Fast building with Preassembled CFS Frame Panels
When we set out on a mission to find innovative building materials for our project, we couldn’t just grab some 2x4’s and get to work… While spending countless hours researching various options we came across Wall-Panel Prefab and Honor Built Homes Panelized systems. CFS (Cold Formed Steel) framing has already proven its clear advantages in the commercial and medium/high density residential markets, but so why not try it for TheOfficeShed? Wall-Panel Prefab was able to provide the same benefits that have been leveraged on the commercial job site and make them available to our back yard project! It allowed me, my son, and a friend to put up the walls before lunch even after sleeping in! We were able to rapidly build a stout structure, with a modern design, using state of the art materials.
Building with Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) wall panels from Wall-Panel Prefab is a process designed for efficiency and quality. The panels are prefabricated off-site using advanced technology like BIM (Building Information Modeling) and precise 3D modeling, ensuring each component is ready for immediate installation upon arrival. This pre-engineered approach significantly reduces construction time, with many projects seeing up to 50% faster enclosure times compared to traditional framing methods. This speed is crucial for projects under tight schedules, allowing for quicker turnover and faster return on investment.
One of the standout benefits of using Wall-Panel Prefab’s CFS panels is the substantial savings on labor costs. Traditional wood framing requires a larger, skilled workforce, which can be expensive and difficult to manage, especially with today’s labor shortages. In contrast, the prefabrication process streamlines construction, reducing the need for on-site labor and minimizing delays caused by workforce challenges. This leads to a more predictable and controlled building environment, reducing unexpected expenses and labor overruns.
Another advantage of CFS over wood framing is the inherent durability and sustainability of steel. Steel does not warp, crack, or shrink like wood, ensuring that the structural integrity of the building remains intact over time, even in harsh weather conditions. This durability translates to lower long-term maintenance costs and a longer lifespan for the building. Moreover, steel is a more sustainable choice as it is often made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of its use, aligning with modern demands for eco-friendly construction practices.
In addition to these benefits, the use of CFS panels allows for greater design flexibility and scalability. Unlike wood, which has limitations in terms of load-bearing capacity and design complexity, CFS can support more complex architectural designs and taller structures without the need for extensive reinforcement. This makes it an ideal choice for a wide range of construction projects, from residential buildings to large-scale commercial developments, providing both strength and versatility that traditional wood framing cannot match (https://www.wallpanelprefab.com/pre-engineered) https://www.walltechinc.com/general-contractors
Follow along, next time we cover how we address thermal bridging to create a tight building envelope to deliver us energy efficiency with the beefy build.
Our CFS Framing was Designed, Engineered, and Manufactured in Deforest, Wisconsin by Wall-Panel Prefab and Honor Built Homes.
“The US Military has used CFS Building in humanity Missions to quickly build housing structures for communities that have faced natural Disasters.”
Visit Steel Framing Industry Association and BuildSteel.org for a wealth of knowledge about building with steel.