Bay Area & Northern California • Family-Owned Since 1970 • Fairfield Shop • CSLB #265709
Metal Stud Framing in the Bay Area
Light-gauge steel and metal stud framing for interior partitions, tenant-improvement walls, soffits, and fire-rated assemblies. We frame the wall so the drywall stays flat — offices, retail TIs, shop build-outs, and house remodels from our Fairfield shop.
Interior Steel Studs From a Family Shop — Not a Steel Building Crew
Ron Hogan Drywall has been family-owned since 1970. We are based at 2380 Palmer Circle in Fairfield. This page is light-gauge metal stud framing — track, studs, headers, bracing, soffits, and the backing drywall needs — for homes and commercial interiors across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.
If the drawing says steel studs, that is the bid. If it does not, we will tell you whether wood hang-only can take the finish or whether the wall needs new metal. We do not bid beams, columns, or the structure that holds the building up. That is a different contractor.
Text the city, the street, and the plans or a wide photo of the room. If the scope is interior metal studs — or frame-and-hang on the same trip — we schedule it.
Metal Stud Work We Do
Interior partition walls
Track, studs, and bracing for new rooms, office layouts, and non-load-bearing walls. This is the skeleton the board hangs on.
Commercial TI framing
Retail, restaurant, office, medical, and warehouse-office build-outs when the drawing names metal studs. Occupied suites change the layout — not the stud spec. Commercial framing →
House remodel and ADU partitions
New interior steel walls inside an existing house when the finish needs a straighter plane than bowed lumber. Wood structure stays wood unless the plan says otherwise. Metal vs wood →
Soffits, bulkheads, and chases
Dropped ceilings, kitchen hood wraps, and framed openings so boxes, ducts, and lights have a home before drywall.
Fire-rated and heavier-gauge walls
Listed assemblies, Type X board later, and heavier studs when the plan or the engineer calls for them. The rating is the whole wall — not the stud alone.
Frame and hang together
One crew frames the metal, hangs the board, and can finish it. Split bids leave missing backing and wavy walls. Services →
Furring and hat channel
A cavity on concrete, tilt-up, or masonry so boxes and insulation have a place before board. Glue-only board on a finished living space is a different job.
Backing for cabinets, TVs, and doors
Solid blocking where the finish will hang weight. A pretty stud line with no backing is how doors sag and TVs find hollow metal.
Which Stud Belongs on the Job
| Stud | Use it when | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Light-gauge metal (what we frame) | Office TI, retail partitions, rated walls, or a finish that needs a flat plane for Level 4 / Level 5 | You need beams, columns, or structure that hold the building up — that is a different contractor |
| 25-ga interior studs | Short, non-load-bearing partitions with a normal finish | Tall walls, high-abuse corridors, or a spec that names 20-ga or heavier |
| 20-ga / heavier track and studs | Taller commercial walls, warehouse offices, restaurant TIs, or engineer notes | A simple closet that never needed the extra gauge |
| Wood studs | Most house walls with no commercial spec | The plan already says steel, or the finish will show every bow |
| Furring / hat channel on masonry | Concrete, tilt-up, or masonry walls that need a cavity for boxes before drywall | Glue-only board on a finished living space |
Compare studs: Metal vs wood → · Cost: Is steel expensive? → · Why it stays flat: Steel benefits →
Why Clients Ask for Metal Studs
Most people do not call asking for a gauge. They call because the last wall waved after paint, the TI drawing says steel, or the finish is Level 4 / Level 5 and bowed lumber will show.
- Straighter plane. Light-gauge studs stay in line better than a lot of lumber. That is what a smooth commercial finish lives on.
- The spec already named steel. Office, retail, medical, and restaurant interiors are usually metal. Guessing wood on a steel drawing is how you lose the inspection.
- Non-combustible studs. The metal does not burn. The fire rating is still the listed assembly — board, joints, details, and openings.
- No termites in the stud. Steel is not food. It still rusts if the wall stays wet, so wet framing is still a problem.
- One crew for frame and hang. Backing, openings, and board height get decided together. That is how walls stay flat.
How a Metal-Stud Job Runs
1. Photos + place
Text (925) 791-9099 the city, the street, and the plans or a photo of the wall.
2. Name the wall
Partition, TI layout, soffit, rated assembly, house remodel, or frame-and-hang. We will say if the existing framing can take the finish.
3. We frame it
Protect the space. Track, studs, backing, hang if scoped. Ready for inspection and board. 12-month warranty on our work.
Bay Area Cities We Frame From Fairfield
This is the service page for metal stud framing. City pages cover local streets and permit desks. Text the city with the photos so the bid matches the address — not a neighboring city with a different building division.
Fairfield · San Francisco · Napa · Sacramento · Vacaville · Walnut Creek · Concord · Antioch · Brentwood · Oakland · Berkeley · San Jose · San Ramon · Danville · Livermore · Pleasanton · Vallejo · Benicia · Sonoma · Marin · Richmond
Full coverage list: Service area → · Need the board hung and finished on the same job? Drywall installation →
Not on This Page
No structural steel building. No promise that interior metal studs hold the building up. No fake storefront in every city we serve. No shaft-wall spec on a closet. No “steel is always cheaper than wood.” Material price moves; the layout, gauge, height, rating, and whether we hang the board decide the number. A house bedroom with no commercial spec is often still wood. This page is interior light-gauge framing and drywall on wood or steel. Text the street so the permit office matches the address.
Metal Stud Framing FAQs
Do you do metal stud framing in the Bay Area?
Yes. Interior light-gauge metal stud framing from our Fairfield shop — partitions, commercial TIs, house remodel walls, soffits, heavier-gauge spec walls, and frame-and-hang across the Bay Area and Northern California.
Is metal stud framing the same as structural steel?
No. We frame interior light-gauge studs, track, headers, and soffits. Beams, columns, and structure that hold the building up are a different contractor.
Do Bay Area houses use metal studs or wood?
Most house walls are still wood. Metal wins on commercial TIs, rated walls, and remodels that need a straighter plane for a smooth finish. If the drawing names the stud, that wins.
What is the difference between 25-gauge and 20-gauge studs?
25-gauge is common for short, non-load-bearing partitions with a normal finish. 20-gauge and heavier are used for taller walls, high-abuse corridors, restaurant and warehouse offices, and when the spec or engineer names them.
Can one company frame the metal and hang the drywall?
Yes. One crew can frame, hang, tape, and finish. Split bids are how backing gets missed and walls go wavy after paint.
Do you work in occupied homes and open shops?
Yes. Floors are protected and the layout is planned around an occupied house or an open suite. A storefront needs a clean layout — not a guessed gauge.
How much does metal stud framing cost?
It follows the gauge, wall height, how cut-up the layout is, fire rating, access, and whether we only frame or also hang and finish. Photos or plans first. Written scope — no hidden fees. See Is steel framing expensive?
Is a permit required for interior metal stud walls?
Often yes when you add or move walls, change occupancy layout, or build a rated assembly. The city building division for that street issues the permit — not a neighboring city, and not our Fairfield shop. Text the street so the bid matches the right desk.
Are you licensed in California?
Yes. CSLB #265709. Look it up on cslb.ca.gov before you book us or anyone else.
Where is the shop?
2380 Palmer Circle, Fairfield, CA. We come to the job. There is no storefront in every city on the service list.
Need the Walls Framed Straight — Then Hung?
Call the family-owned crew that has been framing interiors and hanging board since 1970.
Call / Text (925) 791-9099