Steel Is The Building Material Of the Future

For centuries buildings have been constructed of wood, stone and brick. But just as the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, steel buildings have advanced the art of creating lasting structures that marks a new era in the history of construction.

Steel not only lasts longer, but it’s actually among the cheapest building materials. In fact, steel frames traditionally cost from 5% to 7% less than those made with wood or concrete. That’s according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Steel fabricators also point out that the market for steel tends to be more stable and fewer resources are needed to produce steel.

Steel is such a stable and long-lasting material that many companies offer impressive decades-long warranties. This is made possible by the fact that steel buildings are characterized by extremely low maintenance costs. Wood and concrete require far more maintenance expense over the lifetime of the structure.

Another benefit that steel fabricators like to tout is versatility. A steel building readily allows for expansion. That’s because they can be designed with column-free space that makes it easier to accommodate future modification. Architects say that steel building offer a high degree of “functionality.” It creates opportunity to incorporate “creative space.”

Steel building enjoy a high strength-to-weight ratio which leverages self-supporting sustainability. Again, steel eliminates the need for additional columns, beams, pillars and other support structures to establish high-integrity strength and durability.

Steel is a substance that is naturally unattractive to pests. Think of the billions in dollars of damage done to wooden structures by termites alone! Steel is also super resistant to the ravages that moisture and heat can inflict costly damage upon wooden or even concrete buildings.

Finally, steel is the safest materials to use in terms of withstanding damage from severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods.