But once we learned to work with steel everything changed.
Steel deck framing vs wood.
Average cost of steel vs wood framing the average cost of steel framing for a house is between 9 50 and 11 per square foot for materials.
If you are looking for aesthetic beauty and durability for your new deck then steel deck framing will not only give you superior flexibility in design but will also offer durability and strength that wood deck frames cannot compete with.
We are planning a simple 12 12 deck and had been planning on avoiding pt by using a steel frame from trex and cedar decking.
For example on dec 16 2020 a 2x4x8 wood stud costs 4 48 while a 25 gauge steel stud costs 3 98.
The initial cost of steel framing is higher than that of wood framing with some experts attributing the difference to labor costs.
But as i point out you must also factor in the cost of electrical device boxes which tend to be more expensive for metal framing and fasteners screws vs nails.
A 2 x 10 x 16 pressure treated joist.
Easy to add extensions or add remove walls.
Warping rot mold termite damage stud damage natural disaster damage such as flooding or earthquakes.
The current material cost of a 2 x 8 steel joist 16 foot long is about 11 more than its wood counterpart.
Today leading deck builders around the world are choosing sustainable steel framing over wood framing.
Lumber costs fluctuate but the cost of wood framing a house averages between 1 and 5 per square foot.
I would protect the tops of the joists with some kind of flashing as that seems to be where wood decks rot and upsize the joists as called for in structural tables for the lower strength.
As mentioned above many professional construction workers prefer wood over steel and it s an ideal choice for projects that involve other wooden parts as well.
Bridges oil derricks and even warships started as trees.
Also i am only referring to the light steel framing.
The structural framing comprises about 20 to 25 of the material cost of the deck which is small portion of the overall cost by comparison.
In favor of wood framing.
The case in point.
Just because the market has seen an influx of steel and metal studs doesn t mean that wood is any less of a viable choice.
The world built with wood for centuries.
Steel frame buildings are shown to better withstand forces of nature such as earthquakes high winds heavy snow and hurricanes than do those with wood framing.