A steel home is mostly built before it reaches the site

How a steel frame is made

From coil to home | The Allen
Stud 6 of wall panel EXT108 traced from a galvanized coil through the roll-former, into its wall panel, alongside roof truss RT101, and into the frame of The Allen.
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Most of the work of a steel-framed home happens before a single panel arrives on the lot.

Designed in 3DThe design is converted, engineered, and modeled first.
Made to exact dimensionsFraming is manufactured to length, holes and connections located.
Assembled on siteWhen the trucks arrive, the house is largely a matter of assembly.

One honest note up front: steel isn’t the right answer for every project, and the upfront engineering it requires is real work, not a formality. Part of our job in the first conversation is to tell you plainly whether it fits.

More on how we work

Most of the work of a steel-framed home happens before a single panel arrives on the lot. The design is converted, engineered, and modeled; the framing is manufactured to exact dimensions; the whole sequence is planned in advance. By the time the trucks show up, the house is largely a matter of assembly.

That front-loading is the real difference between steel and lumber. A wood-framed house can be figured out as it goes, in the field, by trades who have built that way for generations. Steel asks for those decisions earlier — which is why it needs coordination the lumber supply chain doesn’t, and also why, done well, it runs with fewer surprises once the build begins.

Managing that earlier work is what we do. We sit between architectural design, steel manufacturing, and the jobsite, and prepare a project so it moves from drawing to delivered, buildable framing without the disconnects that derail unfamiliar systems.

Most projects start with us in one of two ways. Some begin from a pre-engineered plan, where the conversion and engineering are already done and the path to production is short. Others begin from a design drawn for wood, which we translate into steel. The earlier we’re involved, the smoother it tends to go — but we also review projects that are already designed or underway.

How working with us goes

Five stages, from feasibility to handoff

  1. 01Feasibility
  2. 02Engineering
  3. 03Manufacturing
  4. 04Delivery
  5. 05Support & handoff
665544332211DCBARSF GLOBALLLCResidentialSteelFraming.comDetroit, MichiganPROJECTThe AllenPanelized CFS residence1,256 SF · two-storyPROJECT NO.005ISSUEProcess illustrationNOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONREVISIONSNODATEDESCRIPTION010.01.26Web issueDRAWNRSFDATE10.01.26SCALEGraphic, as shownSHEET TITLEYour lot,explainedSHEET01OF 05YOUR LOT · 30′ × 110′THE HOME · 16′ × 42′NEIGHBORALLEYWHERE THE HOME CAN GONEIGHBOR’S LOTSIDEWALKSTREETHOW TO READ THIS DRAWINGWhere the home can goInside the required distances from each lot line (setbacks).Your lotIts edges come from the Detroit parcel viewer.The homePlaced to meet setbacks and face the street.What surrounds itStreet, sidewalk, alley and neighboring lots.Representative narrow Detroit lot. Setbacks confirmed for your lot during feasibility.WHAT WE CHECK FOR YOU1Can a home be built here?Zoning for the lot2How far it must sit from each lot lineFront, side and rear setbacks3Does your plan fit the lot?Size, shape and placement4Will it pass Michigan energy code?Wall insulation for Climate Zone 55What foundation the site needsSoil, grade and utilities6What it will cost, and how longA rough budget and scheduleBUYING A LAND BANK INFILL LOT?What the Land Bank asks for in a new-build proposal:INCLUDED IN FEASIBILITY· Home plan: size, beds and baths· Cost estimate and timeline· Renderings of the homeWE HELP WITH· Builder and build experience· Tax abatement and 5/50 checkYOU PROVIDE· Your statement, offer price, end use· Proof of funds, loan pre-approval· Meeting with neighbors (scored)FRONT YARD20′ SETBACK

Stage 01

Feasibility package

We price your plan on your lot before you commit to building.

You getAn itemized budget, material takeoff, vendors and service providers. $2,000, credited toward your frame.

Timing~14 days

What’s included

Every project starts with a review of the goals, location, timeline, plans, and current stage — enough to judge whether steel is a good fit and what it would take to reach production.

We commonly look at:

  • Architectural plans and layout
  • Structural requirements
  • Climate zone and energy-code considerations — in a cold zone like Detroit’s, this drives the wall assembly (R-value and Climate Zone 5)
  • Foundation approach
  • Insulation strategy
  • Builder and installer coordination
  • Budget expectations
  • Engineering and permitting requirements

Early-stage projects are the easiest to optimize, but completed plans are welcome too. If steel isn’t the right call for your project, we’ll say so.

Buying a Detroit Land Bank lot?

The Land Bank asks every new-build buyer to answer ten questions in a proposal. Here is who covers each one when you start with our feasibility package.

