Why build with steel?

For starters, steel buildings are durable. They provide your family with excellent protection against wind, rain, snow and ice and are even hail-resistant. Moreover, due to the trussless, clear span design, steel buildings are uniquely resistant to earthquakes. With its durability, steel is longer lasting. In fact, it has one of the highest strength to weight ratios of any construction material. It won't crack, warp, twist, rot, split or settle like wood might. And, your steel building is impervious to termite damage.

What about appearance? Because of its strength, steel offers increased design flexibility, accommodating larger open spaces without trusses, posts or interior load-bearing walls. Steel will not shrink or swell from humidity over time, which will contribute to better drywall and exterior appearance and better fit of doors and windows. Steel buildings, either unpainted or light in color, also reflect heat in warm climates. That means lower cooling costs and less environmental impact from cooling.

There is much to be said about safety when it comes to steel buildings. First, steel doesn't burn. Your property is protected from lightning and fire-blown embers. In fact, steel's role in fire safety may actually contribute to insurance savings. It's good to know that steel buildings are resistant to decay and mildew because they don't absorb water or moisture, which can lead to rotting and cracking. Steel buildings are also weather-resistant and provide excellent protection against high winds.

How can steel contribute to better indoor air quality? Well, steel does not require pesticides, resin adhesives or other chemicals that are needed to treat wood framing products, contributing to its eco-friendliness over time. LEARN MORE.

The steel industry has invested over $50 billion in the latest technologies to make steel more innovative, lower in cost and much stronger. Steel is durable and the most recycled material on earth. It is also produced via a much cleaner, earth-friendly process. The technology used to manufacture lightweight steel sheets results in the steel’s strength coming from the material and how it is shaped. Since most of the strength and stiffness of the section depend on the shape and not its thickness, strength-to-weight ratios can be very favorable. The steel is then cleaned and coated in an alloy of zinc and aluminum. This process helps provide long-term integrity against moisture, rusting and corrosion. While prices for other materials have increased, the price for North American-produced steel, adjusted for inflation, is still lower today than in 1984, greatly increasing its competitiveness and economical advantages.