Guest okie Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Anyone in the forums have a steel home or have any experience with them? I was looking into possibly buying some land and having one built but I don't know a lot about them. Are they more expensive to build than the normal home and do they hold up against the elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? I designed, contracted, and sold Pre-Engineered metal buildings for over 10-years. I can fill you in and answer about any questions you have. In fact I just got out of it back in February. Ill answer your questions above and if you have anymore ask away. No, they aren't more expensive. The basic shell goes up much quicker then a conventional house. You can have the whole thing dried in within a couple of weeks (or less). They are self supporting and typically Collateral loads (Meaning grid or sheet rock ceilings, lights, etc) are figured in. Therefore, all of your interior walls are Non load bearing and can be put anywhere. Most insurance companies will also give you a discount if you frame everything with steel studs because you've pretty much eliminated Termites, rot, etc. A good building will also come with a U.L. 90 certificate which pretty much states that the roof will not blow off in 90mph wind if a UL 90 screw pattern is used. Yes, they will hold up to the elements. Around here (including Coweta) the standard load criteria is at 15,20, 72mph (loads and then Wind Load). Most pre-engineered metal buildings are built to either 20, 20, 80mph with a Collateral of 3-5lbs or 20, 20, 90mph with a Collateral of 3-5lbs. Typically, unless you buy a post frame (wood frame) building, they are covered by a 26ga "R-Panel" which is literally commercial grade. Most of the buildings around here (including the new buildings at the fair ground) have 26ga metal. The only time you get heavier is on Commercial Architectural roofs such as Standing Seam. I know all the little tips and tricks and I have a ton of floor plans Ive done for these buildings. Since you're in Coweta I can tell you the best place to buy, where not and what not to buy, how to frame, the best way to insulate, Footing Sizes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? Looks like Jeramie has you covered but wanted to add that my father was checking into a steel home to put a house up on some vacation property they have and from the quotes he had, it looked like the steel came in almost 25% less than a standard wood frame house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? steel is fine... except... if you live in the north country, such as wyoming, there is a problem. with steel studs, heat/cold transfers much better than wood. when it's below zero out, the cold transfers through the steel stud, into the screws holding the drywall, and attracts the humidity in the home. the screws then gather frost, which in turn melts and creates 1) a water mark on your walls and ceiling around the screw and 2) a rusted away screw to where the sheetrock falls off. so, if you are in cold country and want a steel home: 1) use styrofoam as sheathing and 2) use brass screws for the sheetrock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? You hit that on the nose! Its not nearly that cold around here so that isn't a real problem. Occasionally you see some dirt mars where the transference creates a minor magnetism (around shops and such). For homes its doesn't really happen. What a lot of people are doing to avoid the problem is using furring strips over the studs or simply keeping the stud 1/2" off the wall girts. That airspace (broken with insulation) kills the problem and I bet it would do the same for the condensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? we put up all steel buildings the last place I worked and winter gets pretty cold up here.i think Jeramie hit this one on the head with furring the walls out.We used a vapor barrier insulation and you could still see the heat loss through the perlons in the winter, the frost would melt off all of them long before the rest of the roof defrosted and Im sure it transfered the cold/ moisture in the same way.Most of ours werent finished on the inside though so it wasnt an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? Strange thing when I watched a special on steel studded and steel built homes. They said there was evidence that tornados could possibly target steel homes, building, etc. --something about the magnetic force created. They said that is why a lot of times tornadoes tend to follow interstates. I thought about the possibility because since Cloridane was taken off the market, nothing is very effective on Termites. The insurance companies sell Sentricon but even its validity is in doubt. Most termite companies are playing the odds....sell Sentricon, hope for the best, spot spray where necessary, and then deny claims until someone gets the State Agriculture Department involved. Interesting thought. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? New, i suppose youd have to wiegh the odds of a tornado actually being drawn to your house compared to the odds of termites, rotten boards, mold, and other things targeting your wooden home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? [ QUOTE ] New, i suppose youd have to wiegh the odds of a tornado actually being drawn to your house compared to the odds of termites, rotten boards, mold, and other things targeting your wooden home [/ QUOTE ] Being in Oklahoma, thats a toss up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? [ QUOTE ] Strange thing when I watched a special on steel studded and steel built homes. They said there was evidence that tornados could possibly target steel homes, building, etc. --something about the magnetic force created. They said that is why a lot of times tornadoes tend to follow interstates. I thought about the possibility because since Cloridane was taken off the market, nothing is very effective on Termites. The insurance companies sell Sentricon but even its validity is in doubt. Most termite companies are playing the odds....sell Sentricon, hope for the best, spot spray where necessary, and then deny claims until someone gets the State Agriculture Department involved. Interesting thought. New [/ QUOTE ] I think they're drawn to metal in general. Ever notice when they hit....they wipe out ENTIRE mobile home communities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? I'm with you Horst...... Some of those things are certainties where I live. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Re: Steel Homes? if you build with treated lumber.. wood foundations,treated sills and bands you can avoid termite troubles. the a in cca is arsenic!! we know what that is. we have built tons of homes with wood basements and they are warmer in the winter,cooler in the summer and more moister proof than anything i have seen yet! and if mice and bugs try to eat through it .arsenic! but everyone has there own opinions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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