I've been going back and forth about what to use for my internal, non-structural framing. Lumber is so poor these days that I can't imagine how you would get straight walls. Steel framing is dead straight, but expensive. Guess what? Steel framing is now cheaper than lumber! 2X6's have been in the $5 range for a while now, but on my last trip to Lowe's, they had jumped to $7.50! I bought steel studs from a commercial drywall supplier instead, and saved about $100 over using lumber. I know there's going to be a learning curve with this stuff, but at least I know my walls will start and stay straight. The studs from the commercial supplier are thicker but cheaper than the big box stores.
Hmmm. I was in the nearby Lowes last week with my neighbor we and bought 8 foot 2x6's at just over 5.50. Maybe the $7+ was a local anomaly?
Remember to take into account that your electrical costs will go up using steel studs over wood.
You can no longer use NMD cable and must use BX to be safe and up to code.
At $7.50ea that's $0.94 per board foot....
That's why all us guys with portable mills are getting calls! At about $0.45 per bf (for softwoods -- might even get down to $0.35/bf or lower depending on the area and competition) we can actually compete on studs these days (which is NOT normally the case).
Sure nice notty pine, cherry, walnut etc etc etc is going to be WAY more expensive in the box stores then what a portable miller can mill for you out of your own trees but when inflation drives the price of studs above portable rates consider going that route!
The prices i saw were for 10 footers. A 2X4 X 10 was $4.75, and the 2X6 was about $7.50. The steel studs were $4.50 and $6.60 respectively.
NM cable is fine under NEC2008, which is our current code. There are entire houses built with light steel framing. You do have to use plastic grommets through the punch-outs, though. They're about 25 cents a piece. I was probably going to use metal studs regardless of cost, as its too frustrating to find straight lumber and get it up and installed while still straight.
I had no problems with the lumber I used on my house a couple years ago. I used a local yard, which is cheaper than the big box store around here, better quality, and is a lot nicer to work with. They'd drop off a load of studs or other lumber and anything that I thought was too crooked they'd take back next time they were out.
Yes, it was a little frustrating at times but no big deal. My walls are straight and I never noticed anything bowing or bending after it was installed.
Alan