  1. 01Who you are, why you want the lot, your offer price and contact detailsYou
  2. 02Your development plan: number of units, square footage, beds and bathsIncluded
  3. 03Estimated project costs and development timelineIncluded
  4. 04Financing: proof of funds for your equity, plus a construction loan pre-approvalYou
  5. 05What happens after construction: live in it, sell it, or rent itYou
  6. 06Your real estate development experienceWe help
  7. 07Architectural renderings, or at least precedent images, and the architect you plan to useIncluded
  8. 08The construction company you plan to useWe help
  9. 09Whether you will pursue tax abatements such as NEZ, and the Land Bank’s 5/50 tax captureWe help
  10. 10Anything else that strengthens your offer: letters of support, references, commitment to DetroitYou

The Land Bank scores offers on price, feasibility, experience, financing and neighborhood benefit. To earn neighborhood points, you’ll need to meet with neighborhood representatives and introduce your project.

665544332211DCBARSF GLOBALLLCResidentialSteelFraming.comDetroit, MichiganPROJECTThe AllenPanelized CFS residence1,256 SF · two-storyPROJECT NO.005ISSUEProcess illustrationNOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONREVISIONSNODATEDESCRIPTION010.01.26Web issueDRAWNRSFDATE10.01.26SCALEGraphic, as shownSHEET TITLEDesign +engineeringSHEET02OF 051FLOOR PLAN23D STEEL MODEL3COORDINATION4SHOP DRAWINGS + SEALEXT104EXT105EXT106EXT107EXT108EXT109AA8′-0″10′-6″1EXT108 · SHOP DRAWING21 pieces · 72 screws · 139.3 lbENGINEERSEALEXT108ONE MODEL, TWO SETS OF DRAWINGSFOR THE CITYStamped permit setStructure, energy code, plansFOR THE FACTORYMachine files + labeled panelsEvery stud cut, punched and taggedDrawn from the Allen’s production model,the same files that run the roll-former.Changes are quick on screen and costlyonce steel is cut, so decide early.21 roof trussesengineered for snow loadPipes and wiringrun through punched holes75 wall panels40 exterior · 35 interior

Stage 02

Design and engineering coordination

This is where a design becomes buildable in steel.

You getEngineered shop drawings and panel layouts

TimingUp to 60 days

What’s included

This is where a design becomes buildable in steel. A plan drawn around lumber follows different spacing, connection, and load-path logic than one made to be roll-formed and panelized, so the drawings are translated and engineered before anything is produced. (We walk through this stage in detail in Before the First Panel.)

This phase typically includes:

  • Structural engineering coordination
  • Shop drawing preparation
  • Wall panel and framing layouts
  • Connection detailing
  • Material optimization
  • Code-compliance review

It’s also the point where changes get more consequential. Moving a wall is a quick conversation on paper and a slower one once the steel is cut, so this stage rewards deciding early and clearly. What comes out of it is a framing package that’s accurate, buildable, and ready to manufacture.

665544332211DCBARSF GLOBALLLCResidentialSteelFraming.comDetroit, MichiganPROJECTThe AllenPanelized CFS residence1,256 SF · two-storyPROJECT NO.005ISSUEProcess illustrationNOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONREVISIONSNODATEDESCRIPTION010.01.26Web issueDRAWNRSFDATE10.01.26SCALENot to scaleSHEET TITLEManufacturing+ materialsSHEET03OF 05INSIDE THE SHOP · DETROITHow a coil of steel becomes the frame of your homeCOLD-FORMED STEELBENT COLD, NOT WELDEDFLAT STRIPBENTC-STUDPUNCH + CUTEXT108B1B2B31Steel coilarrives as a flat roll2Roll-formerbends, punches and cuts each stud3Taggedevery piece labeled4Screwed togetherinto a wall panel5Bundledin install order6Shippedone truck to your lotTHE ALLEN’S FRAMING PACKAGEExterior wall panels40550S162-43Interior wall panels35350S162-33Roof trusses2112:12 pitchFloor trusses43Level 2 floorSteel total≈ 10,600 lbOne truckloadWHAT WE COORDINATE FOR YOUGalvanized steel coilG60 standard · G90 upgrade · USA-madeScrews, connectors and anchorsCounted per panelSheathing and insulationOrdered to your specA production slotBooked once engineering is approvedDelivery daySet with your crewSteel arrives as coil and leaves as labeled panels, bundled in the order your crew installs them.Made on our own roll-forming line in Detroit, or by a qualified partner, depending on the profile.

Stage 03

Manufacturing and material coordination

With engineering approved, the package goes to production.

You getA labeled framing package, made to exact length

TimingUp to 30 days, made and delivered

What’s included

With engineering approved, the package goes to production. Cold-formed steel members are roll-formed to exact length, with their holes and connection points already located, then assembled into panels. We schedule production, organize the package, and line up delivery with the builder or installer.

Depending on scope, the system may include:

  • Wall panels
  • Floor systems
  • Roof trusses
  • Cold-formed steel framing components
  • Fasteners and accessories
  • Sheathing
  • Insulation coordination

Because the stages are interconnected, the organization here is what prevents delays in the field later.

Already have plans drawn for wood?

