USA Frametek has compiled a list of some of most commonly asked questions from owners, designers, and builders whom are investigating the use of cold formed steel metal trusses for their upcoming project. If you have additional questions please reach out to our team directly.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It is not too late. We can give you a rough cost comparison vs. wood before beginning design. Once approved, we can design and begin fabrication in about one month. We suggest bringing us in as early as possible to achieve maximum project savings.
Yes. CFS can be designed for all conditions including Cat 5 hurricanes along the coast
CFS can exceed the STC and IIC minimum requirements of 50. We have designed condos to 60+ using CFS.
Yes. FrameCAD has spent considerable effort having multiple wall and floor assemblies tested and approved. We can provide your design team details and guidance.
No. Everything that can be used on wood can be used on our CFS system.
No. Out steel has a G60 zinc coating that protects it from corrosion for the life of the structure.
Some are and some need to be educated. Frametek has a dedicated engineer that works with local authorities to understand CFS. The same individual is a main contributor to IBC for the CFS code.
You can switch your project back to wood any time before steel is purchased. Your risk is the cost of the engineering design and time spent to redesign.
The lumber suppliers need to exhaust their expensive inventory before they begin purchasing less expensive wood from the mills. Keep in mind, the spot lumber price is for 2x material. Construction also uses OSB and plywood. Prices for those components have not dropped due to a breakdown in the glue supply chain.
Yes, and this is our preference. You will achieve the most savings and efficiency if we engineer your foundation, core components, hot rolled steel, and CFS.
With the speed of production and ease of assembly, the project schedule for framing is substantially reduced. As a result of the process, other construction trade schedules are reduced since they are not required to punch holes, drill or cut anything on-site. Instead, they can work though the pre-cut, pre punched, service holes.
Yes. Our system can improve everything from conceptual design to shop drawings, though we recommend being brought in early to work directly with the architect as Engineer of Record for best cost, schedule, material and weight reduction.
Typically cold formed coils can be procured in ~4 weeks. Currently, lead times are pushing to 3-4 months. We can panelize roughly 50,000 sqft/ month with our current machines. Reverse the math from when you need framing to begin to know when you need to purchase steel.
No idea. As wood became expensive and difficult to source, more projects turned to CFS and hot rolled steel as alternatives. This has driven up demand and price. If the price of lumber drops, then I expect the steel market to follow suit as demand slows.
Not at this time. We do have plans to eventually install exterior sheathing, windows, and electrical boxes at the fab plant
Galvanized steel will not crack, shrink, splinter, creep, split, warp, swell or rot. Steel is impervious to termites and wood destroying insects.
Steel’s strength and non-combustible properties offer greater protection for your building. Choosing steel-framing can eliminate high wind, fire, and lightning damage.
Yes. CFS can be designed for all conditions including Cat 5 hurricanes along the coast.
A cold formed steel truss can be engineered to well surpass the strength of a wood truss system. The product is engineered with a variety of gauges and member sizes. What this means is that when a wood truss cannot be meet design loads and maintain the architectural parameters, a cold formed steel truss can meet the specifications without having to expose a project to costly redesign.
Metal trusses can be connected to almost every type of traditional wall framing system. Traditional systems include: metal, wood, CMU, ICF, and SIP walls. USA Frametek can design and supply connectors for all approved wall types.
Yes, because of the non-combustible rating of a metal truss, many areas qualify for a reduction in insurance costs. Please check with your local insurance agent for more details.
Metal trusses are lighter weight than wood trusses. The reduced weight makes the trusses easier to handle on-site and during installation.
Yes. The overall recycling rate of the steel industry is 86%, the highest of any industry in the world, this offers an environmentally sound alternative for framing. Steel framing scrap is a valuable commodity that should not end up in a landfill.
Yes. With the consultation of the designing engineer an approved stamped truss modification drawings will be issued and the truss can be modified in the field.