Would there need to be any changes to the plans if I were to use steel studs instead of wood? (I'm thinking of building a 10x20)
Thanks,
Bellla
Yes ! You could [highlight]only use them on interior / non- bearing walls [/highlight]without major changes , to your C/P's . It can be done , but the total structural design / way it's braced, would be different than a wood framed building.
I would look the same from the outside , but it would be built differently, if that make sense.
While you may not need to change the plans to get a building permit, there are some real differences when you do steel framing on structural walls. Headers, structural sheathing connectors and much more will be non standard. Also, steel framing is a real problem in insulated walls and not just because the steel is a far better heat pump for moving heat from the interior to the exterior.
See this thread about moisture problems with steel studs: http://www.countryplans.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1169525534/40