The Facts About Steel Framing
Primarily, the question many buyers have is how does steel framing stack up against stick framing? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? Cost considerations and quality control?

In short, steel framing a home is faster. If you take a look at straight labor costs, the difference can be counted not just in nickels and dimes, but in hundreds and thousands of dollars. For instance, it will take a crew one week to frame a 2000-square foot house using light gauge steel. In the wood-framed home there is nearly two and one half times more labor and it takes more than twice - and in some cases three times as long - to frame the same home. Remember too, that 80% of the labor and manufacturing for steel framing is conducted in a controlled, factory environment. This means quality control is much higher which translates to accuracy being greatly improved. In plain terms, fewer bowed walls, less settlement issues with nail pops and drywall cracks, more square corners, and a better quality-built home throughout.

Steel framing is cleaner, there is virtually no waste, it's environmentally sound and most builders agree that it is quite possibly the wave of the future for the reasons mentioned above. The use of steel in construction began decades ago in commercial applications where it is used the majority of the time for its structural integrity and dexterity. In residential applications, framing sections are delivered by truck and installed in a numerical sequence, very similar to a large erector set. Everything fits in place and no waste goes on the ground. For the recycling aspect of using steel framing in homes, it takes about five old Buicks to build a 2,000 square foot house as opposed to several trees. Steel does not rot, split, twist, or dry rot. It is termite proof, fire proof, warp proof, and is lighter than wood meaning there is less labor required and less downward pressure on a slab foundation.

Primary objections to steel framing for builders have been labor availability, a time consuming learning curve and concerns about processing delays (through building plan approvals in cities and counties). Then, of course, there is the fear of the unknown.

Buyer objections to steel framing include worries about hanging pictures, fear of lightning strikes, and so on. Hanging a picture requires special screws if hanging directly on a stud, however, drywall picture hanging remains the same as what would be required in a wood-framed home. Screws such as these are provided at move in. Lightning is not so much of an issue because steel actually routes any charge that may occur directly to the ground as opposed to through the structure.

Floorplans For Today's Lifestyles
The evolution of the floorplan for homes today is driven by several interrelated variables. Among the variables are land availability, political trends regarding growth, and the economy. In a strong economy buyer "wants" become an important part of the purchase proposition. In a weaker economy, buyer "needs" drive the purchase decision.

For example, in Northern California, land for development is scarce due to growth controls and limited availability of wet utility resources. While the first choice of most new home buyers in the Bay Area is single family-detached housing, there is significant political pressure from local governments to build more multi-family and small lot housing to help reduce mounting traffic congestion and make homes more affordable. In multi-family housing, three-story construction is becoming more attractive as a way for buyers to gain more living space, be closer to their jobs, and pay as much as 40% less for their home. As a result, many builders in Northern California are blending more multi-family and small lot product into their land portfolios.

The Architectural Touch
Specifically, what are the trends in exterior design? Again, it's all about curb appeal. Many builders are addressing the buyer desire for architectural flair by adding more gables to the fronts and building steeper pitches. Moving garages off the front of homes is still very popular among buyers and city/county governments. Three-car garages in single family homes continue to be most popular, however, due to lot size constraints, we're seeing more three-car tandem-style garages. Traditional touches such as covered entries and porches are still very popular in most markets. Wood exteriors, including shingle and horizontal siding are favored by many buyers who desire a warm, friendly feel. However, in arid regions, stucco remains the dominate exterior.

In addition to desiring appealing exterior design, today's buyers are more sensitive to land plan issues. Progressive builders are blending lot yield decisions with curved linear streets and rolling topography. Buyers are increasingly aware that a great land plan ensures an attractive streetscape and an appealing community for years to come.


As the face of home building continues to change, buyers can expect new homes to boast better design and more amenities than ever before. Thanks to technology and new construction methods, today's new homes are stronger, safer, and more energy efficient than homes of the past. To complement our fast-paced lives, new homes also offer more comfort and convenience features - extras that used to be reserved for high priced custom homes. The latest changes in home building reflect a return to family values and lifestyle considerations - and that's good news for home buyers.