Office and Retail Partitions
Demising walls, offices, meeting rooms and storefront partitions, framed to layout and checked against the drawings.
Steel stud framing in Kingston, ON
Steel Stud Framing and Metal Partitions in Kingston
Kingston Drywall Pros frames interior walls, ceilings and bulkheads in light-gauge steel for commercial fit-outs, multi-unit buildings and residential basements across Kingston. General contractors, property managers and homeowners hire us to frame and board with one crew.
Light-gauge steel framing uses roll-formed galvanised studs and track instead of lumber. It is straight, non-combustible and immune to rot, which is why it is the default in commercial interiors and a smart choice against basement concrete.
Steel rewards precision. A plumb, straight wall is what makes every finish after it look good, so layout gets as much attention as the framing itself.
- 20+ years
- 2,500+ jobs
- Licensed, insured, WSIB
20+ years of drywall
in Eastern Ontario
in Eastern Ontario
Service overview
Our Steel Stud Framing Services
Steel stud framing is the layout and construction of interior walls, ceilings and soffits from steel track and studs, ready for drywall. We take it from chalk line to final coat, so framing and board are never split between trades.
It is built for general contractors on commercial and multi-unit projects, property managers doing suite work, and homeowners finishing basements. Our framing scope includes:
- Layout from drawings, checked against mechanical and electrical rough-in
- Floor and deflection track, studs at the specified gauge and spacing
- Headers, door frames and openings framed to size
- Blocking for millwork, grab bars, TVs and wall-hung equipment
- Bulkheads, soffits and chases
- Drywall, taping and finishing by the same crew
Framing work
Steel Framing Work We Take On
Steel framing covers six main kinds of work, from simple partitions to curved feature walls.
Fire Rated Walls and Ceilings
Framed to the stud gauge, spacing and board layers of the listed design, with head and base details that keep the rating intact.
Shaft Walls, Chases and Bulkheads
Shaft wall systems for stairs and elevators, plus framed chases and bulkheads that hide ducts, pipes and beams.
Curved and Feature Walls
Flexible track and closely spaced studs create smooth radius walls, reception features and curved bulkheads.
Suspended Framing and Drop Soffits
Hung steel ceilings and soffits for drywall ceilings where a T-bar grid is not wanted.
Residential Basement Framing
Steel does not rot, warp or feed mould against a foundation wall. See basement drywall.
Free written quotes with the finish level spelled out.
Material options
Steel Stud Gauge and Spacing Options
Stud gauge and spacing decide how stiff a wall is and what it can carry, and they are the most common reason one framing bid is cheaper than another. Gauge is the steel thickness; a lower number means thicker steel.
| Spec item | What it means | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 25 gauge studs | Light non-structural steel | Short partitions with no heavy fixtures |
| 20 gauge studs | Heavier non-structural steel | Tall walls, door frames and wall-hung items |
| Structural gauges (18 and heavier) | Studs designed by an engineer | Load-bearing and exterior walls |
| 16 in. vs 24 in. centres | Distance between studs | Closer spacing stiffens the wall and is required by many rated assemblies |
| Deflection track | Slotted head track that lets the floor above move | Under slabs and long spans, so board does not crack |
Compare
Steel Studs Versus Wood Studs
Steel is better for straightness, moisture and fire; wood is easier for heavy fasteners and some trades. Here is how they compare for interior walls.
| Factor | Steel studs | Wood studs |
|---|---|---|
| Straightness | Perfectly straight, no shrinking or twisting | Can crown, twist and shrink as it dries |
| Moisture and mould | Will not rot or feed mould | Vulnerable below grade and after leaks |
| Fire | Non-combustible | Combustible |
| Hanging heavy items | Needs planned blocking | Fastens anywhere into the stud |
| Nail pops | Rare, since screws are used and nothing shrinks | Common in years two and three |
How it works
How We Frame and Board a Steel Stud Wall
A steel framing job runs in five steps, with layout checked before any track is fastened.
- 1
Layout
Walls are snapped out from the drawings and checked against mechanical and electrical rough-in.
- 2
Track
Floor track and deflection or standard head track are fastened and plumbed with a laser.
- 3
Studs and Openings
Studs go in at the specified spacing, with headers and door frames built to size.
- 4
Blocking and Inspection
Blocking for fixtures is installed and the framing is made ready for inspection.
- 5
Board and Finish
Drywall is screwed with fine-thread screws, then taped and finished to spec.
Send us a few photos for a faster estimate.
Fire ratings
Fire Ratings, Firestopping and the Ontario Building Code
An hourly fire rating belongs to a complete tested assembly: stud size and spacing, board type and layers, and the fastener schedule. Change one element and the rating no longer applies.
We build to the ULC listed design on your drawings using Type X or Type C board. Openings for pipes, ducts and cables need a listed firestop system, usually installed by a firestop specialist we coordinate with before close-in.
FAQ
Steel Stud Framing FAQs
Straight answers to the questions we hear on site visits every week.
Is steel stud framing more expensive than wood?
For interior partitions, material costs are often similar. Steel stays straight and does not shrink, so walls stay flat and callbacks for nail pops are rare.
When is steel framing required rather than optional?
Buildings of noncombustible construction under the Ontario Building Code generally need noncombustible framing, which means steel. Your architect or engineer specifies it on the drawings.
Can you frame around existing mechanical and electrical?
Yes. We lay out around existing services, build chases and bulkheads, and coordinate with the trades where anything needs to move.
What screws are used for drywall on steel studs?
Fine-thread drywall screws for light-gauge steel, and self-drilling screws for heavier gauges. Coarse-thread screws meant for wood strip out in steel.
Related
What Comes After the Framing
Framing is followed by board and finish. See commercial drywall installation for fit-outs and rated assemblies, and residential drywall installation for home projects.
Free written quote Prefer to talk it through? Call us (343) 504-7975
Get a Framing and Board Quote
Send drawings or a sketch with wall heights and lengths. We will price framing and board together and flag anything in the spec that needs a closer look.
- Hours
- Mon to Sat: 7:00am to 9:30pm
- Sun: 9:00am to 8:00pm
- Service area
- Kingston and towns within about 45 minutes, plus larger projects further afield.
- Licensed
- Fully insured
- WSIB covered
- WHMIS trained
- Working at Heights trained
- Drywall specialists