Steel has an overall recycling rate of 64 percent, making it the most recycled material in the world. Some of the steel in a new home may have previously been used for an automobile or a commercial building. Galvanized steel studs are manufactured in the quality-controlled setting of a factory. 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.