Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on commercial framing, drywall, millwork, acoustic systems, and construction technology from The Edge Construction Co., Chicago.
Straight answers on commercial framing, drywall, millwork, acoustic systems, and construction technology from The Edge Construction Co., Chicago.
The Company
The Edge self-performs commercial carpentry on multi-family residential, mixed-use developments, retail buildouts, auto dealerships, corporate office fit-outs, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, fitness centers, and historic renovations — all within the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
The Edge self-performs all five of its core scopes — metal stud framing, wood framing, commercial drywall, millwork installation, and acoustic ceiling installations — using its own employees and crews. No sub-subcontracting. This gives general contractors a single point of accountability and eliminates the coordination gap between framing and finish trades.
The Edge serves the greater Chicago metropolitan area — City of Chicago, the North Shore, western suburbs (Bartlett, Elgin, Naperville, Schaumburg), southern suburbs, and broader Chicagoland across Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties. The company is headquartered in Bartlett, IL.
Metal Framing
Light gauge metal stud framing (typically 25 to 20 gauge) is used for non-load-bearing interior partitions, soffit framing, and shaft walls. Structural metal stud framing uses heavier gauge steel (18 gauge and below, including cold-formed structural steel) and is engineered to carry loads — used for exterior wall backup, load-bearing partitions, curtain wall backup, and tall-wall systems. The Edge handles both, including complex structural assemblies that many framing contractors avoid.
The Edge has extensive experience with curved walls, angled assemblies, tall-wall systems exceeding 20 feet, curtain wall backup framing, multi-story structural steel stud systems, and framing inside historic structures. Projects include a 1926 Evanston theater conversion with complex structural framing and curved exterior assemblies on commercial auto dealerships.
Professional-grade rotary laser equipment establishes layout control points accurate to fractions of an inch across an entire floor plate — far more precise than snap lines or manual chalk measurement. This accuracy is critical for complex ceiling systems, curtain wall backup, and multi-floor alignment. Downstream trades — MEP, drywall, millwork, and ceiling systems — all depend on framing being in exactly the right place. Misaligned framing is one of the most common sources of RFIs and field rework; precision laser layout eliminates it at the source.
Wood framing is typically specified for low-rise commercial and multi-family buildings up to five stories — townhomes, apartment buildings, boutique hotels, and light commercial — where the building code allows Type V or Type III construction. Metal stud framing is used for Type I and II construction, higher-rise buildings, and any application requiring dimensional stability, fire-rated assemblies, or structural steel stud systems. Many projects use both: wood for structural floor-to-floor assemblies and metal stud for interior partitions.
Yes. The Edge self-performs both wood and metal stud framing, which means hybrid projects are delivered under a single subcontract. This eliminates the coordination gap that exists when a GC splits the scope between two separate framing subs — a common source of RFIs, scheduling conflicts, and field errors at the wood-to-metal transition.
Drywall Solutions
Continuous Flow Drywall finishing is a production method using automated spray finishing equipment that applies joint compound in a continuous, high-speed pass across commercial drywall surfaces. Unlike traditional hand-finishing — which requires multiple manual passes with drying time between coats — Continuous Flow systems apply compound in a controlled, even layer that reduces labor time and delivers more consistent results. The Edge uses this technology to achieve Level 5 finish quality at up to 75% faster production speeds than traditional field-finishing methods.
The No Coat machine is an automated corner bead installation system that applies metal or vinyl corner bead using a controlled crimping mechanism rather than manual nailing or stapling. It produces perfectly straight, consistent corners across an entire project — something that is difficult to achieve reliably by hand on large commercial jobs. The Edge adopted the No Coat system after evaluating it through a peer group of leading commercial contractors. It eliminates one of the most labor-intensive and variable steps in the drywall finishing process, speeding up production and improving finished quality.
The Edge's in-house drywall prefab shop pre-builds wall assemblies in a controlled environment before they arrive on site. Field crews install pre-built panels rather than measuring, cutting, and fitting everything from scratch under job-site conditions — reducing on-site labor time by up to 75%. On large repetitive projects like multi-family buildings, prefabrication keeps the framing and drywall scope from becoming a critical path bottleneck that delays MEP, flooring, and finish trades.
The Edge installs all commercial drywall systems: standard gypsum board partitions, UL-listed fire-rated assemblies (1-, 2-, and 3-hour), moisture and mold-resistant board, shaft wall systems, area separation walls, soffits, bulkheads, and Level 5 finish for high-end paint and specialty coating applications. The complete scope includes hanging, taping, finishing, and texture — one sub, total accountability.
Millwork & Acoustic
As early as possible — ideally during the submittal process. The Edge reviews shop drawings before product is fabricated, not after it arrives on-site with a dimension problem. Early engagement allows The Edge to flag conflicts with electrical rough-in, substrate conditions, and installation sequencing before they become change orders. The more complex the millwork, the more valuable early coordination is.
The Edge specializes in installation of millwork supplied by the architect's specified fabricator or the GC's selected millwork shop. The value is in coordinating shop drawing review, ensuring on-site conditions are ready, and executing the installation with precision that protects the fabricator's product and the owner's investment.
The Edge installs the full range of specialty acoustic ceiling systems: suspended ceiling clouds and baffles, linear wood slat and plank ceilings, perforated and solid metal panel systems, geometric and honeycomb specialty ceilings, and fabric-wrapped acoustic panels. All work is executed from architect and interior designer specifications, coordinated with manufacturers through the full submittal process.
Every acoustic installation begins with laser-established control points and elevation benchmarks. For floating cloud systems, precision leveling equipment sets suspension wire heights uniformly across the entire installation — critical for the flat, level appearance that defines a high-quality cloud system. All suspension points are set to documented benchmarks before any panels are hung.
Technology & Project Management
Procore gives every party on a project — GC, owner, and trade — access to the same submittals, RFIs, daily logs, and schedule in real time. The most common causes of schedule slippage in commercial construction are communication failures: a submittal that didn't get reviewed, an RFI that sat unanswered, a field issue that wasn't logged until it became a change order. Procore closes those gaps. The Edge runs Procore on every project, which means GCs already using Procore have zero friction integrating The Edge into their existing project workflow.
Yes — Procore is a company standard at The Edge, not optional. Every project runs submittals, RFIs, and daily field reports through Procore. GCs have real-time visibility into project status and a complete documentation trail without having to call or visit the site for a status update.
Procore and precision laser layout run on every project without exception. Prefabrication is deployed whenever scope, schedule, and logistics allow it to deliver meaningful time savings. Continuous Flow Drywall finishing and the No Coat automated corner bead machine are used on applicable finishing scopes. The goal is always the same: fewer surprises, better quality, faster delivery.