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FAQs.
Answers to builder questions.
1. Why should I change framers? If something ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The construction industry is changing all the time. Builders are consolidating. Homebuyers have become active participants in the building process. The quality of wood is declining. With this continual upheaval, it doesn’t make sense to keep doing the same thing you’ve always done.
USG Framing offers a real difference: the quality of steel, the speed of panelization and the know-how of USG. All of this value is combined into one turnkey solution that drives quality and productivity for single- and multi-family residential builders. While your traditional wood framer may have done a great job for you in the past, we’re better equipped to help you compete now and in the future.
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2. USG Framing’s performance framing seems too good to be true. Can you do everything you say you will?
Our scope of work is broader than what you’re used to. We really do handle everything from engineering plans to post-punch inspection. We procure materials, hire and supervise installation crews, work with your trades on a fast transition to working with steel and manage project timelines to meet your schedule.
Nothing is worry-free when it comes to building, but we take the burden off of you as much as we can by offering such a broad range of services.
We’re in this business for the long haul, so you can bet we’re going to do everything we say. Customer satisfaction is part of the DNA of USG, which has thrived for 105 years by answering customer needs and honoring its commitments.
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3. I’ve always built in wood. What’s wrong with that?
Lumber quality just isn’t what it used to be—and it’s getting worse. How much extra lumber have you had to buy just to get studs you can build with? How much does it cost you to have callbacks for drywall cracks caused by studs that warp because the wood is so green? Think about the waste when someone cuts a board to get a length without using the scrap. Think about theft. And your disposal costs.
With USG Framing, you get panels delivered and sequenced for installation. There’s no waste—and they’re hard to steal. They go up quickly and stand straight and true. There’s no warping. Nail pops are gone. You owe it to yourself to see what we mean.
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4. How will a panelized system allow for flexibility in the field for mistakes or customer changes?
First of all, we ask a lot of questions up front so we can dramatically reduce problems and mistakes. Second, we have expert framers on every job who can stick-build in the field if needed. Third, our plant is close by, so we can get new panels to fit the new situation in a matter of a day or so. We plan and we problem-solve—and we always find a way to accommodate any situation.
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5. What will the system cost?
Hire us for the total value we bring. We’re about giving you greater quality and productivity—not doing things on the cheap. Our range has been $14 to $22 per framable square foot, with greater complexity and scope linked to the higher amount.
While you may pay more up front for our solution, you also will see more savings over the life of your job. Callbacks are reduced. Dumpster fees are smaller. There’s less material waste. Theft is down. Overruns are lowered. Cycle time may be cut. Your risk insurance premiums may even be less. You get more out of your framing investment with USG Framing.
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6. How much control will I, as the builder, have over the framing?
Our superintendents are experts in panelized steel framing. You’re the expert on your project. Our superintendent is there to serve you and ensure that your framing goes smoothly and efficiently and that it meets quality standards. We hire the best. They answer to you—and they’re not satisfied with a job until you are.
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7. How do I market this to homebuyers? I wouldn’t want people thinking this is pre-fab housing.
USG Framing’s performance framing offers quality you can pass right on to your homebuyers. Steel stands straight and true. It’s made of recycled material, so it’s an environmentally friendly solution. Termites can’t eat it. Water can’t warp it. Fire can’t burn it. Mold can’t grow on it. Homebuyers appreciate these features.
As for those “pre-fab” concerns, you’ll find that homebuyers are immediately impressed by the quality of the product and the work. They see how the panels are sequenced and labeled with bar codes for their particular home. They see how clean the job site is, without all that scrap lumber lying around. The overall sense is one of quality, with knowledgeable experts engineering and framing their house to exact specifications. It’s like building a car on a manufacturing line instead of piece by piece in a garage down the street—performance is engineered in.
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8. I’ve always stayed away from steel because homebuyers worry about lightning strikes, how to hang pictures and possible effects on their wireless computer systems.
People have been building steel structures for commercial use for a long time without problem. The framing, sheathed completely by the exterior material of the house, doesn’t attract lightning any more than a wood-framed house does. And how often does anyone use a stud to hang a picture? A good screw anchor will handle the heavy stuff. We have never seen any effect on a wireless system. This is your chance to tell homebuyers about how the framing will be straight and true, environmentally friendly, mold- and termite-resistant and non-combustible.
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9. How much lead-time does USG Framing need to frame a house?
It takes up to eight weeks to engineer plans and manufacture panels to spec. What time we lose on the front end we tend to make up with efficiencies throughout the process. If your focus is on a start date a week away, you are better off looking elsewhere. If your focus is on operational efficiency and achieving a certain completion date, we’re the framer you need.
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10. What kind of experience do the installers have?
As with every construction trade, our crews are a mix of veterans and apprentices. Each crew is overseen by an experienced foreman and supervised by our site superintendent. We usually subcontract with wood carpenters, commercial steel installers and commercial drywall installers to join our crews. Our superintendent makes sure everyone works efficiently and performs to standards.
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11. Won’t the steel be difficult for other trades to work with? How do you help?
We realize that steel can be seen as difficult to work with. That’s why we give the trades the opportunity to provide design input up front so they can realize efficiencies later. For instance, we ask where the MEP trades plan to run wires and install electrical panels and plumbing stacks so we can accommodate them with pre-punched openings. At the back end, we show the trades how to work with steel. It’s easy—it just requires doing their jobs a bit differently.
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12. Is there any wood on a steel-framed house?
There is likely to be wood in most houses for sheathing, siding, stairs or trim. If we’ve agreed to include stairs in your job at your request, our crew can build them for you.
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13. You say this is light-gauge or cold-formed steel. I’m afraid it’s going to twist.
We build with 16-, 18- and 20-gauge steel. Don’t mistake this structural steel for the studs you see in commercial construction for interior office walls or the 25-gauge steel you see at Home Depot. Our steel is engineered for strength while still being relatively lightweight. It’s consistent and dimensionally stable. That means there are no compression issues, fewer drywall and tile cracks and no nail pops because the drywall is screwed in.
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14. I want USG Framing to use my subs. Can you do that?
We can see if your framing subs meet USG qualifying standards. Of course, our crews will have more experience to get the job done as efficiently as possible, but if it’s important to you to use your own subs, we can look into it.
As for your other trades, you can continue to use the people you’ve always used and we’ll show them how to work with steel.
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15. Is it risky to choose USG Framing?
Choose us with confidence—we’re backed by USG. We sell our framing solution throughout the Southeast. Our system is proven, and we can give you references.
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16. Can mold grow in a home framed with steel by USG Framing?
Mold can grow when organic materials and moisture are present. Using USG Framing’s inorganic steel instead of organic wood as the framing material eliminates a large potential source of mold growth. Mold still can grow on other organic materials found in a home. USG is a leader in mold prevention, with numerous mold and moisture solutions.
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17. How does USG Framing’s performance framing reduce job site waste?
Our solution reduces job site waste, cleanup and disposal costs. Steel panels are manufactured to spec and delivered to your job site intact. There’s no cutting and no scrap material to clean up and get rid of. If stick-building is needed for a change in the field, the waste is minor. With wood typically accounting for 40% to 50% of job site waste (according to NAHB), you can see how using panelized steel can make a big difference in your dumpster costs.
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