Walls framed with steel are built in place, one piece at a time. The primary fastener is a sheet metal screw; the primary tools are a drill/driver and metal snips. To frame a wall with metal studs, expect to spend about 2 to 3 hours for a 12-foot wall. You’ll need to plan the wall location and measure the height of the wall in several spots before you begin. Fastening Metal Framing Metal framing requires a variety of specific screws. Panhead sheet metal screws ½ inch long are used for fastening metal pieces. These screws can also be used to attach the track to a wooden floor and ceiling joists. If the ceiling is already covered with drywall, use 1¼-inch-long screws to reach through the drywall into the joists. Drywall screws 1¼ inches long are used for attaching drywall to metal studs. Attach trim with 1½-inch (or longer) trimhead screws; their small-diameter heads countersink neatly, making it easy to fill the resulting holes. To fasten metal track to a concrete floor, use power-actuated fasteners or concrete screws. The power-actuated fasteners are fired from a nail gun you can rent. Use a No. 3 load with a ½- or ⅝-inch pin.
