A homebuilder may be very accustomed to working with traditional stick built homes, meaning those built with wood frames. However, steel frames offer some great advantages for both the homeowner and you as the contractor. If you've never thought about building steel framed homes versus wood, note some of those advantages so you can consider steel sales and using this material and offering it to your new customers.

1. Less construction waste

Even though stick built homes may be made with beams and joists that are cut to a certain standard size, they usually still need to get trimmed during construction as they get hammered into place. However, steel frames are made to exacting sizes and are riveted into place rather than hammered so they don't require trimming on the jobsite. Not only does this mean a more cost-efficient build, but it also means little to no construction waste and cleanup.

2. Energy efficiency

Wood conducts heat or cold, so that it may trap the cold air from outside during wintertime or the heat of summer. Steel, however, is much more energy efficient as it doesn't hold heat and cold as easily. In turn, homeowners need to run their furnaces and air conditioning less often during peak seasons; they also may not need such thick insulation or to replace their insulation so often, so that a steel framed home is less costly to own over their lifetime.

3. Stronger

For larger homes, a steel frame is the better option simply because it's stronger. It can more readily hold up a third story or any additions. If a homeowner wants a roofing material that is especially heavy such as slate or stone, a steel frame is also less likely to settle and shift under this weight. Steel will also be stronger against floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other such disasters that would easily tear down or damage a stick built home.

4. Eco-friendly

Steel is usually considered a more eco-friendly option, not just because you don't cut down trees for steel, but because it lasts longer and through more recycling processes than wood. You can usually find recycled steel to use for a steel framed home, and know that it will be just as durable as the day it was fabricated no matter its age. Wood, however, may tend to warp, expand, shrink or otherwise get damaged over time and may not be as strong after a few years so that it can't be recycled and reused for a new home's frame.

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