Steel structures are built to last with minimal fuss. These metal buildings are truly just more economical overall than other building materials. Simple, prefabricated steel building kits ensure that you will save money both during construction and long after the building has been erected.
Steel buildings dominate the commercial and industrial market for good reason. With over 65% of the commercial market and 95% of the industrial market, metal buildings have clearly been recognized for their money-saving qualities. But what exactly are those qualities?
Knowing exactly how steel buildings save you money will help you to feel more confident in your decision to erect your next structure from this prefabricated, strong metal. Even if you are already aware of some of the money-saving perks of steel building construction, you may find that there are some surprising benefits on this list that will inspire you even further to create your next building from prefabricated steel.
Before and During Construction:
- Prefabrication
Building costs for steel buildings are kept low from the start as the framing pieces come precut to the proper length. Each piece is welded into shape, drilled and sealed to protect it from corrosion. Therefore, framers are not required to spend their time measuring, cutting, welding or drilling. - Ease of Assembly
Each steel building piece is marked at the factory, so the components are able to be quickly identified during the build. Easy-to-follow plans accompany the steel building kits. These plans indicate the placement of each component, which makes the erection of the building a streamlined process. This simplified assembly method allows the structure to be built faster, lowering labor costs. - Just a Few Pieces
Steel’s strength-to-weight ratio ensures that fewer pieces are needed to construct a sturdy, durable building. Fewer pieces means faster construction, which results in lower building expenses. - Low Labor Costs
For all the reasons listed above, steel buildings require fewer labor costs than other building materials, saving you money across the board. Insurance for laborers is also lowered when working with prefabricated steel kits for your building. The faster a building goes up the less money need be spent on builder’s risk insurance. - Less Concrete
While steel is a dense, heavy material, its strength-to-weight ratio actually makes the kit lighter overall than other construction materials. This means that less concrete needs to be used to create the foundation slab. Less concrete equals less money spent by you.
After Construction is Complete:
- Low Insurance Costs
In addition to the money saved on builder’s risk insurance during construction, insurance costs for your steel building will be less throughout its lifespan than if you had built your building with any other material. Steel is fire-proof, and is resistant to vermin, termites and mold. The lack of risk associated with steel buildings means you stand to save big on insurance year after year. - Little Post-Construction Debris
Because the components are prefabricated there is hardly any waste on-site. This eliminates the need to pay someone to remove the leftover pieces. Instead, compile the waste material and sell it for scrap. You actually make money by removing the leftover scrap. - Energy Efficiency
With well-installed insulation, steel buildings are extremely inexpensive to keep warm or to cool. In fact, a steel building’s energy bill can be as much as 50% less than buildings built from other materials. If you take the step of installing an energy saving metal roof, you’ll stand to save even more. - Low-Maintenance
Once your steel building is up and running you’ll find that it is very easy to maintain. As previously stated, steel is fire-proof and resistant to weather, pests, critters and mold. These facts alone greatly reduce the amount of maintenance you’ll need to do to keep your steel building in shape. In addition, the steel components rarely need painting, repair or replacement and will last for decades. - Lifecycle
Steel buildings last for a very long time, but if you ever decide it’s time to demolish your steel building, the metal pieces can be recycled and/or sold for scrap. Sometimes new companies coming in may even choose to pay the building owner to demolish the building so that they can claim the scrap steel.
These money-saving benefits of metal building construction are in addition to the stress, time and hassle you will save when choosing to construct your next building from prefabricated steel. As the aesthetic qualities of steel buildings continue to increase, the reasons not to build your next building from steel continue to decrease.
Steel is a great choice for your next building. Period. As long as you are working with a reputable company and purchasing high-quality building materials, you will find that your steel building will save you a ton of money over the course of its lifetime.
I like how you mentioned that steel structures, in general, are built to last with minimal fuss as well as being able to save money. One of the other things that I like about it is that once construction is complete it doesn’t take too much to maintain the entire structure and can last for a very long time. If I had the chance to be able to have something made out of steel I would definitely go for it, because of the low-maintenance costs.
It’s great that this article explains how steel buildings help you save money and get a strong structure. If someone wants one, it would probably be a good idea to research the various options and local contractors. This could help you find a professional that specializes in steel building systems so that they have the materials, experience, and skills to help you get the durable structure you want.