TechPractices: Nicholas Lane Contractors, Anaheim, CA

TechPractices are outstanding housing projects throughout the U.S. where innovative technologies are implemented. Builders and remodelers can use these examples as models for projects of their own.

Summary

Nicholas Lane Contractors (NLC) is a production residential and commercial framing company in southern California that specializes in both wood and steel framing. In 1993, the volatility of the wood market forced many developers to turn to an alternative to wood framing material such as steel. At this time Mr. Scott Shaddix, president of NLC, began framing houses with steel based on his prior experience with steel framing in commercial construction. In 1997, NLC framed 563 homes and 41 percent which were framed with steel. NLC plans to use steel in 65 percent of the homes they frame in 1998 for a projected total of 377 steel-framed homes. As a result, they have achieved a status as one of the foremost experts in the field of wood and steel framing.

Details

In terms of production, NLC had to make steel framing efficient or it would not be feasible for their customers. NLC started slowly into the steel framing business. First, they worked with a developer, Taylor Woodrow, to frame the last nine homes in a 140-unit development with steel. The next project was an 80-unit project constructed in 15- unit phases. NLC recruited employees that had a desire to learn steel framing, stressing the importance of the employee's willingness to learn. Currently, NLC can provide developers with a choice of framing materials and can build in steel anything they can build in wood.

Installation/Construction

When NLC decided to begin framing with steel, they made sure that everyone became involved, not just the construction labor force, but the building officials, architects, engineers and developers. NLC believes that on-the-job training is still the most effective training. Carpenters were familiarized with steel framing at a shop set up on site where they could become accustomed to screwing and cutting the material. Carpenters and other trade contractors experienced frustration at first, but as they became more familiar with the product, they gained satisfaction in knowing that they could do it with both steel and wood. NLC currently has 11 field operations managers and 230 tradesmen who are proficient in steel assembly techniques.

To be competitive, NLC supplies tradesmen with the most effective tools to do the job. The company constantly works with tool manufacturers to develop tools and equipment that will increase the productivity of their labor force. For example, NLC uses new phenumatic nailing tools for the attachment of sheathing to steel framing rather than screws. With these new nailing tools, the attachment of sheathing to steel is as fast as with wood framing. NLC also works with two steel framing manufacturers who have the capability of producing completely pre-cut material packages. They also have a collaborative relationship with engineers from the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Light Gauge Steel Engineer's Association, with whom they continuously develop more efficient and cost effective ways to frame with steel.

NLC has developed the Lane System software package and a set of field operation standards that allow them to be extremely efficient in the production-framing environment. They offer a custom-packaged framing system ranging from material take-offs and plans to cut lists for pre-cut framing packages for the job site. This system has increased productivity by minimizing waste, and by increasing the precision of field activities and consistency of materials arriving on the job site.

Benefits/Costs

NLC believes that the inherent strength of steel contributes to significant benefits of framing with steel, providing a high level of design flexibility and significantly reducing the amount of steel needed for framing. As a result, NLC has the ability to use less material at a lower cost, depending on the status of lumber prices. The stability in the price of steel allows NLC to be certain that their bids to developers will not suffer from changes due to fluctuations in material costs. Steel framing provides a high degree of consistency and dimensional stability in the framing materials that NLC requires in many of its high-end homes with complex architectural details. The ability to frame with both wood and steel in a production environment provides NLC with a competitive advantage and protection from future fluctuation in the price of lumber. The largest detriment to the efficiency of steel framing is connections among steel members. Crimping technology holds much promise in this area and it has been used effectively in several other countries, but it has not obtained model code approvals in the United States.

Code/Regulatory

Steel framing is approved by all model code organizations and CABO has embodied prescriptive methods for steel in its code allowing for stick framed steel construction to proceed without the certification of a professional engineer.

NLC has developed a good working relationship with their building inspectors. Engineers made themselves available to answer inspection's questions.

Feedback

Although wood prices have fallen substantially since 1993, NLC remains committed to steel framing. NLC president Scott Shaddix states that "I invested my time and energy not to change the way we build, but to adopt something that is better (steel framing). A lot of people invested in it in 1993, but they didn't have the relationships needed to build a home." Although NLC, as a framing trade contractor, does not usually interact with home owners, research conducted by a client, Brookfield Homes Southern, Inc. has shown that home buyers are willing to pay up to 3% more for a steel-framed home compared with a wood-framed home.

Contact(s)

Do you have a specific question? Try the contacts listed below:

Nicholas Lane Conractors
1157 N. Red Gum
Anaheim, CA 92806
714-630-7630

American Iron and Steel Institute
1101 17th St. NW Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20036
800-79STEEL

Light Gauge Steel Engineers Association
2017 Galbraith Drive
Nashville, TN 37215
615-386-7139