(Spoiler Alert: Steel Wins)
As we move ever bravely into the future it is important to recognize the truth about the various materials available for building construction. The two major players in construction materials are steel and wood. Which one reigns supreme?
Prefabricated steel buildings dominate the commercial and industrial market. Yes, wood framing is still preferred when it comes to residential home building, but this does not mean that steel wouldn’t be a fantastic option for a new home as well. The idea that steel is reserved solely for functionality-driven buildings that don’t require aesthetic appeal is crumbling like termite-infested timber.
Let’s take a look at how these two popular building materials rank against each other.
Construction
Wood:
Skilled carpenters must be present in order to construct with wood. Each stud has to be cut and measured, making a wood design very labor-intensive. In addition, it is often the case that a certain percentage of the timber delivered to the building site has to be rejected for flaws, resulting in construction delays. The extra time needed to prep and erect a wood-framed building translates to more money spent by you.
Steel:
As the steel will be prefabricated at the factory, there will be no need for an on-site team to cut, weld, punch, measure, drill or paint. The kits arrive ready to be assembled. The pieces are all labeled to help with ease of construction and the clear, detailed plans make assembly simple and stress-free. All this saves you time and money over the much-more labor-intensive wood.
The winner: Steel
Weather
Wood:
Weather is often not good to wood. When forceful, hurricane-level winds hit a wooden structure, windows break, and doors can be blasted open. The intense pressure created by the wind pops nails and staples. If the roof is lifted off the wooden structure, the integrity of the walls will be compromised, and they will fall.
In the case of a lightning storm, wood actually resists electric currents. As wood contains a certain moisture content, lightning causes the wood to detonate when struck. This results in voltage exploding out and potentially striking objects or people.
Steel:
Steel can withstand far greater winds than wood. High winds are no match for strong, durable steel frames. The nuts and bolts that hold the steel components together create an air-tight seal that promotes resistance to hurricane-level winds.
Unlike wood, steel is not resistant to electrical currents. Steel is actually a wonderful conductor of electricity. If struck by lightning, the electrical current will pass through the steel and safely into the ground. As long as your steel building is properly grounded, it will be resistant to lightning damage.
The winner: Steel
Fire
Wood:
Wood catches fire. Anyone who has ever sought to build a campfire knows this. Therefore, once a flame has caught in your wood structure, the wood will actually feed the fire, resulting in more damage.
Steel:
No one tries to build a campfire out of steel. Why? Because it is fire-resistant. It will not feed a fire occurring in your building and it will not be the point of ignition either.
The winner: Steel
Termites and Other Pests
Wood:
Termites love wood. It’s a delicious treat for them. If you build with wood, expect to shell out big bucks each year in expensive chemical treatments to keep your structure free of termites and other pests. If your building becomes infested you’re looking at an even bigger price-tag to repair the mess.
Steel:
Termites do not consider steel a yummy snack, so you don’t have to worry about an infestation. Overall, steel is not attractive to critters and pests therefore you won’t have to pay for pricey treatments to keep the little bugs and vermin away.
The winner: Steel
Strength
Wood:
This one is simple. Wood isn’t as strong as steel. Period.
Steel:
Steel is the strongest material you could choose as your building material. The end.
The winner: Steel
Integrity
Wood:
Should an earthquake strike, there is a good chance the integrity of your wood building will be compromised. This could lead to small or large structural damage and expensive repairs.
Steel:
In the case of an earthquake, steel frames are built to move slightly with the shaking. This slight movement helps to absorb some of the force of the quake, often saving structural damage.
The winner: Steel
Maintenance
Wood:
Wood needs to be repainted often to protect it from the elements. Generally, wood needs more maintenance and repair than steel to keep it free of mold, rot, pests or other potential damage.
Steel:
Steel is very low-maintenance. A few yearly ministrations such as rinsing out the rain gutters will keep your steel building look great and functioning properly.
The winner: Steel
Insurance
Wood:
Due to the vulnerability of wood to the elements, animal and bug life, fires and seismic events, insurance will be high. Worker’s insurance during construction will also cost more than steel as construction time is longer.
Steel:
Owners of steel buildings enjoy many insurance price cuts and savings. Steel is less risky than wood, therefore it is less expensive to insure.
The winner: Steel
Lifespan
Wood:
Even if you take great care of your wood building, the nature of the material will cause it to break down over time.
Steel:
Steel buildings are built to last and will look great throughout their lifespan. Steel is also a coveted recyclable material. The steel used to build the building in the first place is likely to have been recycled and can be recycled again once it’s time to tear down the structure.
The winner: Steel
Steel beats wood by a landslide. In comparing these two coveted materials it is evident that steel buildings, while perhaps considered less attractive than wood (though that’s debatable), are simply more efficient, longer lasting and cost-effective. Choose steel for your next building and rest easy knowing you’ve just picked a winner.
