Layout
Layout and framing per architectural plan.
Every framing job follows the same process
Frame
Installation of metal studs and top/bottom channels.
Coordinate
Coordination for insulation and MEP penetrations, the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical lines that need to pass through a wall before drywall goes up.
Why metal framing behaves differently than wood
Wood Moves, Metal Doesn't
Wood studs are a natural material that absorb and release moisture with the seasons, causing lumber to warp, twist, or shrink slightly as a building ages. That's part of why homes eventually develop small drywall cracks even when nothing's actually wrong. Metal studs don't have that problem, since they're a manufactured product with none of wood's natural moisture response.
Built to Stay True
A wall built on metal studs stays straight and true in a way a wood-framed wall generally can't guarantee over the same timeframe. That stability is a big part of why metal framing is the standard in commercial construction, where a wall is expected to look identical to the day it was built years into a lease.
Coordinating Around MEP
MEP is shorthand for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, the systems that have to run through a wall before it gets closed in with drywall. Once drywall goes up, correcting a missed conduit run or a mispositioned outlet box means cutting back into a finished wall, so we coordinate framing layout with the other trades to avoid that rework.
Metal stud framing FAQs
Why is metal stud framing standard for commercial buildouts instead of wood?
Metal studs are a manufactured product with none of wood's natural moisture response, so a wall built on metal studs stays straight and true over time in a way wood framing generally can't guarantee. That stability matters more in a commercial space that's expected to look identical years into a lease.
Can metal stud framing be used in a residential remodel?
Yes. It's common for interior partition walls, basement buildouts, and any wall where straightness and long-term stability matter more than the small cost difference from wood. Load-bearing exterior walls typically stay wood-framed, but interior partitions are a good fit for metal.
What is MEP coordination and why does it matter for framing?
MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, the systems that need to run through a wall before drywall closes it in. Coordinating framing layout with those trades ahead of time avoids having to cut back into a finished wall later to fix a missed conduit run or mispositioned outlet box.
How straight does a metal stud wall stay compared to wood framing?
A metal stud wall holds its straightness far more consistently over time because the material doesn't warp, twist, or shrink with seasonal moisture changes the way lumber does. That's a major reason drywall cracking from frame movement is far less common on metal-framed walls.