The Hidden Cost of Wood Frame Construction
Annual construction waste is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons globally by 2025 according to Transparency Market Research, and here in the US, 23% of the national waste stream is estimated to be C&D (Construction & Demolition) waste. This is a key reason why builders are turning to a steel framing system for a more sustainable alternative. According to the EPA, the US generated over 600 million tons of construction-related waste in 2018, which has increased by 342% from 1990 to 2018.
These are staggering numbers, and unfortunately, most homebuilders fail to consider both the financial and environmental impacts when deciding on what building technologies to use. Homebuilders often throw away cut-offs, damaged materials, and unused or incorrect materials that are left over when the job is complete. We have often seen builders toss entire pallets of pavers, roofing materials, doors, and lumber into the dumpster simply because it was easier than sending it to another job or back to the warehouse. This is precisely where light gauge steel framing offers a smarter approach, as it is manufactured to precise specifications, drastically reducing on-site waste. Some builders attempt to recycle traditional materials; however, it can be difficult to manage the process, or to justify the cost of two separate containers at a job site, or the time it takes to sort the waste.
To help educate and bring more awareness to the impact on our environment building with wood has, we have developed this simple easy to use Calculator which compares the use of wood to light gauge steel. Plug in the numbers of your new home or building to see the comparison.
| Steel Vs Wood Calculator | |
|---|---|
| Size of Home/Building in Square Feet (Under Roof) |
SF
|
| Number of Floors/Levels | |
| Project Name and Location (City & State) | |
| Built with WOOD Framing | ||
|---|---|---|
| House - Wood Parameters | ||
| Average lumber used in Board Feet (BF) | 16,000 BF | |
| Average Plywood Used in Square Feet (SF) | 6,000 SF | |
| Trees-To-Lumber Calculation Parameter | ||
| Volume - Standing Tree Board Foot (BF) - Based on 12" DBH @ 2.5 - 16' Logs (Intl 1/4" Rule) | 120 BF | |
| Estimated Number of Trees | ||
| Lumber Used | 134 Trees | |
| Plywood Used | 50 Trees | |
| Total Used | 184 Trees | |
| Waste (Typical is between 20% and 25%) | 37 Trees | |
| Estimated A1-A3 Production CO2e | 4,752 kg CO2e | |
| Grand Total Trees Used | 221 Trees | |
| Built with KRATOS/STEEL Framing | ||
|---|---|---|
| House - LGS Paraxmeters | ||
| Amount of Steel (Lbs) | 12,000 LBS | |
| Estimated MgO Roofing | 2,400 SF | |
| Estimated MgO Subflooring | 0 SF | |
| Trees-To-Lumber Calculation Parameter | ||
| Standing Tree Board Foot Volume - Based on 12" DBH @ 2.5 - 16' Logs (Intl 1/4" Rule) | 120 BF | |
| Recycled Autos-To-Steel Calculations | ||
| Average LBs Steel - Car | 2,500 LBS | |
| Average LBs Steel - SUV | 3,000 LBS | |
| Total Number of Trees Used | 0 Trees | |
| Estimated A1-A3 Production CO2e | 6,641 kg CO2e | |
| Grand Total Autos Used | 5 Autos | |
Calculation References:
- Average pounds of steel per auto (Source: Mayco International)
- Wood Weight Calculator (Source: BuildersCalculator.com)
- Wood calculation based on average amount of lumber for a 2,000 SF house
- Tree Volume to Board-Foot Calculations (Source: Ohio State University)
- Steel LBS/SF conversion factor @ 6.0 Lbs (Source: PBS average from actual projects)
- Steel CO2e factor @ 2.44 kg CO2e/kg steel; the LGSF calculation considers a lifespan 2x that of wood frame, so the steel CO2e total is divided by 2 (Source: SFIA SCS-EPD-07103)
- Lumber CO2e factor @ 0.15 kg CO2e/BF (Source: AWC/CORRIM North American Softwood Lumber EPD)
- Plywood CO2e factor @ 0.26 kg CO2e/SF at 1/2 inch thickness (Source: AWC/CORRIM North American Softwood Plywood EPD)
- CO2e calculations only consider Phase A, levels 1 through 3. A full cradle-to-grave scope analysis including Phases B, C and D would typically show the LGSF solution outperforming wood frame when considering longevity, lower TCO and recyclability.