Houses made of steel Environmental, fireproof and reliable, steel framing is now affordable for residential construction

BY: ANNE MARIE MALES SPECIAL TO THE STAR
There's something very different about the new homes going up in Scarborough near Markham Rd. and Sheppard Ave. The amateur eye wouldn't notice it right off, but construction workers will point out what's missing at Aspen Ridge's Markham Gardens - debris, dumpsters and large stacks of lumber scattered about. But the reason this project is cleaner than other construction sites is now hidden in the walls of these upscale townhomes. They were built with steel framing. And a 90 percent reduction in construction waste is only one of the many benefits of steel framing, say those who want to see it used much more in subdivision housing. It has always been an expensive option for homes, and is normally found only in high-end custom built homes. It's also regularly used for interior walls in high-rise concrete buildings and in commercial buildings. But KML Engineered Homes uses a new computerized technology that makes the price of galvanized steel framing competitive with lumber, says KML's Dave Fogolin. That means it's now a ready alternative for production housing. Several area builders are already using KML's steel-frame technology, called Genesis, and will build about 500 homes over the next six months.

Steel framing is "a revolutionary change in the way we design and build homes"

Genesis represents a revolutionary change in the way we design and build homes; says David Fogolin of KML, which worked on Genesis for about five years before recently launching it. The finished product may look exactly like a conventional wood-frame home, he says, but it's superior in many ways.
Traditional steel framing is so costly because individual pieces are shipped to the site, where they are cut and assembled in a fashion similar to wood framing. Then, each home has to be inspected and certified by a professional engineer. But Genesis framing is pre-engineered and pre-assembled at the Cambridge factory following the builder's architectural designs. It arrives at the site already certified and ready to be erected.
Steel framing offers many advantages over conventional framing and building methods, Fogolin says; It's lighter and stronger, allowing greater design flexibility, and it's more resistant to splitting, warping, nail popping, rotting and fire. Steel framing is galvanized so it doesn't rust.

At the huge plant in Cambridge, the steel is loaded on a large machine that lines up the studs precisely and joins the frames with a process that carefully preserves the galvanized finish. Each component is designed to fit on site with the rest. All the openings for doors, windows, electrical systems, plumbing and any other features - central vacuum, fibre optic cables or security systems - are made when the framing is put together, eliminating the need to drill additional openings on site.

"One of the main advantages of using Genesis framing is everything fits perfectly", Fogolin says; The openings for doors, windows and plumbing fixtures are exact. He says it takes far less time to install windows in a Genesis-framed home because installers don't have to make last-minute adjustments with shims. Once the framing is completed on-site, the builder adds the electrical and plumbing systems and other components, like insulation, vapour barrier, wall board and exterior claddings, exactly as in a home built using conventional framing.

Aspen Ridge Homes found the new framing a big advantage at Markham Gardens because each end unit is topped with a cupola- an attractive feature, but a time-consuming and difficult one for carpenters to deal with. When the Cambridge-built cupola arrived in Scarborough, the roofers decided to shingle them while they were still on the ground, avoiding the dangerous and difficult task of working on a small, pointed roof three stories up. The cupolas were then lifted into place by crane, and fit perfectly with the structure that was already in place.
Steel framing also reduces after-sales problems and service calls. Wood framing retains moisture and dries, which can lead to splitting, warping and nail pops. These problems are common in conventional residential construction, leading to costly call-backs.

"People come in the model home and jump up and down on the floors to test how solid the house feels

Steel framing also allows for greater flexibility in design. For example, in a conventionally built 2,000 sq.-ft. home, there would usually be several vertical support columns in the basement, breaking up the usable space. Because steel framing is stronger, those columns aren't needed, leaving the basement completely open as one large space.

"The real advantage with Genesis is that we can build anything the client wants and incorporate any features or finishes"; Fogolin says. And the waste reduction means real savings, because builders pay for waste removal, he adds. The steel has other environmental benefits- there are no unhealthy chemical additives in the framing to guard against mildew, rot, termites or vermin.
Genesis framing can be built to withstand tropical storms, tornadoes earthquakes and heavy snow. Although Genesis framing is currently available only in Canada, the company has fielded calls from home builders and government representatives from as far afield as Japan, Germany and South Africa.

"Our building industry is highly advanced, and respected world-wide," Fogolin says; "When a new advancement in housing comes out of Canada, the rest of the world watches pretty closely." Remington Homes has built 40 homes using Genesis framing as its Rougemount site in Markham.

"It's been drawing a lot of attention from people," says Annie Bogovic, Remington's marketing director; "They call them the steel homes and everyone so far has been pleased to learn that their home will be built with steel framing."

"People come in the model home and jump up and down on the floors to test how solid the house feels," says Matthew Bratty of Remington.

"They're impressed. Most people have never been in a steel-framed house before and they're not sure what to expect. But they like the solid feel and they like the solid look of the house." Remington has left open some walls in the model home so visitors can see its steel ribs, as well as the floor joists in the basement. Urbancorp will be using Genesis framing at its King West Village site in downtown Toronto.