US Frame Factory is committed to serving clients all over the world. Steel framing and metal stud kits can be transported efficiently in shipping containers. We carter to specifically the Caribbean nations and Guyana. Wherever your project is, we guarantee your materials will conform to American steel framing standards.
A single shipping container can carry 20.4 metric tons of metal framing material. A 1400 m2 house built to mainland USA standards contains about 5.5 metric tons of steel. Depending on the building type, you can expect to get 4200-5600 m2 of building per shipping container.
International Destinations
Our factory is situated in South Louisiana, close to four of the largest US international ports for foreign exports: Port of Houston (USHOU), Port of South Louisiana, Port of Corpus Christi, and Port of New Orleans. Our proximity to these ports allows us to obtain competitive pricing for international trade. Listed below are approximate CIF costs (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) to ship a 20.4 metric ton container to some of the world’s major ports. This means we cover the cost all the way to your desired port, excluding import tax. International transport time typically ranges from 15 to 30 days.
Caribbean
South America
Middle East / Africa
- The Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico – $4,500
- Port of Kingston, Jamaica – $2,965
- Port of Freeport, Bahamas – $4,400
- Port of Caucedo/Port of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -$3400
- Port of Bridgetown, Barbados – $4,500
- Port of Georgetown, Cayman Islands – $3,300
- Port of Colon, Panama – $2,400
- Turks and Caicos, UK – $2,700
- Georgetown Port (GYGEO), Guyana – $5100
- Port of San Antonio (Santiago), Chile – $4,200
- Port of Callao, Peru (Lima-Callau) – $3,700
- Port of Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil $2,650
- Port of Cartagena, Colombia – $2,500
- Port of Tubarao, Brazil – $3,500
- Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina – $2,450
- Port of Callao, Peru (Lima-Callau) – $2,600
- Port of Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil $2,500
- Port of Yanbu Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – $5,100
- Port of Dubai (Jebel Ali), UAE – $2,000
- Lagos, Nigeria – $5,000
- Port of Durban, South Africa – $5,700
- Port of Singapore, Singapore – $4,200
- Port of Haifa, Israel – $2,300
Steel Framing in the Caribbean & Guyana
Construction in the Caribbean faces significant challenges, including vulnerability to hurricanes and seismic activity, limited access to resources, shortages of skilled labor, coastal erosion, and environmental concerns. Building with light-gauge steel can address these issues.
Save on skilled labor by having pre-fabricated kits with labels on all members
Light-gauge steel buildings are designed to withstand hurricane winds and earth quakes
Steel buildings are 40% lighter than their concrete/CMU counter parts allowing for savings on the foundation
The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Bahamas, and other island nations can benefit greatly from light-gauge steel construction. Light-gauge steel is more cost-effective than concrete/CMU blocks, while still being strong enough to withstand hurricane winds. Metal studs have corrosion resistant galvanization coating making them suitable for humid environments. When building with light-gauge steel, you will not only save on framing costs, but foundations can be built with less concrete due to the lighter structural weight compared to concrete walls.
Light-Gauge Metal Trusses Shipped Internationally
At US Frame Factory, we produce custom metal trusses for roofs and floors that offer clear spans of up to 80 feet and are engineered to withstand hurricane-level wind loads. Our trusses, made using a lightweight Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) system, are suitable for various applications, including commercial/retail buildings and multi-family construction projects of any scale. Each truss is uniquely designed to meet the specific requirements of your project. These can come in shipping containers with labeled members which allows for fast on-site assembly.
Engineering Support
For builders in the Caribbean, we will not only ship you all required materials but also provide you with recommendations for engineering firms to review your plans. In South Louisiana, we’ve been involved in building several hurricane resistant buildings on the gulf coast to resist wind speeds of up to 160 mph.
Ideal Uses for Light-Gauge Construction
- Single family homes/villas
- Hospitals
- 3-4 story Multi-family complexes
- Retail and Commercial Strip Malls
- Schools
- Churches and Religious Buildings
- Emergency Shelters and Disaster Relief Structures
- Government and Military Buildings