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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Steel is becoming increasingly popular as a framing material for homes due to its numerous advantages over traditional wood framing. Here's why steel can be a better choice for your home:

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    • It has greater longevity with fewer expenses: Steel framing is highly durable and resistant to decay, rot, and mold, which can weaken wood over time. This means fewer repairs and lower costs over the lifespan of your home.
       

    • A higher strength-to-weight ratio: Steel is significantly stronger than wood, and more reliable for supporting larger spans and heavier loads.
       

    • It’s resistant to warping and shrinking: Unlike wood, steel does not warp, twist, or shrink over time, ensuring your home's structure remains stable and straight.

     

    • Better fire resistance: Steel is non-combustible, so it does not burn or contribute to the spread of fire. This provides greater safety and peace of mind, especially in areas prone to wildfires.

     

    • It’s resistant to pests: Chemical pest treatments are a thing of the past. Steel is impervious to termites, carpenter ants, and other pests that can damage wood-framed structures.

     

    • More precise and efficient building: Steel framing components are manufactured to precise specifications, ensuring consistency and accuracy in construction. Prefabricated steel components can speed up the building process and allow for greater design flexibility.
       

    • It stands up to weather and environmental factors: Steel withstands extreme weather conditions, including high winds as high as 120-200mph , heavy snow, and seismic activity, better than wood.
       

    • Resistant to moisture: Steel does not absorb water or swell, making it less vulnerable to damage in humid or wet environments.
       

    • It is and can be recycled: Steel is 100% recyclable, and much of the steel used in construction comes from recycled materials, making it an eco-friendly option.
       

    • An efficient resource: Steel production has become more energy-efficient, reducing its environmental footprint compared to deforestation for lumber.

     

    • Improved air quality: Steel does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or allergens, contributing to better indoor air quality. The absence of wood-boring pests like termites eliminates the need for toxic pest-control chemicals.

  • Expanding a steel-frame home is not only possible, but relatively easy, thanks to the material's flexibility, precision, and design. Atlas’s steel frames are designed with modularity, meaning new steel components can be easily bolted or welded onto the existing structure. The precise manufacturing of steel components allows for seamless integration with existing framing, with minimal issues. Some of the benefits of expanding with steel are:

    Durability: The new addition will be as strong and long-lasting as the original structure.
     
    Ease of customization: Steel’s flexibility allows for unique shapes, cantilevered designs, or open-concept layouts.
     
    Minimal disruption: Prefabricated components and the precision of steel reduce construction time and disruption to your daily life.

  • Yes, Atlas is able to design and print any steel frame structure you design and desire.

  • Steel-frame homes are securely attached to their foundations using specially-designed connections that ensure structural integrity and stability. Steel framing is highly versatile and can be built on a variety of foundations, including slabs, crawl spaces, and basements.

    Key attachment methods are:

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    Anchor bolts: Anchor bolts are drilled and epoxied into the concrete foundation during the pouring process. Steel base plates or tracks (part of the framing system) are secured to these bolts, anchoring the structure to the foundation.

     

    Base plates and tracks: Base plates are flat steel plates at the bottom of vertical steel columns. They are bolted directly to the foundation. Steel tracks (U-shaped channels) are used for wall framing and are also bolted to the foundation to provide a secure base for the walls.

     

    Welded connections: In some cases, the steel frame is welded directly to steel plates or anchors embedded in the foundation, providing a rigid and permanent attachment.

     

    Epoxy Anchors: For retrofits or additional connections, epoxy adhesive is used to connect framing and the foundation.

  • Atlas has been building steel frame houses since 1997. That’s nearly 30 years of experience and knowing the materials inside and out. Over those 30 years, Atlas has  adopted new technologies and innovations as they are proven in the marketplace. Our current steel frame printing is a cutting-edge technology. Atlas has been building homes primarily in Georgia and Tennessee.

  • Mini-split HVAC systems offer both heating and cooling in an energy efficient way. Their zoned temperature control, easy installation without ductwork, reduces energy loss. They are quiet and improve air quality with their built-in filtration. These systems are ideal for homes without ducts, additions, or spaces needing precise climate control.

     

    Mini-split systems have a higher upfront cost, their long-term energy savings, available rebates and flexibility make them worthwhile for many homeowners.

  • Hanging pictures in a steel-frame home requires a slightly different approach than a wood-framed home because steel studs or metal walls don't hold fasteners the same way wood does. However, there are many available and effective methods to ensure your pictures are securely hung. Here are our recommendations, accessible at any home-improvement store:

    To hang pictures in a steel-frame home, first locate the steel studs using a magnetic stud finder, electronic stud finder, or visual clues (like drywall screws). Steel studs are typically 16–24 inches apart and have specialized fasteners.

    When drilling, use cobalt or titanium drill bits, start with a pilot hole, drill at low speed, and wear safety goggles to protect from metal shavings.
     

    For lightweight items (Under 10 lbs): Use adhesive hooks or strips (e.g., Command Strips) or self-drilling screws for metal.
     

    For medium-weight items (10–50 lbs): Use toggle bolts (which expand behind drywall) or Molly bolts for secure anchoring.
     

    For heavy items (Over 50 lbs): Screw directly into steel studs using heavy-duty self-tapping screws or Tek screws. For very heavy items, use wall-mounted brackets spanning multiple studs.

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