Builders Steeling Homes

Homebuilders are deciding not to supply termites with as many dinners.

More structures are being framed with steel, a stronger alternative to wood beams and trusses, that Millway Home Improvements estimator Martin said will be used increasingly in construction.

"Steel has a higher strength-to-weight ratio, it's more dimensionally stable and will not dry out or warp," Martin said. "When you put it up square, it stays square.

Millway is in Lititz, and its steel-frame production arm, Steel Tech Wall & Truss, is based in New Holland.

Steel has been used in commercial construction for quite some time, Martin said, but its use is spilling over into residential construction.

Homeowner-insurance companies prefer steel due to its fireresistant properties, and homeowners like it because it inhibits the growth of mold, Martin said. Steel is not cheaper, but it provides a cost savings down the road because there is less maintenance than there is with wood, Martin said.

Steel did provide an upfront savings to independent construction manager Harvey Burkholder. Burkholder used Steel Tech steel inside elementary-school walls he constructed this past year. By choosing; steel, Burkholder did not have to install a sprinkler system, which in turn saved him money, he said.

"If any wood gets used, it has to be fire treated," Burkholder said. "I would expect (steel) will be used more with the Uniform Construction Code."

When it comes to building roof trusses, Burkholder said steel does not give one an advantage as far as warping because the wood is hidden under a roof.

Unlike wood, steel cannot be destroyed by termites, Burkholder said, which is one distinct advantage

The steel produced at Steel Tech is a light gauge steel, and if used to support a building's main structure, it cannot rise higher than two stories. If it is used specifically for interior walls, the steel can rise as high as a builder chooses, Martin explained.

"If it's used for walls within the structure, it can go higher, as long as it's not load bearing," Martin said.

There is less waste involved when a builder chooses to use steel framing. Frames are custom designed on a computer, then cut to match specific needs, Martin said.

Ben McGinnis, assistant manager at Carter Lumber in Elizabethtown, said steel frames will not replace wood framing, especially in residential construction.

Steel is more expensive than wood, and McGinnis said the savings will keep people purchasing lumber. And he also pointed to the longevity of historic homes as proof of wood's worth.

"We sell a lot of steel siding, but people are still using wood for framework. In commercial, steel is great, but with the rising cost of steel, engineered wood is normally cheaper," McGinnis said. "There's a lot of old houses still out there."

So far, Millway has used steel to construct frames in two office buildings, an elementary school and a home. Martin said he expects steel to catch on, but he doesn't envision it having a negative impact on the lumber industry.

"Lumber companies will not see a significant impact right away, nothing that will put them out of business," Martin said. "But I would hope that in the next year to five years, it will catch on."

Copyright Journal Publications Inc. Nov 24, 2006

(c) 2006 Central Penn Business Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.