Residential Steel Framing for Los Angeles Homes & Wildfire Rebuilds
Build the home you want. Build more resilience into it.
Project-specific cold-formed steel framing for custom homes and residential rebuilds across Los Angeles and Southern California.
Wheeler prepares project-specific steel framing from the approved design - built around the home and ready for the jobsite.
- Your architect designs the home.
- Your builder brings it to life.
- Wheeler provides project-specific cold-formed steel framing for custom homes.
For this home, cold-formed steel frames the load-bearing walls, floors and roof, supporting a Type II/noncombustible construction strategy.
Final construction classification and any required fire-resistance-rated assemblies are determined by the project’s licensed design professionals.
A DIFFERENT WAY TO BUILD OR REBUILD
MORE RESILIENT BY DESIGN
A custom home shouldn’t have to choose between beautiful architecture and greater resilience.
Cold-formed steel provides a noncombustible way to frame the load-bearing walls, floors and roof of a home - reducing combustible material within the primary structure while supporting sophisticated custom design.
For homeowners building or rebuilding in wildfire-prone communities, steel can be part of a broader approach to resilience, durability and long-term performance.
NOT ALL STEEL STRUCTURES ARE THE SAME
STEEL FRAMING IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY
A home can contain steel framing and still rely on wood structural components, foam-based assemblies or other materials.
Wheeler can support homes designed with cold-formed steel across the load-bearing walls, floors and roof. Depending on the complete approved design and assemblies, that can support a Type II/noncombustible construction strategy.
Wheeler’s primary structural cold-formed steel components are sourced from a leading manufacturer participating in the SFIA Code Compliance Certification Program, providing independent verification of key material and manufacturing requirements.
The difference isn’t simply whether a home contains steel. It’s how the entire structure is designed.
YOUR CUSTOM HOME, FRAMED IN STEEL
THE HOME DRIVES THE FRAMING - NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND
Choosing steel doesn’t mean choosing a standard plan, modular home or industrial-looking design.
Your architect designs the home around the property, the way you live and the architecture you want. Wheeler works from the approved architectural and structural design to prepare the project-specific steel framing around it.
Complex roofs. Open spaces. Curves. Stairs. Multi-level homes. Distinctive residential architecture.
Steel should enable the architecture - not define it.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
PROJECT-SPECIFIC RESIDENTIAL STEEL FRAMING
- Project-specific steel framing: cold-formed steel framing prepared for the specific home and its approved design
- Project coordination: coordination with the approved architectural and structural design
- Prepared steel components: steel components prepared and organized for delivery and installation
- Prepared for installation: project-specific steel framing prepared for efficient installation on site
FROM DESIGN TO JOBSITE
RESIDENTIAL STEEL, PREPARED FOR THE PROJECT
Building a sophisticated custom home in steel takes more than supplying steel.
Wheeler prepares project-specific steel framing from the approved design - built around the home and ready for the jobsite.
For architects, the design comes first. For builders, the framing is prepared around the actual project. For homeowners and developers, it means working with a residential steel specialist with decades of experience bringing custom steel homes from design toward construction.
BUILT FOR THE JOBSITE
A PRACTICAL STEEL FRAMING PACKAGE FOR THE BUILDER’S CREW
The approach is proven and repeatable. The framing is prepared for the specific home.
Project-specific steel framing is delivered to the jobsite for installation by the project’s framing crew or another qualified installer selected by the builder.
The framing is not a modular unit, factory-built home or preassembled panel package.
Wheeler coordinates with the architect, structural engineer, general contractor and framing team throughout the agreed framing scope.
WHY BUILD WITH STEEL
A STRONGER START FOR A MORE RESILIENT HOME
- Greater fire resilience: cold-formed steel is noncombustible, helping reduce combustible material within the home’s primary structure
- Design freedom: custom architecture first - the steel framing is prepared around the approved design
- Straight and stable: steel doesn’t shrink, twist or warp the way wood can
- Termite and rot resistant: steel doesn’t provide a food source for termites and isn’t susceptible to structural dry rot
- Highly recyclable: steel is highly recyclable and can support a more resource-conscious approach to construction
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE
WHY STEEL MATTERS IN WILDFIRE COUNTRY
No material can make a home fireproof. But what you build it from matters.
Cold-formed steel is noncombustible. Using steel across the primary structural framing can reduce combustible material within the walls, floors and roof.
For homes in wildfire-prone communities, that can be one part of a broader resilience strategy that also considers the roof, exterior, windows, vents, decks, landscaping and defensible space.
BUILDING WITH INSURANCE IN MIND
POTENTIAL INSURANCE BENEFITS
Construction type and wildfire-mitigation measures can matter in insurance underwriting.
A more comprehensive noncombustible construction strategy may support a different insurance conversation than simply incorporating steel framing.
Coverage, discounts and premiums depend on the insurer, property and complete design. Wheeler does not provide insurance advice or guarantee any insurance outcome.
FOLLOW THIS RESIDENTIAL STEEL REBUILD
THE HOME THAT STARTED WHEELER’S STORY
After the Pacific Palisades wildfire, one home’s cold-formed steel structure remained standing while much of the surrounding community was devastated.
That home became the starting point for Wheeler Residential Steel Supply - and a powerful reminder of why the materials behind a home matter.
Follow its rebuild and see how decades of residential steel experience are being applied to a new generation of Southern California homes.
getwheelersteel.com/rebuild
PROJECT GALLERY
ABOUT WHEELER RESIDENTIAL STEEL SUPPLY
RESIDENTIAL STEEL EXPERIENCE YOU CAN SEE
For more than three decades, Don Wheeler has worked with cold-formed steel in residential construction.
That experience spans custom homes, complex roofs, floors, stairs and sophisticated residential framing - and today informs Wheeler Residential Steel Supply’s work with custom homes and wildfire rebuilds throughout Southern California.
Don Wheeler
Residential Cold-Formed Steel Specialist
Don Wheeler has decades of experience in residential cold-formed steel construction, including custom homes, complex residential framing, industry education and speaking. Today, his experience informs Wheeler Residential Steel Supply's work with custom homes and residential rebuilds across Southern California.
Don's industry experience includes participation in Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) educational programming and coverage by BuildSteel. His earlier work is documented at Don Wheeler Construction.
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP & REFERENCES
Wheeler Residential Steel Supply maintains an organizational membership profile with the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute.
View Wheeler's CFSEI Profile
Don Wheeler's cold-formed steel experience and work have been featured in BuildSteel industry coverage and educational content.
View BuildSteel CoverageAdditional industry references: 2026 CFSEI Expo speakers, 2024 CFSEI Expo preview.
RESIDENTIAL COLD-FORMED STEEL FRAMING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to common questions about cold-formed steel framing, Type II construction, fire resilience and how Wheeler works with your project team are on the residential cold-formed steel framing page.
START A CONVERSATION
CONSIDERING STEEL FOR YOUR HOME OR PROJECT?
Whether you’re rebuilding, designing a custom home or evaluating steel for an upcoming development, talk with us early.
We’ll help you understand whether residential cold-formed steel is a good fit for the project.
There is no charge or obligation for the initial conversation.
Call: (888)495-5677
Email: info@getwheelersteel.com
Currently focused on Southern California. Have a project elsewhere? Contact us to discuss.