Structural steel is widely used for major construction projects all over the world. Its highly efficient strength-to-weight ratio makes it an ideal material for both large and small projects. Thanks to internationally enforced standards in the production of steel, builders can get consistently straight walls, perfectly square corners and free swinging doors. In contrast to wood timbers and poured concrete walls, there is almost never any variation between one piece of structural steel and another. For all of the above reasons, steel remains an outstanding investment in the eyes of builders and engineers everywhere.
Modern Steel-Built Modular Homes
An outpouring of new modular home designs seems to come onto the market every day. The most impressive of these prefab designs involves the use of structural steel in one way or another. Steel-built modular homes are very sturdy. Some can even withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Modular steel housing units are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners looking to keep building costs for second homes and vacation homes down. According to the online version of the Kiplinger personal finance newsletter, prefabricated homes go up one-third faster and cost 30 percent less to build than custom-built homes.
Resilient Structures That Resist Fire, Earthquakes, and Mold
For the money, steel is one of the strongest and most durable construction materials in use today. Steel is used for a myriad of modern construction projects. It is the material of choice for putting up commercial buildings and infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges and skyscrapers. As reported by Wikipedia, structural steel is comparable to concrete in its attributed compressive and tensile strength. Steel is inherently noncombustible and resistant to fire which is devastating to wood-built structures. In terms of earthquake resistance, concrete is seldom used for above-grade structures in Japan. Local engineers who have a lot of experience with Earthquakes believe that concrete is too rigid, weak and heavy for large-scale construction projects. Also, the quality of concrete is difficult to control batch-to-batch. For all of these reasons, steel is a better choice for erecting structures in earthquake zones. Finally, the use of steel for building minimizes the chances of mold infestation. Mold requires a moist, porous material on which to grow. Structural steel does not have these properties.
Steel: An Eco-Friendly Investment
There are many benefits to using steel as an option in construction projects. Because it is commonly manufactured from partially recycled materials, structural steel is often more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly than wood or alternative materials. The cost savings derived from using steel translates to a more competitive bidding process for construction managers. Using steel in the building process often means greater profit potential and more success for large-scale project developers.
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