In the past there really were not many choices in materials when it came to creating a building. You were pretty limited and many times it was very expensive. Thanks to the application of steel into framing and building, many people now have the convenience of having cheaper and more durable options when it comes time to build. You have probably seen steel buildings. They are used as warehouses, office buildings, churches and even sometimes are erected as homes. In this article we will cover the basics of a steel building and what you can expect.
Are there different types of steel buildings?
Commonly used designs refer to straight walled, arch and clearspan structures. Straight walled and arch buildings refer to the design of the exterior of the building. Arch designs are the most cost effective and structurally sound. Straight wall designs provide the greatest amount of useable space and often are chosen to blend in with other "standard" architectural designs. Clearspan designs refer to the internal structure of the steel building, utilizing stronger overhead supports. These allow fewer internal supports to be used, providing a greater amount of uninterrupted space.
Are steel buildings better than other construction types?
Steel buildings, like most other construction methods, have advantages and disadvantages. Construction is substantially faster than other materials require. Steel has very low maintenance costs. Insects that thrive on other materials find steel tough to swallow. Compared to other construction methods, steel has a lower overall cost. On the down side, steel is susceptible to corrosion, in that rust can affect the structure.
Where can I buy a steel building?
Apparently, if you listen to some of the adds, just about everywhere. Steel building ads, which used to be aimed towards members of the construction trade, now seem to be coming out of the woodwork all around us. Television commercials and radio ads announce that steel buildings are now available at all time low prices. A quick search of the internet on the subject returns millions of hits. Even the local home improvement stores have stock and recommendations.
Where can I find out more about steel buildings?
The absolute best source for finding out about steel buildings is by going to a local contractor in your area that specializes in these types of buildings. You can also find a wealth of information by going online. A great source online is General Steel. You can go to their website at www.gnsteel.com and find out about all the different types of buildings that they have to offer. They even offer financing so you will be saved a step.
What Are Alloy Steels?
In the construction world, alloy steels are used to make gears, pipes and other components. By adding other elements to the carbon and iron based building metal, it can withstand much more. Steel gears, for instance, are non-magnetic, high-quality and corrosion-proof, and are found in military aircraft. Steel pipes can make roller skates, create tubing for boats or oil and erect commercial steel buildings.
Scientifically speaking, alloy steels are made by adding manganese, silicon or aluminum to remove dissolved oxygen. Next manganese, silicon, nickel and copper are added to form a solid solution in ferrite, thus increasing its strength. Then chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and tungsten form second-phase carbides, strengthening the solution even more. Nickel and copper add the rust-proof, corrosion-proof qualities. Molybdenum prevents the metal from becoming brittle, while zirconium, cerium and calcium increase the toughness. To be machine-ready, manganese sulfide, lead, bismuth, selenium and tellurium are added.
Stainless steel is the most famous of the alloy steels. Known for its low cost, low maintenance and familiar shine, this building metal is ideal for a number of industrial uses. The alloy can be pressed into coils, sheets, plates, wires, tubes and bars to make a wide variety of items: cookware, cutlery, appliances, countertops, aerospace components, industrial equipment, jewelry, watch bands, countertops, hardware, surgical instruments, car parts, food transport tankers, food processing plants and even entire buildings.
To get a glimpse of alloy steels like stainless steel in action, you need not look further than the famous Chrysler Building in New York City. In fact, many Art Deco pieces were made of stainless steel and carbon steels, from fast food diner panels and furniture to neon signs and fixtures. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is made of 886 tons of type 304 stainless steel. Type 316 stainless is used on the magnificent Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 and the Jin Mao Tower in China, another of the world's tallest skyscrapers. The enormous United States Air Force Memorial even has a weather-resistant, austenitic stainless steel structural skin.
Scientifically speaking, alloy steels are made by adding manganese, silicon or aluminum to remove dissolved oxygen. Next manganese, silicon, nickel and copper are added to form a solid solution in ferrite, thus increasing its strength. Then chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and tungsten form second-phase carbides, strengthening the solution even more. Nickel and copper add the rust-proof, corrosion-proof qualities. Molybdenum prevents the metal from becoming brittle, while zirconium, cerium and calcium increase the toughness. To be machine-ready, manganese sulfide, lead, bismuth, selenium and tellurium are added.
Stainless steel is the most famous of the alloy steels. Known for its low cost, low maintenance and familiar shine, this building metal is ideal for a number of industrial uses. The alloy can be pressed into coils, sheets, plates, wires, tubes and bars to make a wide variety of items: cookware, cutlery, appliances, countertops, aerospace components, industrial equipment, jewelry, watch bands, countertops, hardware, surgical instruments, car parts, food transport tankers, food processing plants and even entire buildings.
