Cost of Wood versus Metal Framing

Example wall
Specifications:

10 feet long, 8 feet high, a total of 3 electrical device boxes, and drywall on both
sides,

Built in basement with top plate fastened to wood floor joists and bottom plate
fastened to concrete slab.

Studs are 16 inches on center.

All wood is standard kiln dried (no pressure treated) and therefore sill gasket is should
be used for all bottom plates. I am not including wire staples as there are too many
options for a reasonable comparison. Also, trim screws are over 10 times more
expensive than bright finishing nails, but finishing nails can be used with metal framing if
a strip of OSB is used at the bottom of the wall.
Wood wall using nails
Materials required:
2 x 4 lumber in 8 foot lengths

$2.84 each.

Top and bottom plates: total 3

Studs: total 9

Total cost: $34.08

Fasteners for wall assembly

3 1/4 inch framing nails

$10.48 for 5 pound box (approx count 320): $0.033 each

To fasten top plate: 6

To fasten studs to plates: 4 per stud: 24

Total framing nails: 30

Total cost: $1

Fasteners for bottom plate

2 1/2 inch concrete nails

$13.74 per 100 (Ramset)

Powder charge for powder actuated nailer: $5.96 per 100

Cost per single nail and powder charge: $0.20

Total concrete nails: 6

Total cost: $1.20

Electrical device box

1 gang with bracket (Raco Handy box)

$1.88 each x3

Total cost: $5.64

Fasteners for device boxes

While nails may be used, I prefer to always use screws

1 inch, #8, pan head wood screws

$5.48 per 200

$0.027 each x 6 (2 per device box)

Total cost: $0.164

Total cost: approximately $42.08

Wood wall using screws
Materials required:
2 x 4 lumber in 8 foot lengths

$2.84 each.

Top and bottom plates: total 3

Studs: total 9

Total cost: $34.08

Fasteners for wall assembly

3 inch #8 zinc plated wood screws

$6.47 for 1 pound box (approx count 83): $0.078 each

To fasten top plate: 6

To fasten studs to plates: 4 per stud: 24

Total framing nails: 30

Total cost: $2.34

Fasteners for bottom plate

3/16 x 2 3/4 inch Tapcon concrete screws

$16.42 per 75 (includes drill bit)

Total concrete screws: 6 x $0.22

Total cost: $1.32

Electrical device box

same price

Total cost: $5.64

Fasteners for device boxes

same price

Total cost: $0.164

Total cost: approximately $43.54

Steel Stud Wall (metal framing)
Materials required:
Metal Track in 10 foot length

Top and bottom plate: total 2

$4.48 each

Total cost: $8.96

*price in this example is different from picture above. Photo was taken in Canada in
March, 2013. Prices quoted from US based site in December 2013.
Metal studs, 8 foot length

$3.98 x 9

Total: $35.82

Total cost of metal framing: $32.84

Fasteners for wall assembly

#7, 7/16in. pan head frame screws

$4.31 for 375: $0.011 each

To fasten studs to tracks: 4 per stud: 24

Total cost: $0.28

Fasten top track to wood floor joists

1 inch, #8, pan head wood screws

$5.48 per 200

$0.027 each x 6

Total cost: $0.164

Fasteners for bottom track

3/16 x 1 1/4 inch Tapcon hex head concrete screws

$11.53 per 75

Total concrete screws: 6 x $0.46

Total cost: $2.76

Electrical device box

same box as in the other examples can be used for both metal and wood framing

Total cost: $5.64

* In Canada, device box design differs for metal framing vs. wood framing. A box
designed for steel studs cost $5.49 each whereas a box with side brackets was

$3.59 on the same day. Other basic device boxes could be had for even less. In
our example requiring 3 boxes, the $4.15 per box difference amounts to under
$13 total.
Fasteners for device boxes

1/2 inch #8 metal screws

$6.24 per 100

$0.062 x 12 (allow 4 per box)

Total cost: $0.75

Plastic grommets are required to protect wiring run through metal framing. A bag of 25
costs $6.72. How many grommets are required for a project will depend on how the
wiring is run. Since our example uses 6 studs, I am factoring in the cost of 6 grommets.
(about $1.61)
Total cost: approximately $54.37
Constant costs for all examples
Drywall costs roughly $10 per sheet depending on what variety is chosen. We need 5
for our project. $50
Each sheet of drywall requires about 45 screws. A 1 pound box containing
approximately 258 screws costs $4.67. Screws for our project will cost about $3.39.
Other expenses include tape, joint compound, primer and paint. For now and stick with
just the basic framing and rocking and add a total of at least $60 to each example
(partially offsets the additional expenses).
Wood framed wall with nails: Total cost: approximately $42.08+ $60 = $102.08
Wood framed wall (screws): Total cost: approximately $43.54+ $60 = $103.54
Wall framed with steel studs: Total cost: approximately $54.37+ $60 = $114.37