DIY Steel Structures
Steel is used to build walls of buildings and even some houses. It is often found in flood-prone areas because it holds up better under heavy water. It is more fire-resistant than wood structures. If you are building a house out of steel or just doing a room addition, you must frame it out, just like you frame out a room with wood studs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Chalk box
- Chalk
- Steel track
- Concrete anchors
- Power drill
- Steel studs
- Sheet metal screws
Instructions
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1
Measure out the area where you will be installing the studs. Run a tape measure along the ground where the studs will be installed and add up the total area so you know how much track you will need for the installation of the steel studs.
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2
Open up the top of the chalk box and pour chalk into it. Shut the lid and pull out the string on the chalk line over the ground where you will be installing the steel studs. Set the end of the chalk line on the ground and have a helper pull up on one end and snap it down on the ground. Repeat the process along the ground where you will be installing the steel studs.
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3
Install the steel track into the ground along the chalk lines. Line up the first piece along the chalk line and attach a concrete anchor to a power drill. Measure out 8 inches from the edge of the track and press the drill up firmly against the steel. Drill straight through the center of the track and into the ground. Measure down the track 8 inches and install the second concrete anchor. Space out the anchors every 8 inches throughout the entire piece of track. Repeat the same process for all of the other steel track on the ground.
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4
Mark every 16 inches along the track with a black marker. This is where the vertical steel studs will be installed. Set the first vertical stud in the track and push down firmly to snap it into place at the desired mark. Move down to the next mark with the second steel stud and repeat the same process along the entire base of the track.
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5
Set the top steel track directly above the vertical steel studs. The top track is the same as the bottom track. Attach the top track to the vertical studs with two equally spaced sheet metal screws through the vertical studs and into the horizontal track. Press the screws against the top track and drill them through the top track and into the vertical studs. Repeat the process for all of the vertical stud pieces on the top track.
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6
Inspect the steel structure you just installed and verify it is sturdy and secure. Add more screws at specific locations, if necessary to tighten the steel structure down in place.
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