Steel Building Talk

There has been a phenomenal growth in the use of steel as the primary construction material in the United States over the past few years. Although steel buildings have been used domestically for commercial, industrial, and institutional needs for over 60 years, they are increasingly becoming the structure of choice internationally as well.

The use of steel as a primary agent for building construction began in the 18th century with the use of iron columns within the walls of buildings. Iron beams and columns actually became a common feature for use in large industrial buildings starting at the end of the century. Steel was invented in the mid-19th century and since that time it has been instrumental in application for use in bridges, pipelines and modern day skyscrapers. In our “green conscious” world of today steel has supplanted wood as the material of choice, in many instances, because of its low cost and because of conservation concerns.

There are many advantages in choosing steel over other types of building materials. Steel buildings, in general, usually have a much more rapid assembly time versus buildings using other materials. Costs for steel construction are also usually significantly less than conventionally constructed buildings. Steel buildings are lightweight, easier to maintain, and carry a reduced risk of fire because steel is non-combustible. Steel is, in large part, recyclable. This makes it very cost-effective and environmentally sound when compared to other materials that can be used. The strength of steel, however, is undoubtedly its best characteristic. Properly designed steel structures can withstand virtually anything that the elements can bring – high winds, heavy snows, and seismic activity, for example. Steel buildings are resistant to the insect infestation, warping, cracking, and rotting that are common with other materials.

A steel building, initially, will be slightly more expensive than any traditional styled building utilizing wood. The long term savings is seen in choosing steel because steel buildings are more energy-efficient and require very little maintenance over the serviceable life of the building. Steel buildings today can be given more of a conventional look with the use of state-of-the-art exteriors such as brick, stucco, rock, or stone. There are other benefits of building with steel. A steel building can lower your monthly building insurance costs because of the low fire risk. Contact your insurance agent about this. There is another advantage in the lower on-site labor costs resulting from the rapid assembly processes in pre-engineered steel buildings. The modern technologies involved in the fabrication process have greatly influenced the growth of the steel building systems industry because better design processes are available.

Some steel building systems are made totally or partially of recycled steel – avoiding the need for many trees that are required for even the smallest of wood homes. Consider using steel for your next building project and you will reap the rewards and benefits for years to come as your structure proves to be energy-efficient, durable and incredibly long-lasting.