guy in 16 hours."

Key to making the prograrn work is training, especially of the subcontractor. "Builders must coordinate everyone from the beginning, fill all their subcontractors in on what they're doing, have all their ducks in a row," she cautioned. "If not, it will really cost them. If the subcontractors aren't prepared, everyone kind of whines and it's a struggle to drag them through the process."

Dealers should also advise customers that metal is more conductive than wood so it heats up and cools off faster, thus requiring more insulation. After lying at a building site in the hot sun, steel studs can burn ungloved hands.

Plus, steel must be handled more carefully on the job site. To be cost competitive, a variety of gauges (thiclmesses) must be used in residential construction. Each gauge has a specific application. Thicker steel studs must be used in load-bearing walls, while lower gauge steel is used in non-load-bearing applications, such as interior walls. Low gauge steel must be strapped, unloaded and handled carefully to avoid crushing and bending.

Since steel framing in residential construction is new to many areas, building code officials may have questions over code compliance, presenting special problems in both plan checking and in the field. Frazier recommends remaining active throughout the project, so you become a more valuable part of the team. If builders run into a snag, rather than have them call the supplier, she gets involved. "Sometimes there are problems with

INNOVATIVE, more user-friendly products, such as the Carpenter's Steel Stud from HL Stud Corp., should increase the use city inspectors. They don't know what screws are required or what's the proper spacing," Frazier said. "If there's a problem, I've called the city inspector and then the supplier. He's faxed out the written regulations immediately, so the job doesn't even stop. If you have all your paperwork, you'll be okay."

She sees a shiny future for steel, especially with the introduction of more user-friendly products, such as the nine-month-old Carpenter's Steel Stud. The hot-selling, non-bearing stud reportedly requires no new tools or training, because it attaches to wood plates with nails or staples. It also has pre-punched holes for plumbing and wiring. Bearing studs are in development.

Finally, Frazier preaches patience to her customers. "It's slow," she'll explain. "There's a learning curve. It's not just something you pick up and go with. It's like a major erector set."

And it's advice that holds true, as well, for dealers contemplating carrying steel studs.

Story at a Glance

steel Studs requfues vast arnounts i: of ener€){; ::a::l arge p.ercentage.: 0f Vlrgin..nlAte' r i: rials and: creates pollution

::(wood is..jb,iodegr ,,q.lBn , i . ....ieusablC:i:and iiieCyclabl g),,1,r r,,,

., Fiagility 0f lower gauges

. Linribd,'diStributionOf'::, exteri:r, steei..,nffi n€l:,l,

. Sucks,'heat tlrough a: struCture (its thermal

:.:.:.r. .,.:gfrgateriifhflnl.*QQ$s;..s0 ..,......,.....,.'.'

..,..'.,, ...,sttl0s..zma,.the..fiffisrd ....,,....i,i.iii home *ill reach more

..'..........''.t*off ..t€"meg,.11$#)..,.,..........,.,.,.'.

. ,Mayquiffiy lose its..,':

,,,,,,,.,,stnic i i..SEbngmiuffi0i .',. extrem€ heat and melt (wood :retains its structural strengft ,under e*Uemel:i,,,..,'':':'::i

.,.h*tr..,fuo'.a.loneertilne),.'

,. More diffi0ult and time :. consuming to drive sc-r,elws than nails :: : :,:,

. May,,,be difficult lo:connect .tO,iOflhef .i;fiiffi aI$ii;:SuChl xasiiiiii, ,,: sheet rock ::

. Buildiqgs.can be :design€d and, buila of,,othei, materi als ........r iiiitO ig Uallt...*1mffi..;.;.,tttt:1,tt:i:i..iiii .i.1.; r,,:,Cannot'bo reneWed oi: : :: "

'...........,...stot*$...*t..*ffi *tu.........,..........

:r:ri::r:r:i.e.p,Iac€€l:r(ttillbef ri:0an:iiberi:ri :::::::r:r::i.irrl f.qp.lffi s.llsq,,fu,ou$,,,,,:, rnaq4genlent)

CIANDED plywood may not be Elyour hottest lumber and building materials item, but it can bring in a st€ady flow of cuslomers.

Remodeling conEactors, builders and even do-it-yourselfers find sanded plywood the right maf€dd at the rigbt price for numerous applications, but many warehouse-type operations do not include it in their inventory.

Typically residential contractors use sanded plywood for soffits, stair treads and risers, cabinets, paneling, accent panels, shelving and builtins. It a]so can be used as an underlayment base for thin re si lien t floor coverings and high performance floor or roof dects.

Commercial builders find sanded plywood when sained duplicates the warrr natural appearance of wood in paneling, @unters, shelves and builtins at a lower price.

In addition to having a luxury appearance when finished, sanded plywood is commmly used as abacking for the real thmg in high end decorating. Rare hardwoods are often applied over sanded plywood as are vinyl surfaces and decorative fab'rics.

Those specializing in material handling products such as pallets, bins, crating, shelving and cable reels can be good customers for sanded plywood. The smooth surface reduces damage to delicate goods including soft fruits and vegetables. Because sanded plywood is durable, resists damage and offers a smooth surface, it is frequently used to line trucks, trailers, vans and railcars.

These same qualities make sanded plywood a favored wood for farm buildings and animal shelters including horse stalls. Its smooth finish reduces the danger of an animal being injured by splinters or contact with rough wood.

Lumber and building material dealers located near a light manufacturing arca have other potential sanded plywood customers. RV builders use it because it is lightweight as well