To get a glimpse of alloy steels like stainless steel in action, you need not look further than the famous Chrysler Building in New York City. In fact, many Art Deco pieces were made of stainless steel and carbon steels, from fast food diner panels and furniture to neon signs and fixtures. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is made of 886 tons of type 304 stainless steel. Type 316 stainless is used on the magnificent Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 and the Jin Mao Tower in China, another of the world's tallest skyscrapers. The enormous United States Air Force Memorial even has a weather-resistant, austenitic stainless steel structural skin.
Pre Engineered Steel Modulars
You may not realize it, but you drive past modular buildings every day. On the exterior, the pre engineered steel structures look like any other; many have brick or vinyl siding facades. Perhaps you have even walked inside one and not even noticed a difference with the carpets, cabinets, plumbing and windows. These spaces can be as small as a garage or they may rise up several stories, encompassing 100,000 square-feet! Advances in construction technology has made the prefabricated steel building a popular choice for schools, churches, daycare facilities, offices, medical facilities and more.
The quick construction time, combined with the durable quality, is the main advantage to choosing pre engineered steel buildings that are made in a factory and shipped to you, over a traditionally constructed building. Steel building systems work especially well with medical labs that need to be erected right away to treat patients or satellite classrooms that need to be up in time for the semester to start. Another advantage is that they can be moved easily, even if there is electrical work or plumbing involved. Steel metal buildings make great construction offices for this very reason.
Unlike past pre engineered steel buildings, modern prefab metal buildings come with all kinds of customizations, finishes and alterations. These designs are far from shoddy trailers or "cookie cutter" shacks. Modern technology has afforded you the option of choosing wood, steel, brick, stucco or aggregate exteriors. Want windows, doors or special roof treatments? These are all options you may select yourself to make the building conform to your own distinctive taste. There are three types to choose from: some buildings are fully constructed at the factory and shipped on a truck; others are mostly made at the factory but arrive in big sheets for you to set up yourself; a third type of prefab metal buildings is only half-constructed at the factory and requires a full construction crew to make your site more permanent, including plumbing and electrical work.
There are a few cons to pre engineered steel buildings. The most notable is the architectural limitations. Even though you can customize the exteriors and interiors, you simply cannot get a Victorian or Colonial style building out of a factory. You cannot get wainscoting, ornamentation, a vaulted ceiling or crown molding from the factory. Some people feel that steel metal buildings are sort of "cheap" looking since many trailer parks and poor urban areas are being replaced by prefab metal buildings. However, there are also modernism nuts and famous architects who feel that there is much promise with steel metal buildings.
The quick construction time, combined with the durable quality, is the main advantage to choosing pre engineered steel buildings that are made in a factory and shipped to you, over a traditionally constructed building. Steel building systems work especially well with medical labs that need to be erected right away to treat patients or satellite classrooms that need to be up in time for the semester to start. Another advantage is that they can be moved easily, even if there is electrical work or plumbing involved. Steel metal buildings make great construction offices for this very reason.
Unlike past pre engineered steel buildings, modern prefab metal buildings come with all kinds of customizations, finishes and alterations. These designs are far from shoddy trailers or "cookie cutter" shacks. Modern technology has afforded you the option of choosing wood, steel, brick, stucco or aggregate exteriors. Want windows, doors or special roof treatments? These are all options you may select yourself to make the building conform to your own distinctive taste. There are three types to choose from: some buildings are fully constructed at the factory and shipped on a truck; others are mostly made at the factory but arrive in big sheets for you to set up yourself; a third type of prefab metal buildings is only half-constructed at the factory and requires a full construction crew to make your site more permanent, including plumbing and electrical work.
There are a few cons to pre engineered steel buildings. The most notable is the architectural limitations. Even though you can customize the exteriors and interiors, you simply cannot get a Victorian or Colonial style building out of a factory. You cannot get wainscoting, ornamentation, a vaulted ceiling or crown molding from the factory. Some people feel that steel metal buildings are sort of "cheap" looking since many trailer parks and poor urban areas are being replaced by prefab metal buildings. However, there are also modernism nuts and famous architects who feel that there is much promise with steel metal buildings.