Send them for a review →
BUNDLE SCHEDULENO.CONTENTSSEQ.B1L1 exterior wallsEXT panels1B2L1 interior wallsINT · 350S162-332B3Floor trusses43 trusses3B4Level 2 wallsEXT + INT panels4B5Roof trusses21 · 12:12 pitch5Steel total ≈ 10,600 lbPANEL TAGEXT108BUNDLE B110′-6″ × 8′-0″21 pcs · 139.3 lbExterior wall665544332211DCBARSF GLOBALLLCResidentialSteelFraming.comDetroit, MichiganPROJECTThe AllenPanelized CFS residence1,256 SF · two-storyPROJECT NO.005ISSUEProcess illustrationNOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONREVISIONSNODATEDESCRIPTION010.01.26Web issueDRAWNRSFDATE10.01.26SCALEAs notedSHEET TITLEDelivery +stagingSHEET04OF 05STREETB1–B5 STACKEDSLAB16′-0″ × 42′-0″STAGINGB1B2B3B4B5Offload path, curb to staging48′ flatbed parked curbside · verify street permit locally30′-0″110′-0″020′N1 · STAGING PLAN, CURBSIDE DELIVERY2 · TRAILER ELEVATION, LOAD ORDER12345OFF FIRST13′-6″ MAX48′-0″ FLATBED · LOAD STRAPPED ON DUNNAGE

Stage 04

Delivery and installation preparation

Before anything arrives, we prepare the site and the crew.

You getA delivery schedule and install sequence

TimingScheduled with your crew

What’s included

Before anything arrives, we prepare the site and the crew. Panels are labeled and staged in the order they’ll be installed, so the load comes off the truck as a sequence rather than a pile to sort through.

Preparation commonly includes:

  • Delivery scheduling
  • Material staging
  • Installation sequencing
  • Site-readiness review
  • Equipment considerations
  • Framing detail review

Staged well, the frame goes up quickly — much of the measuring and cutting already happened in the shop. (For what that looks like day to day, see What to Expect While a Steel-Framed Home Is Being Built.) Crews new to steel have a short learning curve — different fasteners, different sequencing — and part of preparation is making sure they have what they need before the first panel is set.

665544332211DCBARSF GLOBALLLCResidentialSteelFraming.comDetroit, MichiganPROJECTThe AllenPanelized CFS residence1,256 SF · two-storyPROJECT NO.005ISSUEProcess illustrationNOT FOR CONSTRUCTIONREVISIONSNODATEDESCRIPTION010.01.26Web issueDRAWNRSFDATE10.01.26SCALENot to scaleSHEET TITLEOn site+ crew supportSHEET05OF 05ON YOUR SITEWhat your framing crew sees, and what we give themEXT101EXT102EXT103EXT104EXT100B4B51234561Panel tags match the drawingsfind EXT104 on the sheet, set EXT104 on the slab2Trusses lifted into placetelehandler or small crane3Clips at every trussties and clips set by the engineer4Screw gun, not nailsself-drilling screws into steel5Track anchored to the slabanchor bolts, plate washers, nuts6Sheathing + 2″ rigid insulationlong screws with washers, through to studsTHE CREW’S TOOLKITSpecific fasteners and connectors are set by the engineer of record.Telehandler or cranesets floor + roof trussesAuto-feed screw gundrives collated screws fastSelf-drilling screws#10 framing · #8 sheathingClips + tiesper the engineered drawingsAnchor boltscast in, through the trackWall mock-upevery layer, before installEXT104 HEX WASHERDRILL POINT ANGLE CLIPTRUSS TIE NUT + WASHERTRACK 3SIDING2″ FOAMOSBSTUD

Stage 05

Framing support & handoff

We stay with the project through framing, then hand off a frame that’s ready for trades.

You getA direct line through framing, and a clean handoff to your builder

TimingThrough framing and handoff

How support works

Questions come up during installation, especially for teams working with steel for the first time. One of the most common frustrations in construction is receiving materials and then being left to sort them out alone.

We stay available through the framing phase to keep communication clear between the project team, the installer, and our manufacturing partners. The goal isn’t to drop off materials and disappear — it’s to keep the framing stage moving with fewer field issues.

Steel Framing Process FAQs

How long does the process typically take?

Timelines vary by project size and how much upfront design work already exists, but engineering and manufacturing coordination typically run in parallel with permitting, so a project that starts with completed architectural plans reaches production faster than one starting from a blank page.

Do I need to already have architectural plans?

No. We work with projects at every stage, from an early concept to plans that are fully drawn and ready for structural engineering.

What if my plans were drawn for wood framing?

That’s the most common starting point. We translate wood-framed designs into steel, adjusting stud spacing, connections, and load paths so the same floor plan works structurally as a steel-framed system.

Start the conversation

Whether you’re exploring steel for the first time or already have plans in hand, we can review the project and outline the next steps. Send us your plans, sketches, or project details to begin. Early-stage projects are welcome.

Ready to talk through the process?

Whether you’re starting from a concept or already have plans in hand, we’ll review where the project stands and what comes next. Pick a time below and we’ll call you at the number you provide. Fifteen minutes, no cost or obligation.

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