Steel Building

Real estate developers know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to commercial construction. Intended use, aesthetics, local building codes, probable environmental impact, and site conditions are all factors that architects and developers consider when determining a building’s unique structural requirements. Given advancements in fabrication methods and alloy technology, structural requirements no longer limit the choices of building materials. Whether downtown, in an industrial park, a strip mall, or on private tracts of land, commercial steel buildings provide the flexibility necessary to ensure the best fit for your or your client’s needs.   

Why Is Steel a Popular Choice for Modern Construction? 

Steel is the ideal building material for a majority of modern construction projects. Steel’s inherent qualities give it an edge over many alternatives. Concrete, for example, offers significant durability and water resistance, but its relatively weak tensile strength, expense, and aesthetics make it unsuitable for many projects. Architects often recommend steel based on cost-effectiveness, the high strength-to-weight ratio, and many crucial attributes such as longevity, sustainability, and versatility.

Cost-Effectiveness

Steel is cost-effective for several reasons. Fabricating steel parts is not an incredibly labor-intensive process. Pre-fabricating and assembling parts off-site can result in quicker construction and lower labor costs. Steel producers typically follow national standards regarding steel grades and quality and can fabricate parts with high precision, minimizing material waste. Steel prices remain stable relative to other materials, given that steel comes from recycled materials, which helps keep costs down. Steel is also eco-friendly, allowing developers to take advantage of tax breaks. And given steel’s durability, its presence in a building offers buildings reduced insurance premiums.

High-Strength-to-Weight-Ratio

There’s a reason that steel is a frequent go-to for writers crafting metaphors for strength. Steel’s reputation for strength is well-earned. The high strength-to-weight ratio allows structural engineers to construct buildings that withstand substantial pressure without deformation. Cold-formed steel can mitigate the damage a building endures from high winds, fires, earthquakes, and flood events. Not only is this attribute crucial for construction in areas prone to inclement weather, but fundamentally, it is the basis for constructing buildings with large open spaces unsupported by columns. Its capacity to withstand pressure makes it essential in multi-story building developments.

Longevity

Well-fabricated and maintained steel can last a century or more. It is less susceptible to the elements than other materials, such as concrete or wood, and does not deteriorate at the same rate as those materials. It’s also less vulnerable to common pests, such as termites and mice, that can wreak havoc on other building materials. Steel is naturally fire-resistant, and several treatment methods can strengthen that resistance. Its longevity reduces maintenance needs, keeping costs low. While steel quality and regular maintenance heavily influence its lifespan in commercial construction projects, its longevity is well evidenced by landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower. Not only do commercial buildings made of steel last, but they also retain their aesthetic appeal for many years.

Sustainability

While steel fabrication requires combining mined materials like coal, iron ore, and limestone, most steel used today has been recycled from other projects. Because steel can be recycled indefinitely without a loss in quality, widespread steel recycling slows the depletion of these non-renewable resources. Moreover, steel is not toxic to humans or the environment, doesn’t require substantial energy to produce or recycle, and the byproducts created during the process are reusable. Commercial steel buildings also experience minimal energy loss and reduce overall energy consumption. 

Versatility

Despite steel’s impressive strength, it’s also flexible. Steel parts can be fabricated in many shapes and forms, providing architects, structural engineers, and construction professionals with many design and aesthetic possibilities. Steel can be produced in different grades, each with unique properties of hardness, corrosion and compression resistance, and tensile strength, among other attributes. The precise capabilities of each grade and the relative ease of fabricating custom parts make steel one of the most versatile building materials on the market.

Using Steel For Your Next Commercial Building Project

Steel is an excellent choice for building attractive commercial buildings that last, are cost-effective from a construction and maintenance standpoint, and can meet precise structural requirements. Moreover, when it comes to building materials, steel is the best choice for supporting sustainability, from production to building deconstruction.

US National Steel has decades of industry experience providing high-quality, custom steel buildings for commercial, residential, agricultural, recreational, and industrial construction projects.