Mini Storage Buildings Made of Steel
Steel mini storage buildings are extremely functional, gaining popularity as satellite offices, toy sheds, self storage units, barns and garages. These units can be constructed by a crew on location, they can come as a pre engineered steel building or they may come as a kit you can do on your own. The primary advantage of steel is that it is one of the sturdiest materials and it's not likely to require any maintenance, so long as it is set up properly.
Long gone are the weathered, dilapidated red and white barns with fallen planks, peeling paint, holes in the ceiling and termite infestations. If you are building a feed storage shed or a barn for your horses, cows, pigs, chickens, sheep and other livestock, then steel building systems are ideal. Metal building kits are quick and easy to set up, often coming in partially-assembled sheets and requiring little more than a couple of screws. You won't have to worry about bug, bee or rodent infestation, nor will you have to contend with mold, mildew or fungus. These mini storage structures are not flammable, so tragic barn fires are less of a concern. Additionally, the price has come down a lot on agricultural steel buildings, making it as affordable as a wood barn, but without all of the maintenance and builder's fees attached. If you were to hire builders to put up your barn, you can expect to pay double, compared to doing it yourself with these easy steel building kits.
The cost of these mini storage buildings ranges by steel building manufacturer. Lester Buildings sells steel barns for $8-$40 per square foot. Metal Steel Buildings offers steel barns ranging from $8,000 to $40,000. A 24 x 32 x 10 pole barn can be purchased from www.diypolebarns.com for as low as $4,699. Olympia Steel building manufacturer offers special pricing on horse barns too. Before you buy, it is best to get several different quotes on these steel building kits to ensure the fairest price. Another option to consider is leasing a barn if you are just using it for seasonal storage of hay, corn and animal feed.
Garages are popular mini storage buildings too. Steel garages can cost you 40% less than conventional garages. Additionally, you can customize your garage with different roofing styles, windows, doors and materials. To build your own, you will need to check with the county to see if you'll need a building permit, choose the location, excavate the site, add the foundation, raise the steel sheet walls, bolt the sides in, construct the roof, lift the trusses and add roof sheathing, securing everything into place as you go along. Building your own structure using steel building kits can be a lot of work, but there are also a lot of rewards. You can look upon your new garage with pride, knowing that your hard work saved you thousands of dollars and stands as a testament of what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.
Long gone are the weathered, dilapidated red and white barns with fallen planks, peeling paint, holes in the ceiling and termite infestations. If you are building a feed storage shed or a barn for your horses, cows, pigs, chickens, sheep and other livestock, then steel building systems are ideal. Metal building kits are quick and easy to set up, often coming in partially-assembled sheets and requiring little more than a couple of screws. You won't have to worry about bug, bee or rodent infestation, nor will you have to contend with mold, mildew or fungus. These mini storage structures are not flammable, so tragic barn fires are less of a concern. Additionally, the price has come down a lot on agricultural steel buildings, making it as affordable as a wood barn, but without all of the maintenance and builder's fees attached. If you were to hire builders to put up your barn, you can expect to pay double, compared to doing it yourself with these easy steel building kits.
The cost of these mini storage buildings ranges by steel building manufacturer. Lester Buildings sells steel barns for $8-$40 per square foot. Metal Steel Buildings offers steel barns ranging from $8,000 to $40,000. A 24 x 32 x 10 pole barn can be purchased from www.diypolebarns.com for as low as $4,699. Olympia Steel building manufacturer offers special pricing on horse barns too. Before you buy, it is best to get several different quotes on these steel building kits to ensure the fairest price. Another option to consider is leasing a barn if you are just using it for seasonal storage of hay, corn and animal feed.
Garages are popular mini storage buildings too. Steel garages can cost you 40% less than conventional garages. Additionally, you can customize your garage with different roofing styles, windows, doors and materials. To build your own, you will need to check with the county to see if you'll need a building permit, choose the location, excavate the site, add the foundation, raise the steel sheet walls, bolt the sides in, construct the roof, lift the trusses and add roof sheathing, securing everything into place as you go along. Building your own structure using steel building kits can be a lot of work, but there are also a lot of rewards. You can look upon your new garage with pride, knowing that your hard work saved you thousands of dollars and stands as a testament of what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.
Engineered Steel Buildings
Steel roofs have been gaining much attention as home owners consider alternatives to dropping $5,000 every ten years to replace their asphalt shingles, rotted facade and damaged wood planks. Steel roofs, while slightly costlier, never suffer weather damage or allow moisture in. Given the right insulation, the building metal actually works as an excellent barrier from heat getting in during the hot summer months or leaving during the cool winter months. Similarly, engineered steel buildings are being considered in construction as the cost of wood increases, the quality of lumber decreases and the strength of this building material is realized. Why buy for the moment, when one can have a quality product forever?
