In Florida we use heavy gauge metal studs for exterior walls, interior walls, ceilings, soffits, archways, radius, so much faster to install and straighter and no culling for bows, (no waste). Steel studs that are in contact with a conditioned area on one face (such as a heated basement) and a cold outdoor area on the other face (masonry foundation walls), will allow considerably more heat loss than do wood studs. It is also used in furniture and a wide variety of other construction materials. Cutting metal studs by hand with tin snips may lacerate the skin. Have a great day! © Innovative Building Material | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy. As you’re looking for alternatives to drywall in your basement, you’ll find that in order to skip the drywall, you’ll first have to find something to use instead of traditional studs. Research should be undertaken before making the decision to use an alternate wall system. LSL and PSL members are typically used for beams, columns and lintels. Well I’m this predicament right now. The shells are ground into a paste, then mixed with resin and molded into chairs and other furniture. Steel studs take care of many of these concerns. High moisture content in bales can provide habitat for fungi, and can lead to decomposition within the wall assembly. I’ll email you sometime. Sure, you could simply paint over the concrete and call it finished, but then you’re likely to experience moisture problems and temperature control issues. For example, Washington State University researchers found hemp-based medium density fiberboard to be twice as strong as wood. Studs come with knockouts in place for electrical cables. Handcrafted log homes are best suited to owner/builders that are skilled in the use of tools, are physically fit, and have time and patience. Framing with metal studs is generally a simple, quick, and affordable process. Posts are located at each corner of the building, and are usually spaced evenly between the corner posts to support the loads from the roof. Lightweight steel framing is strong, dimensionally stable and is an easy-to-work-with framing system. When compared to metal, wood has very little advantage, such as being light weight and a bit cheaper. Cutting metal studs is considerably more hazardous than cutting wood for the following reasons: Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. This technique has been recently revived as a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative for building highly insulated walls. The manufactured studs include I-Joist, finger jointed studs, Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) and Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL). In many other ways, though, composites and plastic wood are good hardwood alternatives. Another step is to visit construction sites where an alternative system is being installed, and talk to one or more builders. Only one slight annoyance to note. Have a great day, let us know if you have any other questions. Since wood is preferable by tradition, it could cost you more out of your pocket to hire the right person. Manufactured wood wall systems are similar to traditional wood framing, with the substitution of manufactured studs for traditional dimensional lumber studs. This structural wall system is moisture-resistant, lightweight, durable, and incredibly affordable when compared with other types of wall systems. Look closely at plywood. Straw is a natural, affordable, and annually renewable building material. They require virtually no finishing, staining or maintenance, and are very durable. Type above and press Enter to search. Because of the variety of different drawbacks of both metal and wood studs, the need for something more efficient, durable and safe has been building for a while. Many construction companies and builders are unaware that there even is another option when it comes to choosing the wall system of a building. Should you tackle using steel if you're doing it yourself? ICF Blocks are an Excellent Alternative They’ll also be termite-resistant beyond the capability of wooden studs. Required fields are marked *. The average home builder uses mostly wood to complete his or her projects. so if they put wood studs, the TV mount would be bolted on the wood stud or is the wood stud just there to support the metal stud? Steel is also not effected by termites or other insects that can destroy or contribute to costly repairs to a structure. It is important to compare costs between steel and wood framing before you make your decision. Other advantages include durability, reduced exterior maintenance requirements, excellent fire and sound resistance, and resistance to wood predators, fungus and rot. Cold-formed steel (CFS) and its use in residential framing dates back to the mid-1800s. My only question is how do I fasten the bottom plate to the concrete floor? Metal screws are also prone to failure if they’ve been stripped from over-tightening or are rusted. Maderon is a recyclable Spanish furniture-building material made primarily of crushed almond, hazelnut, and walnut shells. Composite decks and other products also have other advantages over hardwood. The log-ends themselves establish the width of the wall and are exposed to both the interior and exterior surfaces. A log house is one of the most aesthetically satisfying homes in which to live. It has been called the world’s most useful plant (though hemp advocates might argue otherwise). Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and cellular lightweight concrete (CLC)are two more alternative wall systems for the home. Light framing is an important part of any traditionally constructed building. The main benefit of metal studs is that they are cheap and durable under extreme weather. There are a huge variety of sizes when it comes to wooden studs. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Are you mounting a TV? On the negative side, wood studs are more expensive than steel and can be harder to install, requiring many different tools. Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general construction with two decades of professional experience. Greentec Construction Technologies is one company I know of that makes molds and equipment for CLC products. In addition to Web sites maintained by various industry groupings, some sites offer feedback from users that describe both positive and negative experiences. Hi Im interested in having a dop ceiling in my livingroom and diningroom . All factors considered, most do-it-yourselfers will find that there is little advantage to using metal studs over traditional wood studs. However, there are environmental costs and structural drawbacks to many traditional wood products. Whether you have a new flat-screen TV you’d like to mount on the wall for your basement, or you want to make some more steel frames that will sit sturdily in the room, you can use TV mount studs to keep them in place. 4x8 plywood or OSB panels have been pretty much ubiquitous in residential construction since the 70s, so using plywood or OSB to sheath walls should come with no extra baggage. Client Login | Contact Us | 424 Fort Hill Drive, Suite 105, Naperville, IL 60540 | 630.369.6829 | Employment Opportunities, Full List of Areas We Serve in Chicago-land | Aurora | Elmhurst | Geneva | Glen Ellyn | Hinsdale | Lisle | Naperville | Oak Brook | Plainfield | Wheaton, " We are very passionate about educating homeowners. Your source for the latest products and trends within the architecture, construction, interior design, and building materials industry. You can use them in a basement of any size, however. Is there a problem using wood studs in metal tracks? When it comes down to it, it’s completely your choice whether you want to stick with traditional wood or venture into more reliable metal. The steel segments come in various depths and gauges so that extra load capacity can be achieved by changing the gauge while keeping the depth the same. I think the biggest benefit of using metal to frame a basement or anything else is that they will not warp or rot. Not long ago, it was rare to see steel studs in residential buildings. I started with wood frames but a couple of people have already asked me why I didn’t go the metal route.