A successful business starts from the ground up-literally. This is why many are choosing cost effective steel buildings to start their venture with a smart choice. These savings are seen from the beginning of the project, through to the completion of construction, and are maintained while the structure is in use.
Steel buildings are becoming a number one choice for many commercial properties such as strip malls, office buildings, retail stores, aircraft hangers, storage units and gymnasiums. Many portable options are also available for construction and real estate needs. In addition to cost savings, people are choosing commercial steel buildings because of their versatility, adaptability to construction sites, structural stability, energy efficiency, and wide design options and floor plans.
The savings start with choosing a contractor and continue while the business is up and running. Choosing a contractor is a simple and streamlined process. Traditional construction requires many service providers, including framers, roofers, siding specialists, window installers and more. Commercial steel buildings only require one contractor that manages the construction of the frame, wall panels, roof, doors and windows.
By having the entire structure built by one contractor, the project is completed more efficiently. The cost is lowered by easing the research and preparation, reducing delays and minimizing the number of inspections needed. There is no need to waste time comparing multiple bids from various subcontractors for each area of construction. There will not be delays due to one subcontractor waiting on another to finish their job. Nor will there be one inspection after another as each phase is completed. Using one steel buildings contractor equates to countless hours saved on project management time.
Many steel building contractors will lay the foundation, which also adds considerable savings. The foundation of a traditional single story structure will generally have a price tag that exceeds 15 percent of the total cost of construction. This includes an excavation project and large amounts of concrete to be poured. The foundation cost of a steel building is nearly nonexistent. It can simply be holes drilled with a power auger and a concrete slab. This type of construction uses metal trusses and posts, which are buried 4 to 6 feet deep. This method gives superior lateral and vertical bearing strength providing a structurally sound building.
Structural stability is key for safety and security. A properly designed and constructed metal building can withstand weather that would destroy traditional construction. This is because the posts are implanted deep into the ground so the force of the wind on the walls is transmitted directly into the earth. Unlike traditional construction, steel buildings are naturally fire resistant and tend not to collapse during fires or earthquakes. This reduction in risk can equate to a decreased chance of expensive damage from hazards and lower insurance costs.
In addition to a safer option, steel buildings are also more energy efficient. They have fewer thermal breaks than traditional construction and can be insulated more effectively. This is because metal structures have posts on 8-foot or greater centers, as opposed to stick frames with studs 16- or 24-inch on center. Many steel buildings are also made with recycled metal materials, making them energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Steel buildings are growing in popularity for commercial properties because of their cost effectiveness from start to finish.
Jordan Quade is a consultant at www.steelbuildings.org.
