Betty Bailey and her husband Jim have been Summerset residents for three years. Jim, a retired banker, did his homework before they bought their Summerset home in Brentwood, CA. "A number of my former clients were builders, and I called them when we decided to build. They said steel was the answer and they were right. We haven't had a single crack, something we couldn't say about our old wood-framed home." When it comes to the wood being used today, Jim added: "It just isn't what it was, 20 or 30 years ago. It buckles and warps."
Quality is high on their list but the most meaningful event, Betty recounts, came the day she left a burner on in the kitchen that started a fire. "The fire department said that if our home had been a wood frame, we would probably have lost everything," she said. Because steel doesn't burn, the fire was quickly contained. "The repairs," she added, "were minimal."

Jasvina and Andy Gill were hunting for a house that would be durable, safe, affordable and impervious to termites, fires and earthquakes. That's when they visited Brookfield Homes' Carlyle community in Irvine, CA, and decided to build their 2,165 sq. ft. steel-framed home. "We didn't realize it at the time, but our decision to purchase a steel-framed home was the best thing we ever did," Jasvina said. While it guards against fires and termites, there was another reason they decided to build a steel-framed house - their children. Because their home is framed with steel, it's good for the environment because it saves natural resources and energy. "Our kids learn in school to recycle and they're always reminding us to do it as much as we can," Jasvina said. "Now I can point to our house and tell them about steel's environmental advantage. They love it."
The Gills agreed they never wanted to move again after they moved into their new home. "When you build a home like this, it's clear that it's a superior product," Jasvina added. "If we ever would sell, we know steel framing is an enormously positive selling point. As soon as we learned about it, there was no other material we wanted in our walls."

When Cathy Metheson decided to build her steel home in a small town just north of Toronto, she didn’t know what to expect. Like many people Cathy suffers from severe allergies. Her allergies, though, are aggravated by mold that grows on building products. When she found out mold doesn’t grow on steel, you could imagine her reaction. "My body won’t be battling with all the chemicals and molds in the new house," she exclaimed. In addition to steel being one of the safest materials you can use to build your home, it’s also very healthy. As a metal, steel does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) into the indoor air.
    "Steel framing is dimensionally stable, so it does not twist or warp, and floors won’t sag. No shrinkage of the wall framing means that my building envelope remains airtight and reduces infiltration of contaminants into the home," said Joe Vella, Vice President, Fifthshire Homes, Ltd., Concord, Ontario, whose company built Cathy’s home.
    You probably don’t think about the framing of your home. But you do think about things like blemish-free walls, perfectly aligned ceilings and quiet floors. Plus, you’ll never have warping, splitting, rotting or cracking. But that’s only if you have a steel-framed home.

Dennis Henderlong of Generation Homes is a happy man. His homes are gaining popularity because of their affordability, energy efficiency and state-of-the-art construction. "I believe if you build a consistent product, you’ll always have happy customers," said the 30-year homebuilding veteran. His time-tested building experience has led him right to the forefront of North America’s homebuilding future. According to him, steel is that future available right now.
    "Steel has the benefit of strength, rigidity and stability," he adds. "Steel eliminates problems such as drywall cracks, warped joists and studs; each piece is the same as the next." Another thing that makes customers happy is the savings they get through reduced utility bills over the life of their house. His company was one of the first to be recognized nationwide by the Environmental Protection Agency’s "Energy Star Homes" rating program. Steel homes are very efficient in reducing utility cost and other expenses. Not to mention the stability of steel’s pricing. Because the price is rock solid, builders know from the start what a new home will cost. That price is virtually the same at the end of the job. "Consumers know what they are getting, and I know the price changes typically found in lumber won’t be a problem."

 

Why build with steel? Just ask Michael Rountree of M&R Construction, Troy, AL, and he’ll tell you he’s able to get more house for the dollar. And don’t forget to add safety. "Should high wind or some other natural disaster hit, we would be safer in a house made of steel," Rountree said.
    Ask Rountree’s partner, Robert Boswell, He’ll tell you the anthem that a lot of builders and consumers are singing these days. "After building houses out of steel, I hope I never build another wooden house." Boswell adds, once a contractor learns to work with steel, it is much easier to work with than other materials. Plus, he adds, the ease of steel offers more flexibility for consumers. You see, steel is light, which makes it easy to move, so it’s no problem to make a room smaller or larger - changes that are not so simple with other materials.
    Doing something good for the environment means a lot to his family, too. Rountree cannot believe the lack of leftover job site material that has to be trucked away. "Because building with steel is so efficient, there’s little waste and the leftover steel is completely recyclable," Rountree added.
    Rountree said about a steel house that quickly became a showcase for people interested in steel framing: "Now this is a home."

 

 

At St. John, IN-based Gogolak Contractors, Inc., John Gogolak is often asked why he decided to build steel-framed homes. The answer is really quite simple. "We’re committed to giving our customers the best products. Steel is the only material that helps us get there," said the recent award winning builder.
    John is one of a growing multitude if homebuilders across the country who want to give customers superior building products. That means building homes that are design flexible, termite proof, fire resistant, affordable and don’t have studs that split or warp.
    John’s dream of providing only the best for customers became a reality in 1996 when he built a 2,955 sq. ft. steel home. The house, featured in the local parade of homes, achieved a five-star energy rating from Energy Diagnostics, an independent State Certified Agency. The Home Energy Rating Systems Council also presented Gogolak with the 1997 All Star Award in the Builder Category, a national award for creative and outstanding achievements utilizing energy efficient methods in residential housing.
    The home features four bedrooms, a 500 sq. ft. great room with a 190 sq. ft. loft. "There’s nothing steel can’t do. Why get caught in the trap of comparing wood to steel? It’s clear to me what the better product is."