The prepunching of studs provides a product cut-out for electrical and plumbing lines. The prepunching also prevents waste on the construction site. Steel provides a more reliable supply of framing materials for builders. The construction industry has felt the effects of shortages and sharp price increases in the lumber industry. These factors ultimately add to the final house price paid by the consumer.
Steel framing for single family homes is already popular in some parts of the country.
In areas of Florida, where concrete block is the predominant exterior wall material, steel has about half of the interior stud market. Another common use is in markets where basements are built and finished by the builder. For any framing system to succeed in the housing market, there must be a readily available supply of product and an adequate supply of labor to install it. In recent years, the steel industry has been working to develop a reliable distribution system while training framers how to use it. Steel framing can be installed much the same way as wood, and learning to frame with steel is not any more difficult than learning to frame with wood.