Galvanized CFS Framing

• We understand that Galvanized CFS framing is protected against rust, but have you seen what happens to metal on this island. Yes. Anything exposed to the environment will eventually degrade so there are two things to note. 1. We use a higher grade of Galvanization that is rated for extreme coastal environments. 2. None of our CFS is directly exposed to the salt-laden air as it is fully encapsulated within the floor, wall, and roof assembly. The structural frame, if properly maintained, could easily last several hundred years.

• Why don’t you use typical Fiberglass Insulation or other types of insulation in your Building Assemblies? Houses near the equator fight solar heat gain and the best technology for keeping that gain from entering the structure are micro-Thermal Reflective Insulations (TRI). Firemen use Thermal Reflective Liners to protect themselves from intense flame and heat. These Liners keep the majority of the heat from passing through the layer and hurting the fireman. Our TRI’s reflect 97% of the solar heat energy away from entering the structure (dwelling). Since we use an open-cavity (not filled with traditional fiberglass, for example, insulation) and the TRI is placed on the interior face of the structural wall panel the heat is reflected back into the 6” CFS cavity where it can be naturally vent using passive or active systems (vents, exhausts, etc.).

Thermal Reflective Insulation (TRI)

•  What is the R-Value of your Exterior Wall? The TRI itself has an R-1.3 when used in an assembly the Value fluctuates based on interior and exterior finishes and cavity depth.
  

• Can you explain to me why a high R-Value is not required? R-Value is the rating system used to grade insulation products or a material's insulating properties. In cold climates the idea is to have a high R-Value so that the heat generated inside the house does not dissipate quickly through the exterior wall assembly increasing heating costs. The higher the R-Value the slower the heat loss will occur. In hot climates there is no “cold” but the most important goal is to avoid solar heat gain. With traditional reinforced concrete and cement masonry units (CMU or block) as the day progresses the sun heats up the structure and when the sun sets all of that solar energy (heat) that was absorbed into the walls & roof now dissipates inside the house making it hotter inside then the outside. With a CAT5 BUILDERS your home will require less energy to cool yourself both day and night.
  

• What is the purpose of the 4” Corrugated Pipe under the Slab and why does it go inside the Exterior Wall Framing Assembly? CAT5 BUILDERS can take advantage of the laws of physics especially the one that we all know that “hot air rises.” The earth directly under your house will naturally be cooler than any ground exposed to the sun and heat. By installing a network of pipes in that environment we can allow air into the system, which is passive, where it cools naturally, and brought into the cavity of our framing system forcing the hotter air up and out through a cornice or roof vent. When the sun sets at the end of the day there is no built-up heat energy within our structure.
  

• Can we add a Solar Powered Vent to help increase the exchange of hot air out of the wall & roof cavities of the structure? Yes. You can try Remington, Quiet-Cool, HQST, etc.

• Once a wall is closed how do you locate studs if we need to hang something? There are wood and CFS stud detecting devices available on the market that can detect Studs, Nogs, and Chords. 

• Steel and lightning do not mix so how is a Cold Formed Steel (CFS) home grounded? Since the Framing System is buried directly into the Concrete Footings, Foundation Walls and/or Slabs (based on individual designs) the structure has a direct path for electrical current if lighting strikes any and every part of the house. In the case of our Structures the entire framing system has a direct load path making it safer for the energy to dissipate quickly and safely with a reduced chance of damage.

Remington Solar Powered Vent

• ​How well does CFS framing protect against earthquakes? Positive connections and the strength of steel provide great protection against earthquake and hurricanes. A lighter structure with stronger connections results in less damage from seismic force. CFS’s high ductility makes it the best construction material for earthquake resistant design.

• Can mold grow on CFS framing components? Mold requires three things to grow: 1. the mold spores, which exist everywhere there is air, 2. moisture, and 3. organic material, which provides the food for the mold. Steel does not contain any organic material, and therefore cannot support mold growth.

• The Wall Panel Sample details a structural feature called ‘slip track’, what is it? “Slip Track” is a feature within CFS Framing that allows for other wall, floor and roof assemblies to deflect under load without load transfer into the Wall below that is made with the ‘slip track’ feature. Residential construction rarely has loads where this feature would be used.
  

• What are benefits of an Open Frame Cavity (OFC)? OFC’s allow for the easy installation of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) allowing for faster install times. MEP’s are inspected and tested prior to the closing of the frame with interior MgO Board. Our manufacturing process allows us to provide pre-punched services holes both horizontally and vertically for these utilities.

• Do the Wall Panels & Roof Components come pre-treated with these exterior coatings or are these coating applied on site? YES and YES. Some of the Coatings can be factory installed in a controlled environment and others will need to be Site applied and finished by a skilled contractor. Since there will be a variety of Wall Panels, for example, being joined together in-situ each connection will create a Joint that will need to be sealed and finished to provide a uniform look and finish.

