Welded metal frames are typically...

• A. More expensive than assembling on site
• B. Less expensive than assembling on site
• C. About the same as assembling on site
• D. Not used in interior frames

Answer: (A)

Welding adds significant fabrication, precision, and labor steps that drive up cost. Off-site welding requires skilled welders, jigs, welded joints that must pass quality control and inspection, and often dedicated shop space and equipment. Then those heavy, prefabricated frames must be transported to the site, which adds handling and logistics charges. In contrast, assembling on site with bolted or screwed connections is typically faster, uses more readily available labor, and avoids the extra costs of shop fabrication, welding procedures, and transport. It also allows for easier field adjustments if plans change. For interior framing, this combination of reduced process steps and labor generally makes on-site assembly cheaper, so welded frames are usually more expensive overall.