Why Wood Framing is the Best Material to Use for a Multi-Story Apartment

multi story apartment framing

 

America is facing a housing crisis that's affecting millions of families across the country. Rising home loan interest rates, skyrocketing rental amounts, stagnant salaries for rent payments, and a diminishing housing pool are all causing more cities and local governments to start looking at multi-story housing projects as a way to meet the high residential demand for homes.

 

While fairly common and popular abroad, in the US, multi-story residential properties are more common in congested cities as they offer the maximum use of the available space while also offering a wide range of amenities in most cases that are not available in regular single-family homes. In this article, we dive into the construction of multi-story buildings and why, in our experience, wood is the ideal material for framing and construction.

 

Mitigating Cost Concerns

 

Whether you're a property developer or a city official, the cost of multi-story apartment projects is always the number one factor that hinders the size and scope of the project. It's no secret that buildings made of concrete and steel are prohibitively expensive, given the rising cost of the raw materials needed to manufacture both concrete and steel respectively. Add to this the cost of specialized equipment and labor needed, and the costs of a multi-story building can quickly blow past set budgets and expectations.

Take, for example, the framing of the building, typically, the most important, expensive, and time-consuming part of a building project. It provides the structure for the entire building, the rigidity needed to stand up to adverse weather, and is the very framework within which the people inside will work and live. In cities, for example, this frame is done with steel or concrete, which as we've already established is expensive and not the only option to consider.

This is where wood comes in. While not as widely used in construction as concrete or steel, wood is an excellent framing material for several reasons.

 

Why Wood Framing is the Best Material to Use for a Multi-Storey Apartment

Wood Framing is Economical

The cost of lumber has been steadily decreasing over the past few years while the price of steel and concrete has been on the rise. This Swap in cost dynamics means that it now costs less to frame a building with wood than it does with either steel or concrete.

 

Wood Framing is Lighter

Wood is significantly lighter than both concrete and steel, meaning that less heavy equipment is needed to transport the lumber to the construction site. This lowers overall construction costs as well.

 

Wood Framing is Faster

The time it takes to frame a building with wood is significantly less than the time it would take to frame the same structure with either concrete or steel. This is because wood is easier to work with and doesn't require the specialized equipment and labor that concrete and steel do.

 

Wood Framing is Sustainable

Wood is a renewable resource that can be grown and harvested sustainably. On the other hand, concrete and steel are non-renewable resources that have a large carbon footprint.

 

Wood Framing is More Aesthetically Pleasing

Wood is a beautiful material that can add warmth and character to a building in a way that concrete and steel cannot.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, wood is an excellent framing material for framing multi-story buildings for a variety of reasons. It's cost-effective, lightweight, fast to work with, environmentally friendly, and can add warmth and character to a building. If you're planning on constructing a multi-story building, we encourage you to consider wood as your framing material of choice.

 

Consider Wells Custom Framers if You Are Looking for Framing Works in Massachusetts

Most houses and apartments in North America use wood frames, and the right wood framer can mean the difference between a magnificent home and a wobbly disaster. If you're in the market for framing your new home or a multi-story building project, we can help. We have a hard-earned reputation as one of the best wood framing contractors in Massachusetts. Learn more about what we do by clicking here.