SteelMaster Quonset Hut: Arches Up! Now On To Framing

I’m happy to report that since my last update video, the President of SteelMaster reached out and was absolutely wonderful and generous with his time (over multiple calls) in addressing and resolving the issues that I experienced.
I’m so grateful that he took the time and care to gather feedback, and I’m confident that my next building could be another beautiful Quonset hut. I’ve been an avid fan of the design, beautify, and engineering of this building from Day 1!
Just 10 minutes before preparing this post, I had yet another neighbor stop by and knock on my door to ask about where they can purchase this beautiful building! That’s at least a dozen people (neighbors, builders, contractors, etc.) stop to admire during the course of construction and get more information on it. It has really become a little landmark as many drive by each day.
I received the bolts and nuts needed to finish arch construction and they are complete! We’ve moved on to framing the gable end walls during this gorgeous weather spell we’ve had this week in Western NC!
There’s rain in the forecast, but if we can knock out the framing in the next day or so, I’ll get those last edge pieces installed along the arch and then we’ll be ready to start sheeting.
If you’d like to see the mini daily time lapse progress videos, check out story highlights on Instagram @hawkeyegrace under “Workshop Build”.
#archesup #steelmaster #quonsethut #steelmasterusa #828isgreat #canecreekvalley #gracehomes #gracehomesnc #construction #womeninconstruction #design

[@nela5596]

Great videos At 1:45, “the tracks that hold the studs in” Are those tracks angled? Can you tell me where you got it from ?

[@hawkeyegrace]

Hello, thanks for the comment! There is a whole separate video in this series dedicated to the metal framing questions I received. It's called "SteelMaster Quonset Hut: Metal Framing Details" and there are many details in the comments of that one.

[@Kittyspit562]

Hey Grace! Really curious about the total cost of this hut. Really been considering one of these steel huts but have no idea of a rough cost. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your time.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Hi Skyler! I actually received this question awhile back and broke down all of my costs to date in the comment thread. That video is in this playlist called "SteelMaster Quonset Hut: Sheathing Complete!".

[@maniagokm3186]

I have steelmasters on order waiting for delivery and I've had problems with them too - the director of sales had to get involved and I dealt direct with him there after. I emailed a grumpy note to as many of their emails as I could find, and that they were losing business because theres a lot of bad press on you tube at this point, and all of a sudden excuses stopped and stuff happened. I'd be interested to know what your issues were - lessons learned if you would. Thanks *** Oh I see youre in New Caanan. I'll reach out on to you on your website if you dont mind.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Hi Mani, Thanks for the comment! While I'm still working on the comprehensive video detailing the final list of learnings, mistakes, and obstacles on this build, I've had a few people ask and comment along the way...so you'll definitely be able to find some of the trials and tribulations I've encountered in the videos in this series. If you check my playlists, the playlist called "Quonset Hut Workshop Build", I talk about some of the issues in the videos...but more detailed are the comments and responses about some of my issues. I think the video that has the most comprehensive comment response is the video with "Progress Video 2" in the title. Then a follow up is the next video with "Missing Bolt Fiasco" in the title. I'm actually located in North Carolina, but if you have any questions, definitely feel free to contact me through my site www.gracehomes.us. I'd be happy to help if I can! :)

[@maniagokm3186]

@@hawkeyegrace Ah sorry - Grace Farms....I googled that and got a place in CT. I'll look thru your play list and comment back if need be. Thanks!

[@maniagokm3186]

WRT your steel studs, how does that work exactly? They are screwed in to tracks in the floor that are concrete bolted in place right? Given the price of lumber right now, I assume this is a cheaper way to go than wood framing? Also the curved portion at the top...can you comment on how that was curved? It looks like its slotted, but hard to tell. Is it just a floor track thats had the side walls cut to allow it to curve, or is it a different type of piece to order? I dont know diddly about steel framing obviously.... Thanks for any comment.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Let me go out to the Quonset tomorrow and grab a close up video for you of there steel framing. I had my framing sun so this for me, and his crew is incredible!! I’ll see what specs I can dig up from him. We went around and around about steel vs. wood. After throwing pros and cons around the table (and his having the experience and hindsight of the framing complete)...I truly couldn’t be happier to have gone steel, and now can’t even imagine what a nightmare wood framing would have been. I’m with you. I know NOTHING about steel framing, except the KZbin sleuthing I’ve done on it. I have 3 shipping containers that I’m going to frame and finish out into high end office suites, and I just started digging into that process. The main builder I follow who specializes in shipping container build outs uses steel framing, so I knew that I’d be using it in the future. But on this project, my brain can’t even fathom how painful by comparison wood would be due to that arched piece! The slotted metal track is actually VERY thick and off first glance when it was sitting on the slab, does not seem like it would easily bend. It’s super sturdy and solid, but is capable of bending into the shape of the arch. Once that pieces is in place, the guys hung plates off of it to use the existing SteelMaster bolt holes to tie into...so there are NO additional holes at all on the building for framing. Everything is still connected at the bolt holes. I’ll have to check out exactly how they floor track is affixed. I don’t believe they it is actually bolted into the concrete, but I could be wrong. I’ll check it out in the daylight and make a video for you. I think the studs are bolted into it metal on metal if I remember...but honestly I wasn’t directly on site too much for the framing. I was on site of the property, but working in my pasture and let the subs handle it. I just remember the distinct smell of burnt metal from all the stud cuts for a few days. My subcontractor who did the framing also threw up the OSB/Tyvek, then the fiber cement smooth Hardie board and batten strips too. They’re also going to sheet rock the end walls for me after I throw up the roll insulation. This was my first experience with metal framing and I couldn’t be more pleased. I think you’re right they normally it is more expensive than wood, but with lumber out of this world, it was cheaper...and honesty I saved a boatload on labor because his guys are adept at working with metal quickly. I feel like trying to jam in several weird angled wood studs to accommodate the arch would have been so awkward and time consuming.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Hey Mani! I popped in to the quonset to make a quick video about the metal framing detail for you. I just posted it in this series. Let me know if you have any questions!