CFS Open Frame Cavity w/ Service Holes for Utilities

CAT5-MATRIX MgO Sheathing

• What is MgO Sheathing? Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Board is an advanced structural sheathing board that can be used to replace pressure treated plywood, gypsum wallboard (drywall) and other sheathings for both exterior and interior applications. CAT5-MATRIX Boards are made with Magnesium Oxide, Magnesium Sulfate, modifiers and water in a patented technological process. CAT5-MATRIX Boards do not produce harmful off-gases (VOC’s), can be cut and installed with traditional wood framing tools, are fire resistant (non-combustible) and highly resistant to water, moisture, mold, and termites. The board is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and can be disposed of in the ground as a nutrient.

• There are some reports that MgO Sheathing have had problems? YES, this is correct. Various types of MgO Boards have been in use since coming onto the market in 2007. The majority of those boards contain some amount of Magnesium Chloride Salt (MgCl2) or Oxychlorides. Those elements are found to be harmful to embedded fasteners, hurricane clips & anchors as they are susceptible to corrosion as they are prone to absorb moisture. As a result, MgCl2 based board was then susceptible to the spread of mold and decay. CAT5-MATRIX solved the inherent problems and now offers a MgCl2 free board.

• Are CAT5-MATRIX Boards Code Compliant? YES, the Board has been tested and evaluated by an international material testing facility and compliant to ICC-ES AC386, ICC-ES AC376 & ICC-ES AC378 for the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and 2021 International Residential Code (IRC).

• What is the Fire-Rating for CAT5-MATRIX Boards? The board itself is non-combustible under ASTM E136. A fire-test-response test method that determination under specified laboratory conditions the combustibility of building materials.
  

• Why don’t you use Gypsum Board in your Wall and Ceiling Assemblies? Gypsum Board (or drywall) is a product that is “not” ideally suited for island environments so we do not care to use it as it is prone to damage and wear-n-tear and when it gets wet it will instantly degrade. MgO is a superior sheathing product that when compared to the cost life-cycle and is more economical than Gypsum Board. 

• Can CAT5-MATRIX MgO Board be purchased in the U.S.V.I? YES. Our company (CAT5 BUILDERS) has the only license to distribute and sell this product in Florida, USVI, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

• Is CAT5-MATRIX MgO water resistant? YES! MgO is highly resistant to water but not completely waterproof based on its density and molecular structure. We need to use Elastomeric and Silicone paints to make it waterproof. 

CAT5 Sample Wall Panel w/ Applied MgO Sheathing (Unpainted)

Interior Design

• Can the MgO Board on the ceilings be painted? YES, it can.

• Can MgO Board accept any brand name paint or are special paints needed? YES! But we prefer specific types of Elastomeric and Silicone Paints that are designed to work specifically with the MgO to increase the performance of the Wall, Floor or Roof Assembly against the elements. Also there is a variety of finishes suck as “Knock-Down, Cat Face, Dash Finish, etc., that can be used to create various interior and exterior looks.
  

• How do you hang pictures in a CFS House? We use ½” minimum MgO for the interior wall sheathing. All MgO has structural properties just like plywood so you can screw anywhere into the MgO. If you hit one of our Structural Metal Studs the screw will need to be self-tapping (to drill into and thorough the CFS) but if it does you’ll be able to hold greater loads. Screws can be sourced at Home Depot in STX. For heavier objects you can either screw directly into the Studs or use Winged Toggle Hangers, for example. The manufacturer will provide ratings based on weight for their various types of hangers.

• How do you mount a Flat Screen TV? CAT BUILDERS will supply a horizontal sheet of galvanized metal on the Interior Face of the Wall Panel to accept the mounting plate for any mounting plate. This way you are guaranteed to have structural support where it is needed. Please note that Horizontal Flat Strapping can be provided for mounting Kitchen Cabinetry, Shower Grab Bars and other areas where increased structural reinforcing is required. We can assist you with the supply of the appropriate fastener if not provided within the mounting kit package.

• Do you use traditional wood casings, trim and moldings? Island homes are highly susceptible to Termites despite rigorous treatments. We can offer similar casings in MgO and PVC (plastic) which are highly resistant to infestation, rot and mildew. 
  

• Can the Homeowner come back and install other ceiling finishes over the MgO? YES. Homeowners are welcome to finish the interiors ceilings and walls with whatever finish they desire as their budget may not allow at time of construction. Wood boards, like 5/8” Cyprus Tongue & Groove on the ceiling, floor tile, and other finishes can be installed at any time.
  

• Are electrical outlet boxes for light switches, power receptacles, etc., mounted directly to a stud (as in a typical wood stud home)? Can they be attached directly to the MgO Board? YES & YES! The Outlet Boxes get mounted directly to the Metal Stud using self-tapping screws prior to the installation of the Interior ½” MgO Board. It is possible to use an Old Work Electrical Box and secure it directly to the MgO Board per National Electrical Code (NEC) Guidelines.
  

•  Can a common Drywall Joint Compound be used to fill nail holes or other Homeowner damages? YES. 
  

•  Can a CFS framed house be remodeled? YES! The CFS industry as a whole has a variety of solutions when it comes to remodeling. CFS components can be reused and/or recycled so there is no environmental impact. Also, steel framing enables larger spans in the design of the home, fewer interior load bearing walls are needed, making renovation very easy while allowing more flexibility in design. 
  

• Are there any special tools needed as a homeowner handling the typical “honey-do list”? NO. Standard tools available at the Big Box Stores.