Residential Steel Joists and the Production Process

Wooden joists commonly support a floor or a ceiling. The joists are arranged parallel to one another and are visually undetectable once a construction project is complete. In lieu of using wood to serve as a support aid, some homeowners prefer the use of steel during the construction process. Steel comes with several benefits over wood and will possess adequate load-bearing properties.

Residential Steel

Steel products are noted for their durability. Residential steel that you may be familiar with includes fencing, doors, and roofing materials. Joists are another residential steel product that may improve the overall construction rating of your home. Steel joists are considered a superior product that will not be at risk of burning.

Vibrations that are associated with a home settling may not be as noticeable as they would be if wooden joists were used as support aids. Steel is an environmentally friendly product too. Each joist will consist of a long, angular tube or bar that is attached to the plating. The plating will be used to anchor steel to other materials that the support materials will be aligned next to.

The Production Process

The size of your new home and the construction materials that will be used to build the basement or ceilings will indicate how long and thick steel joists will need to be. Steel joists may have a lower profile than wood. This will support higher ceilings and a decreased floor depth. Products that contain a fairly robust shaft and solid metal throughout each piece will not bend or twist. This maximizes the potential for joists to last throughout the years that a home will be occupied.

If less superior joist products were used to construct a home, there would be a chance that materials would eventually need to be upgraded or repaired. During the production process, a machine operator will use weight load specifications and preferred design elements to manufacture steel joists.

The products will match one another precisely. A cold or hot rolling process will be used to form steel pieces. Before this process begins, a batch of raw metal will be prepared. The various components that are found in steel will provide the metal with its strength rating, color, and texture. Sometimes, raw steel is placed inside of a mold. The mold will aid with forming steel products into a particular shape. Steel will be cooled, prior to steel products being sent to a metal distributor. 

For more information about structural steel fabrication, speak with a supplier.