3 5/8 x 10 foot 20 gauge steel studs 

The U.S. manufacturer of UltraSTEEL interior framing is retooling its factories in North America in hopes of forever changing the face of the humble steel stud. Because the product's cold-rolled, "dimple" process yields a higher-strength stud using lighter-gauge steel, the producer says it is offering them at no extra cost. Meanwhile, old-style, "flat" studs are being phased out.

"When a facility is converted, it no longer offers traditional flat steel," says Greg S. Ralph, product development director for Dietrich Metal Framing, a unit of Columbus, Ohio-based Worthington Industries. The producer is offering the bumpy studs in two gauges and five sizes, from 15/8 in. to 6 in.

Since announcing the change last year, the company so far has converted eight of 20 factories, starting in the Southeast. It expects to offer the galvanized studs nationwide by next May. Availability is updated regularly at the Web site below.

According to the manufacturer, the dimpled surface offers a thicker material that grabs hold of screws and then locks them into place. Stud flanges have a textured V-groove that gives builders a sight line to help them fit joints with more precision than before. Independent lab tests have found that the studs are more resistant to bending, fire and noise transmission than traditional-style metal studs, claims the producer. The rolling process also smooths out sharp edges.

Dietrich last fall announced that it bought a license to make the studs from U.K.-based Hadley Group, which developed the forming process 15 years ago. The innovation is in global demand. According to Hadley, production has shot up over the last 10 years from 600,000 meters a year to 200 million meters.