Steel buildings are becoming more and more popular in commercial and agricultural use. There is a wide variety of reasons for this including the durability of the structure, savings on both time and money, and a reduced impact on the environment.
This article will examine these advantages in more depth and help formulate a conclusive opinion on whether one should truly consider steel buildings as an alternative to conventional structures.
DURABILITY
By far, the biggest advantage of steel buildings is their durability. Quality steel structures will be resistant to water damage, earthquakes, or other natural disasters. Environmental impact is also not a major concern and termites would have zero effect on a steel structure. Therefore, the overall wear and tear that steel buildings experience will be much lower than other conventional structures, like a log cabin.
THEY SAVE MONEY
No one can argue that the initial price of a steel building will be higher than wood or concrete, but the savings one experiences over time with steel buildings cannot be enjoyed with other conventional structures. As explained above, there’s very little wear and tear so you won’t have to spend as much on maintenance. In comparison, wood buildings would get warped from the rain and heat and will need replacing, or at least parts of it will.
TIME IS ALSO MONEY
Steel buildings also have the added advantage of being pre-fabricated, so erecting these structures takes considerably less time. You’re going to get these structures in components which need to be assembled and erected, so you don’t need to build the entire structure from scratch. Some companies go as far as designing the structure, gathering permits, delivering it, and then finally erecting the completed structure on your site. Murray Steel Buildings are one example of a company offering such services.
However, you aren’t bound to hire these companies to erect the structure for you. If you prefer a more hands-on approach and want to assemble and erect on your own, then you have that option available as well.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Steel buildings are very eco-friendly. Recycled steel can be used in the construction and assembly of these structures which reduces the carbon footprint significantly. You also save on natural resources (trees) by opting for these structures. Estimates have suggested that more than 100 trees are used in the construction of a decent-sized barn. By opting for a steel structure, you not only conserve resources but also reduce the carbon footprint in the process.
EASY TO MODIFY AT LATER STAGES
It’s easier to modify steel buildings with minimum fallout. All you need to do is attached a new section after removing a wall or side of the building and the rest of the structure continues to remain intact. A lot of this has to do with the material properties of steel that allow for easy cutting without compromising durability. Doing the same with a wood building would likely result in the structure being compromised and if not, then you’ll have to deal with hiding the modification spots.
CONCLUSION
When it comes purely to commercial and agricultural buildings, one can certainly consider steel as an alternative. The durability, cost-saving, and modification potential allow for a smarter choice to be made.