MSC Drywall is a family-owned and operated commercial and residential construction business. For 18 years, the company has specialized in ground-up commercial buildings, interior and exterior metal stud framing, new tenant improvements, add-ons and remodeling. With a reputation for high-quality work delivered on time and within budget, MSC Drywall has consistently been named one of San Diego County’s top contractors.
Seeing the potential for cold-formed steel (CFS) to drive growth, the company moved from traditional to panelized framing and purchased a FRAMECAD ST825iT roll-forming machine.
The machine is integrated with FRAMECAD engineering, design and production software, giving MSC Drywall the speed, flexibility and efficiency to deliver a wide range of projects.
MSC Drywall frequently works with developers who continue to own the asset after construction is complete. “Owner developers are drawn to cold-formed steel framing because they know the long-term cost savings and quality are superior,” said Chris Proscelle, Chief Operating Officer at MSC Drywall.
While most material decisions come down to cost, Proscelle urges developers to consider the long-term impact and implications of choosing wood over cold-formed steel framing.
“We don’t compare cold-formed steel to wood,” he said. “Contractors often ask us to compare the cost of wood to the cost of CFS framing, but it isn’t comparable. Wood will always be cheaper upfront, but you also get what you pay for. Wood always comes with headaches and problems, like sagging, that lead to higher costs down the road.”
Steel framing is exceptionally strong and can withstand various stresses without warping, twisting or shrinking. It is also resistant to mold and mildew. It is non-combustible, which enhances a building's longevity and results in less maintenance, fewer repairs and the potential to lower insurance premiums.
“Developers who plan to sell the building back to the market and turn a quick profit will usually go for the option with the lowest upfront cost,” said Proscelle. “Developers who hold onto the asset after construction see the long-term cost savings and value of CFS vs. wood or concrete and almost always choose CFS.”
MSC Drywall’s ability to think outside the box and accommodate a variety of configurations using FRAMECAD has been key to its success. The company was recently selected to deliver CFS frames for the Carlsbad Autograph Resort, a four-story, 28,842-square-foot hotel in California.
“The developer required us to demonstrate how CFS framing could lower the project cost before awarding us the work,” said Proscelle. “Engineers in California typically engineer box beams for header openings, but we proposed a Warren truss header, which has never been used for interior load-bearing panels. We were able to get FRAMECAD’s Warren truss header to calc, which significantly reduced costs.”
Using NOG bracing with the Warren truss header also reduced labor costs by streamlining assembly. “FRAMECAD gives us the flexibility to choose between continuous and staggered members. Going with a continuous member on this project reduced the potential for error. Bringing one long member down into the panel might take more effort, but it saves time and money because FRAMECAD frames are manufactured precisely and easy to assemble.”
Using FRAMECAD, MSC Drywall follows Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA), a strategic approach that optimizes the design process to enhance efficiency in manufacturing and assembly. CFS frames are engineered with features that simplify work for other trades. “CFS framing is still relatively new, so many electricians and plumbers are still adapting,” said Proscelle. “We want to make it as simple as possible for them to build with CFS. We burn holes for the plumber and custom service holes for the electrician, so it is easier for them to pull their wire.”
As extreme climate events increase in scope and frequency, insurance providers associate wood-framed buildings with high risk. Some providers will no longer insure wood-framed buildings and those that do place a high price on premiums for both builder’s insurance risk and general property insurance. In response, industry professionals are turning to CFS framing, not just for its strength and durability but also for the substantial insurance savings it offers.
“The developer of the Carlsbad Autograph Resort traditionally preferred wood framing but switched to CFS framing to avoid rising insurance premiums,” said Proscelle. “Insurance companies are dropping owners that build with wood, and in some cases, we’re seeing that they won’t insure commercial buildings framed with wood,” said Proscelle. “It makes sense. An owner’s monthly, yearly and long-term expenses and insurance are double with wood.”
“Developers will eventually see that even if building with CFS costs a little more upfront, the long-term costs are lower.”
With the design and engineering phase of the Carlsbad Autograph Resort nearly complete, MSC Drywall is setting its sights toward manufacturing, followed by onsite assembly in March 2025.
Carlsbad Autograph Resort