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Reply to "Todays lumber"

A bit more history on metal studs.  many years ago, about 35, metal studs were being promoted for use in framing houses.  An entire structure using metal studs, joists, rafters, etc.  The gauge was a bit heavier than the standard 25 and 20 gauge metal studs used for interior walls.  These house framing studs are 16 gauge.  They are still used extensively on commercial construction projects.  

Having worked in construction all of my life, I like using metal framing whenever it is appropriate.  There are no warped, twisted, checked or wet metal studs.  They are all exactly the same as the one before it.  They're cleaner to work with than wood.  Electricians and plumbers don't have to butcher them to get wiring to pipes through.  The pile of metal studs that has just been delivered to a construction site takes up much less room than the same number of wood studs.  You don't have to worry that they will get wet if you forget to cover them with a tarp.  You can even take all of the waste to the junk yard and make a few pennies, literally.  

Why they never caught on in house framing is somewhat of a mystery.  My best guess is that the industry just couldn't get their head wrapped around the idea of a house framed completely out of metal.  I personally know of only one set of houses over in Hatboro, Pa. that was framed using all metal.  They were built back in the late seventies or early eighties.  

Last edited by Former Member

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