The Anatomy of Steel Studs

With a title like that your mind must be racing will all of possibilities for the direction that this post might take. Just the word anatomy can get you thinking. We could be talking about the composition of the human body or an intricate replica of an extinct creature. And the word stud might make you think about the latest cover of GQ or Sports Illustrated… now that would be an interesting blog post. But before we get off track, let’s clarify. We are talking about steel studs used in construction. And while the anatomy of a steel stud may not sound as exciting as the anatomy of the human body, it’s bound to keep you glued to your screen.

So what exactly is a steel stud? Used in construction, steel studs are an alternative to traditional wood studs for framing. They are gaining popularity because they are lightweight and easy to work with. And even though they are more costly than the traditional wood stud, they offer superior quality and strength to the structure once installed. If you have worked with wood in the past, you have likely experienced expansion and contraction in the wood with fluctuating temperatures. This fluctuation can cause warping and inconsistency making the wood more difficult to work with and in some cases, not usable at all. Steel studs on the other hand, offer consistent permanency and remain immovable once installed.

Steel studs are suitable for 24” on center stud walls making them an attractive alternative to wood studs which historically work 16” on center. Once installed, steel stud framing looks a lot like traditional wood post and beam framing. They carry the same structural load as wood studs and can be non-load-bearing as well.

If you are considering the use of steel studs, your next consideration will likely be the best fastener to use with them. The Beck Fastener Group ® offers a real “stud” in light gauge steel fastening: SteelThread SCRAIL®. This patented fastener is shot in like a collated nail with a pneumatic gun to connect gypsum or wood with steel. Unlike ballistic pins, SteelThread SCRAIL® are removable and adjustable at any time.

Wherever steel support joists are used, whether it is light gauge steel construction, drywall to steel fastening or deck installation - the SteelThread SCRAIL® circumvents the arduous and cumbersome efforts usually involved in fastening screws. SteelThread SCRAIL® offer three longitudinal grooves on the thread to ensure controlled displacement of the steel stud material during the shooting procedure.