09-20-2007, 12:35 PM
Rob, the only concern I have with metal joists is that you still need to put wood subflooring on top of it. Wood joists can squeek, but they don't make as much of a drum-like surface. Do you find that steel makes for a noisier environment on a raised foundation? Regarding the environmental impact of steel vs trees, I would bet that steel will replace wood in stick-house construction in my lifetime. Our fir and pine forests cannot sustain the demand. We've opted for bamboo from the floor up- it just was so attractive for many reasons including being a renewable building material.