Cost Guide • Family-Owned Since 1970 • CSLB #265709
Is Steel Framing Expensive?
It depends which steel. A commercial metal-stud wall is not a structural steel building. For the interiors we frame, steel is often the specified material — not a luxury upgrade.
The Short Answer
Light-gauge metal studs for interior walls usually cost more per stick than a 2×4, and less than people think when they hear “steel.” Structural beams for a building are a different trade and a different budget.
Ron Hogan Drywall has been family-owned since 1970. We frame interior metal studs and hang drywall on wood or steel across the Bay Area and Northern California. We do not erect structural steel buildings. Ask us for a wall price, not a skyscraper price.
Two Different “Steel” Jobs
- Light-gauge metal studs — partitions, soffits, tenant improvements. This is what we bid.
- Structural steel — beams and columns that hold the building up. Another contractor.
If an article says steel homes cost 10–20% more than wood, that is house-frame talk. It is not the price of an office partition.
What Makes Interior Steel Cost More — or Not
- Stud gauge and height (taller walls need heavier track and studs)
- Fire-rated assemblies and shaft walls
- How cut-up the layout is
- Access in an occupied office
- Whether we only frame, or frame and hang and finish
Material price moves with the steel market. Labor on a clean, repeating layout is efficient. A one-off house wall with many angles is not.
Steel vs. Wood on an Interior Wall
Wood is often cheaper for a simple residential partition. Steel is usually the spec on commercial jobs because it stays straighter, does not feed a fire the way lumber does, and matches the listed assembly.
“Expensive” is the wrong test if the plans already call for metal. Then the test is a clear bid. Wood vs. steel vs. concrete →
What Steel Does Not Automatically Do
- It is non-combustible. It is not magic in a fire — assemblies still need the rated board and details.
- It does not replace insulation. Metal conducts. The wall still needs the right cavity and finish.
- It does not make a Level 5 wall if the layout is sloppy.
Get a Price on Your Walls
1. Send the Layout
Text (925) 791-9099 the city, plans, or photos.
2. Free Bid
Frame only, or frame plus drywall. No hidden fees.
3. We Frame It
Licensed crews. 12-month warranty on our work.
Steel Cost FAQs
Can you give a price per linear foot on this page?
Not a useful one. Height, gauge, doors, and rated walls change the number more than a website average.
Is steel always more than wood?
Often on a simple house wall. On a commercial TI, wood may not be allowed. Compare the same scope.
Do you frame and hang?
Yes. One crew for metal studs and drywall is usually cleaner than splitting the bid. Commercial services →
Need a Real Number on Metal Studs?
Send the layout. The family-owned Bay Area crew since 1970 will price the walls you actually have.
Call / Text (925) 791-9099