COLD-FORMED STEEL FRAME HOMES WHAT SHOULD BUYERS KNOW?

We are beginning to see more homes in Southwest Florida constructed with cold-formed steel framing rather than traditional masonry or wood-frame construction.

But what exactly is cold-formed steel framing, and what should you know before buying one of these homes?

Cold-formed steel uses light-gauge structural steel members to form walls and other building components that would traditionally be constructed with wood or masonry. It creates an entirely different building system with its own requirements for connections, fasteners, bracing, corrosion protection, wall assemblies and insulation.

ALWAYS-VERIFY-EVERYTHING Even the Builder

What about homeowners insurance?

Construction type is one of many characteristics that may be considered by an insurance carrier. Buyers should understand how the home is actually constructed and make sure the construction characteristics being reported to their insurance company are accurate.

And then there's spray foam insulation.

When a builder presents spray foam as part of the home's energy-efficient construction, don't assume that simply having spray foam means the installation is correct. The type of foam, location of the thermal envelope, roof and attic configuration, mechanical systems and applicable Florida Building Code requirements all matter.

These aren't conventional masonry homes, and inspecting them requires understanding how the entire building assembly is intended to work.

DOES STEEL FRAMING MEAN THE HOME IS FORTIFIED?

No. Cold-formed steel framing may be incorporated into a home designed for increased wind resistance, but the framing material alone does not make the home a FORTIFIED Home™.

The IBHS FORTIFIED Home program is a voluntary, above-code construction and verification program with three current designation levels:

FORTIFIED Roof™ Focuses on strengthening the roof system and reducing the potential for wind and water damage.

FORTIFIED Silver™ Builds upon the roof requirements and addresses additional vulnerable areas of the home.

FORTIFIED Gold™ Adds an engineered continuous load path, connecting the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation to better transfer wind forces through the structure.

A cold-formed steel home may incorporate some of these construction characteristics, but that does not mean it has an official FORTIFIED designation.

Ask the question. Request the documentation. Verify what you're buying.

Most home inspectors don't routinely encounter cold-formed steel construction. We do.

Before you buy, understand what you're buying.

Always-Verify-Everything.

Never-Go-it-Alone.

Bring in the Bears Home Inspection, LLC Master Inspector Team to inspect and protect your investment.

A Florida contractor license is not a guarantee. A familiar company name is not a guarantee. And paying your contractor does not eliminate every financial risk associated with a construction project. Homeowners need to protect themselves throughout the process not after something goes wrong.

Always-verify-Everything

Bears Home Inspection. LLC

Master Inspector Team

Helping buyers, sellers, homeowners, and new construction clients make informed decisions through thorough, unbiased inspections

Every home tells a story

The first chapter begins during construction. The last chapter is written the day you decide to sell.

Our OverSeeIt™ Inspection Program follows your home through every critical stage:

Pre-Drywall Inspection: Verify framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and structural components before they're covered.
Pre-Closing Inspection: Identify installation defects before accepting the home.
11th Month Warranty Inspection: Hold the builder accountable while warranty coverage still exists.
Repair Verification Inspection: Confirm repairs were completed properly.
Annual Home Health Inspection: Monitor your home's condition year after year.
Pre-Sale Advisory Inspection: Give sellers confidence and buyers transparency before the home goes on the market.

A home that has been professionally inspected throughout its life often has a better documented history, fewer surprises, and greater buyer confidence when it's time to sell.

We don't just inspect homes

We help protect one of your largest financial investments from the day it's built until the day it's sold.

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Building tomorrow's resale value through today's documented inspections

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