Resources

Note 1

Permits and stamped drawings

Engineering is provided by the manufacturer. Stamped drawings are available on request, depending on project and state.

Building codes generally require truss design drawings to be prepared for the specific project and submitted with the permit or delivered with the trusses. Who must seal them depends on the state and the building department. For cold-formed steel, the industry standard of practice (AISI S202) sets out who is responsible for what between the building designer and the component designer.

Confirm code, load and permit requirements with your local building department and the engineer of record.

• Code Requirements for Residential Roof Trusses, STRUCTURE magazine
• AISI S202-11: Code of Standard Practice for Structural Cold-Formed Steel Framing, STRUCTURE magazine, 2013

Note 2

How steel framing differs from wood

• Material. Wood shrinks and swells as its moisture content changes, which can lead to warping, bowing and twisting. Cold-formed steel does not change size with moisture.
• Pests and rot. Steel is not food for decay fungi or termites. Steel relies on its galvanized (zinc) coating against corrosion, and coastal or wet sites may call for a heavier coating.
• Insulation. Steel conducts heat far more than wood. Energy codes require extra insulation on steel-framed walls, usually a layer of continuous exterior insulation, to perform like a wood wall.
• Labor. Steel framing uses different tools, screws and methods. HUD field studies found it took a little to a lot more labor than wood, depending heavily on crew experience. Panelized walls and trusses move much of that work off site.
• Cost. Steel framing generally costs more than wood up front. See the calculator for a planning range and the full comparison.

Note 3

Lead times

Lead times vary by manufacturer, product, engineering review and season. The manufacturer states the lead time with your quote. We do not promise delivery dates. If you have a deadline, say so in your request.

Note 4

What to send for a quote

1. Plans: PDF or DWG is best. Photos of paper plans work to start.
2. The project address or county, so loads can be set for the location.
3. What you need: roof trusses, floor trusses, wall panels, or the full frame.
4. Footprint, number of stories, wall heights and roof pitch if you do not have plans.
5. Roofing material and any heavy loads (tile, solar, storage lofts).
6. Your timeline and whether you have a crew lined up.

Use the quote form, or email chad@cpenterprisessc.com.

Note 5

Steel vs. wood: sources we use

Every comparison on this site links to its source. Trade groups are labeled.

• Alternative Framing Materials in Residential Construction: Three Case Studies, HUD PD&R, prepared by NAHB Research Center, 1994
• Steel vs. Wood Cost Comparison: Beaufort Demonstration Homes, HUD PD&R, prepared by NAHB Research Center, 2002 (co-sponsored by a steel trade group)
• Wood Handbook, Chapter 4: Moisture Relations and Physical Properties of Wood, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, 2021
• Wood Handbook, Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, 2021
• Commentary on the Prescriptive Method for Residential Cold-Formed Steel Framing, 2nd ed., HUD PD&R, prepared by NAHB Research Center, 1997 (co-sponsored by a steel industry group)
• Clarifying ASTM E136: Reinforcing Consistency in Noncombustible Material Testing, Steel Framing Industry Association, 2026 (steel trade group)
• DCA 3: Fire-Resistance-Rated Wood-Frame Wall and Floor/Ceiling Assemblies, American Wood Council, 2024 (wood trade group)
• Steel vs. Wood Long-Term Thermal Performance Comparison: Valparaiso Demonstration Homes, HUD PD&R, prepared by NAHB Research Center, 2002 (co-sponsored by a steel trade group)
• The 2012 IECC: Changes and Tests (reproduces IECC steel-frame wall table), State of Connecticut, Dept. of Administrative Services, 2014
• Construction Classification, Texas State Office of Risk Management, 2017