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Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Panelized metal framing wall panels staged and installed on a multifamily construction site
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Scaling Multifamily Construction with Panelized Metal Framing

Scaling multifamily is less about “building faster” and more about building the same building repeatedly, with fewer surprises. Panelized metal framing moves critical decisions upstream, stabilizing labor, schedule, and quality as you replicate buildings across phases and sites.
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8
min read
Aerial view of a built-to-rent subdivision under construction with extensive cold-formed steel (metal stud) framing across multiple buildings and site roads.
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Panelized Metal Framing for Built-to-Rent Communities: Where the Real Payoff Shows Up

BTR projects win or lose on repeatability and cycle time, not theoretical material savings. Panelized metal framing shifts the risk forward, locks the prototype, and reduces on-site variability that quietly drives delays and rework. Here’s where it actually helps, where it doesn’t, and how developers should evaluate it.
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8
min read
Luxury home framed with cold-formed steel studs and ZIP System sheathing, showing organized staging and a superintendent reviewing a critical details and tolerance checklist
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

The Luxury Build Playbook: How Top Builders Create a Competitive Advantage

In luxury construction, your reputation is your margin. This playbook breaks down how top builders create a competitive advantage through predictability, tolerance control, and upstream decision-making. Panelized workflows, including Cold Formed Steel Framing, are covered as one lever among many—not a silver bullet.
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10
min read
Panelized cold-formed steel wall panel being lifted and installed on a multi-story building
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

What Is Panelized Cold-Formed Steel Framing—and Why It’s the Logical Next Step for Modern Construction

Panelized cold-formed steel framing is not just a material upgrade. It is a fundamentally different way of designing, manufacturing, and delivering buildings.
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12
min read
Interior corridor of a self-storage building framed with cold-formed steel studs, showing repetitive storage units and corridor walls.
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Cold-Formed Steel Framing for Self-Storage and Flex Industrial Projects: A Developer’s Guide

Self-storage and flex industrial projects demand fast schedules, efficient footprints, and long-lasting structures with minimal maintenance. Cold-formed steel framing is uniquely suited to these building types, offering speed, durability, and design flexibility that wood and traditional red iron systems struggle to match. This guide explains how developers, GCs, and architects can leverage cold-formed steel for more predictable self-storage and flex industrial projects.
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9
min read
Cold-formed steel framing on a multi-story mixed-use building under construction, showing panelized steel wall assemblies and mid-rise structural layout.
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Cold-Formed Steel Framing in Mixed-Use & Multi-Story Projects: What Developers Need to Know in 2026

Mid-rise mixed-use developers are rapidly shifting away from wood — and even from structural steel — toward panelized cold-formed steel framing. In 2026, the real value is not material cost, but schedule compression, reduced risk exposure, and stronger lender confidence. This article explains why panelized CFS is emerging as the preferred framing system for 4–8 story mixed-use buildings.
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10
min read
Image of a wood-framed house under construction, showing a large pile of lumber waste in the foreground that highlights material inefficiency in traditional wood framing.
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

The Hidden Cost of Timber Framing: How Waste, Weather Delays, and Insurance Are Eroding Margins

Wood framing may look cheaper upfront, but waste, weather, and insurance are quietly eroding margins. Here’s why panelized steel is redefining cost efficiency in 2025.
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5
min read
Split-screen comparison showing red iron structural steel beams lifted by a crane versus panelized cold-formed steel wall panels installed by Mainefactured Framing workers.
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Cold-Formed Panelized Metal Framing vs. Structural Steel (Red Iron): What Developers Need to Know

Cold-formed panelized metal framing is emerging as a powerful alternative—and complement—to structural steel. Learn when it can replace red iron, when a hybrid system works best, and how Mainefactured Framing delivers both to optimize costs and timelines.
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6
min read
Steel vs. Wood Framing: What Developers Need to Know in 2025
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Steel vs. Wood Framing: What Developers Need to Know in 2025

In 2025, the decision between wood and metal framing is more than just material—it’s strategic. Learn why developers and GCs are shifting to steel framing for durability, speed, and long-term savings.
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4
min read
Prefab vs. Modular: Why Panelized Framing Wins in Real-World Construction
Framing Methods, Comparisons, & Trends

Prefab vs. Modular: Why Panelized Framing Wins in Real-World Construction

Discover the key differences between prefab and modular construction—and why panelized framing gives developers and builders the competitive edge they need.
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6
min read