Articles on how steel framing is sized, named, priced and ordered. Every figure comes from the AISC Shapes Database v16.0, a published standard or a manufacturer specification sheet, and each article says when the numbers were checked.
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Does Stainless Steel Rust? Why It Happens and How to Stop It
Read the article: Does Stainless Steel Rust? Why It Happens and How to Stop ItStainless steel can rust. Learn the four real causes, from chloride pitting to iron contamination, how to remove the stains, and how to keep 304 and 316 clean.
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Density of Steel in lb/in³, lb/ft³ and kg/m³ (With Weight Formula)
Read the article: Density of Steel in lb/in³, lb/ft³ and kg/m³ (With Weight Formula)Density of steel: 0.2836 lb/in³, 490 lb/ft³, 7,850 kg/m³. Values for carbon and stainless grades, plus the formula for the weight of beams, bar and plate.
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Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: Key Differences, Cost and Uses
Read the article: Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: Key Differences, Cost and UsesCarbon steel vs stainless steel compared: how chromium changes rust resistance, strength, welding, cost and design codes, and which to use for each job.
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Steel vs Aluminum: Weight, Strength, Stiffness and Cost Compared
Read the article: Steel vs Aluminum: Weight, Strength, Stiffness and Cost ComparedSteel vs aluminum compared: weight, strength, stiffness, corrosion, welding and cost, with a worked 8-inch beam example showing why aluminum must be bigger.
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Yield Strength of Steel: What It Means and Values by Grade
Read the article: Yield Strength of Steel: What It Means and Values by GradeYield strength of steel explained: what Fy means, how it differs from tensile strength, how it is tested, and minimum values for A992, A572, A500, A53 and A36.
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Pier and Beam Foundation: How It Works, Pros, Cons and Repairs
Read the article: Pier and Beam Foundation: How It Works, Pros, Cons and RepairsPier and beam foundations explained: how piers, beams and joists carry a house, how they compare with a slab, crawl space vent rules, problems and repairs.
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Types of Welding: 7 Processes Explained and When Each Is Used
Read the article: Types of Welding: 7 Processes Explained and When Each Is UsedThe 7 main types of welding explained: stick, MIG, flux-cored, TIG, submerged arc, gas and spot welding, with a comparison table and which are used on steel.
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Is Stainless Steel Magnetic? It Depends on the Grade (Here’s Why)
Read the article: Is Stainless Steel Magnetic? It Depends on the Grade (Here’s Why)Is stainless steel magnetic? 304 and 316 are not when annealed, but ferritic, martensitic and duplex grades are. Why cold work and welds change the answer.
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Ceiling Joists Explained: Sizes, Spans, Spacing and What They Hold Up
Read the article: Ceiling Joists Explained: Sizes, Spans, Spacing and What They Hold UpCeiling joists carry the ceiling and tie the rafters so walls cannot spread. See AWC span tables for 2×4 to 2×10, load cases, spacing and warning signs.
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What Is Galvanized Steel? How the Zinc Coating Works (and G90 Explained)
Read the article: What Is Galvanized Steel? How the Zinc Coating Works (and G90 Explained)Galvanized steel is carbon steel coated in zinc to stop rust. How hot-dip and sheet galvanizing work, what G90 means, and where galvanized steel fits best.
Reference information only, not engineering advice. Disclaimer.