Are steel buildings cheaper than wood? It’s one of the reasons the building material is so popular. The industry estimates 70 – 90 percent of construction relies on red-iron steel framing. Cost is one of the main reasons why it is so popular. However, price is not the only benefit. Steel provides many benefits that make it the better value over wood construction, regardless of the size of your project. Look at the ways steel construction makes the most of your dollar.
Steel building materials are ultra-affordable.
You’ll save with steel from the first step of your project to the last. The availability of steel is immeasurable. For all the materials already in use, the world still enjoys incredible reserves of iron used in its formation. Digging it up isn’t necessary, however, as scrap steel can be melted down and reformed into strong I-beams used in construction.
Readily available and readily accessible, steel is also at its lowest price in the last 15 years. The cost effectiveness just can’t be matched by other materials, but even if it could, alternatives likely wouldn’t provide the same return on your investment.
Steel buildings make the most of your available space.
Using red-iron steel beams, you can build up or out without major concerns. You can achieve building shapes for pennies on the dollar that would be required when using any other material, but especially when using wood. This allows you to take full advantage of the land you have available for your building project.
In addition, because of a lack of a need for interior supports, you can also put more of your square footage to real use. This is one of the main reasons steel construction is chosen for equestrian training and showing facilities. The ability to enjoy wide open spaces free from obstructions and obstacles gives steel a leg up on the competition, increasing its value above and beyond what you’ll spend on construction costs.
Hire fewer people to get the steel building installation job done.
Because of the simplicity involved in steel construction, you often need fewer workers, less equipment and fewer support materials. These saving really add up. Labor is one of the biggest factors for a construction project, and by using building supplies capable of being pieced together easily by even a barebones crew, you take a serious chunk out of your initial expenses. However, you don’t just save by hiring fewer people. You have several avenues for lowering your labor costs.
The safety of steel buildings cuts insurance costs.
Insurance companies realize the difference between a wood-framed and steel-framed construction job, and it plays out in your insurance coverage. Overall, steel construction sites suffer the least number of accidents, particularly fatalities. This is due to the time spent on site, the number of workers involved and the length of time anyone spends working. Most of the construction for steel structures takes place in a controlled factory environment. Only a few final pieces of the puzzle are put in place at the job site. This results in lower insurance rates, and in a lower number of payouts for workmen’s comp.
Speedy steel building construction saves money in many ways.
At first glance, choosing steel simply because it allows for fast completion of a job doesn’t seem to be that significant. Sure, your finished project can begin to earn a profit sooner, but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle. From major cuts in labor to fewer liabilities to paying less interest on a construction loan, the benefits of a fast build can often cut 5 percent of your total costs or more.
Superior durability makes for long-term returns on your steel building investment.
Steel can withstand much more wear and tear than wood, and yet, we have wooden-framed houses that last hundreds of years. The kicker is they require quite a bit of maintenance to protect. The first time a roof leak allows moisture in, you could be looking at tens of thousands in replacement costs. This is where steel truly offers big benefits. Red-iron steel can withstand rot, mold, pest infestations and refuses to burn in the hottest of fires. Excepting a major disaster, the frame of a steel-based structure should stand through the ages, well beyond the original intent of the building.
Modifications to your steel building are cheap and easy.
Once your building has lived out its purpose, feel confident you’ll find a new buyer. Steel construction can be modified easily and steel building prices are very low. This allows it to grow with your business, as well as take on new life as a different type of structure entirely. Wood buildings, in contrast, often require significant demolition and lengthy, expensive additions and modifications to repurpose or even expand.
Hands down, when someone asks, “Are steel buildings cheaper than wood?” the answer is “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Call us toll-free at 844-333-7325 to get more information on affordable new construction. See for yourself how steel buildings are cheaper than wood.