4 Advantages to Building With Metal Instead of Concrete

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when constructing a new building is what materials to use. Both concrete and steel are popular choices for structural and roofing materials, but steel offers some key advantages. 

Steel is Safe

Building a safe structure is a top priority, and metal offers numerous safety benefits.

• Steel is strong and sturdy yet flexible, making it ideal for withstanding high winds and areas with seismic activity. Where concrete can crumble, steel will bend but not break.
• Steel resists moisture and other types of damage that can affect concrete structures.
• Steel is highly fire resistant, and additional safety options like spray-on fireproofing allow it to hold up under extremely high temperatures.
• Steel structures make for safer worksites because they arrive ready to assemble, requiring less movement of materials.

Metal is Cost Effective

Construction costs depend largely on the cost of materials. The price of steel fluctuates, but it generally remains a less expensive option. Building with steel will also save labor costs because you don’t have to mix concrete on site and wait for it to cure.

When considering cost, it’s important to account for long-term maintenance and repair costs as well as upfront costs. Steel requires less maintenance and comes with longer warranties than concrete. A steel roof, for example, can come with a warranty of 40 years or more. The durability and low maintenance needs of steel makes it a smart investment.

If steel does suffer damage, only the damaged portion needs to be replaced. Repairs to concrete require a higher level of skill and more time, and the repaired areas are more obvious because they won’t match the older surface.

Steel Offers Diverse Design Options

Steel can be molded into various sizes and shapes, allowing you to create custom looks to accommodate nearly any taste. You can mimic the effect of nearly any material without losing the durability of steel. Even if you had your heart set on a shake shingle roof, steel roofing can accomplish the same look and last a lot longer. 

Steel is Sustainable 

Perhaps the best aspect of steel in modern times is its low environmental impact. Many aspects of steel construction contribute to this:

• Steel is 100% recyclable.
• Steel structures last longer, requiring less replacement and renovation.
• Steel can be designed to create energy-efficient structures.
• Steel allows greater flexibility in the placement of doors, windows, and skylights to make optimal use of natural light.

Whatever building materials you decide to use, you want to be fully informed before making your final selections. If you’re ready to build but still have questions about what materials are best for you, the professionals at Pro-Line can help. Contact us today to get started.