Traditional construction materials like wood and brick have been used in construction for thousands of years. Yet, the turn of the century brought us prefab steel building materials, which promised stronger structures. Post World War II, innovations churned out factory-built steel structures that could be set up quickly and easily. Over the last thirty years, improved factory processes dropped consumer prices on steel down considerably, making it a viable contender for builders' dollars. The versatility, quickness of construction, strength, weather resistance, eco-friendliness and maintenance-free nature are all qualities that make metal a desirable building material.
The life of engineered steel buildings begins in the factory, where skilled steelworkers and computers precisely measure beams, sheets of metal and other materials that can withstand rain, snow or sun. Construction times are quickened because the prefabricated steel building can be made at the same time the foundation is set and the building permits are acquired. All prefab steel pieces are custom-fit to order specifications, so it will be a quick set-up once they arrive at the construction site. Over time, additional stories or sections can easily be fastened to the building or the entire structure, including plumbing and electrical work.
A good site for engineered steel buildings is www.olympiabuildings.com, which offers modular buildings for storage facilities and warehouses to offices and retail centers. For people who like to start from a blueprint and do it themselves, www.steelbuilding.com or www.americansteelmfg.com are good resources. To accessorize and customize a prefab steel building with skylights, insulation, doors or vents, check www.steelwise.com or www.heritagebuildings.com. For deluxe exterior finishes that include stucco, brick, wood, concrete and more, visit www.alliedbuildings.com. A website like www.usbuildingsdirect.com caters to the budget-conscious shopper who is looking for sales and deep discounts. For construction contractor help, try Bob Moore at www.generalcontractor.com.
Traditional construction materials like wood and brick have been used in construction for thousands of years. Yet, the turn of the century brought us prefab steel building materials, which promised stronger structures. Post World War II, innovations churned out factory-built steel structures that could be set up quickly and easily. Over the last thirty years, improved factory processes dropped consumer prices on steel down considerably, making it a viable contender for builders' dollars. The versatility, quickness of construction, strength, weather resistance, eco-friendliness and maintenance-free nature are all qualities that make metal a desirable building material.
The life of engineered steel buildings begins in the factory, where skilled steelworkers and computers precisely measure beams, sheets of metal and other materials that can withstand rain, snow or sun. Construction times are quickened because the prefabricated steel building can be made at the same time the foundation is set and the building permits are acquired. All prefab steel pieces are custom-fit to order specifications, so it will be a quick set-up once they arrive at the construction site. Over time, additional stories or sections can easily be fastened to the building or the entire structure, including plumbing and electrical work.
A good site for engineered steel buildings is www.olympiabuildings.com, which offers modular buildings for storage facilities and warehouses to offices and retail centers. For people who like to start from a blueprint and do it themselves, www.steelbuilding.com or www.americansteelmfg.com are good resources. To accessorize and customize a prefab steel building with skylights, insulation, doors or vents, check www.steelwise.com or www.heritagebuildings.com. For deluxe exterior finishes that include stucco, brick, wood, concrete and more, visit www.alliedbuildings.com. A website like www.usbuildingsdirect.com caters to the budget-conscious shopper who is looking for sales and deep discounts. For construction contractor help, try Bob Moore at www.generalcontractor.com.
Steel Building Prices
Everyone is getting into steel building products these days. Modular classrooms in Maryland can be delivered and built in just 45 days for $6,000 (with a $300 monthly lease). In Monroe, New York, a small 12 ft x 60 ft non-profit office was set up for $2,000. In Central Lake, Michigan, a luxury lake-side 3,000-square-foot prefab steel building was erected and leased for $2,500/month. Prices are higher for some commercial steel buildings, though. An education provider in Woodbine, Georgia bought an upgraded facility for $126,000; a classroom in Rexburg, Idaho cost $93,000; and an education facility in La Jolla, California cost $200,000. Building prices vary greatly for steel buildings, but how do they stack up to wooden structures?
Even though steel building prices have gone up over the past few years, the prices are comparable to wooden structures for the most part. Lumber costs have increased, while technological innovations have brought down the price of steel. Data suggests steel frame structures cost 14.2% more than wood, although one could argue the zero-maintenance offsets the upfront expense. For the do-it-yourself builder, the metal building kits cost 42.4% higher than wood framing kits. On structures like storage sheds and prefab homes, the prices are basically the same, with steel costing just slightly more. For garages, satellite offices or schools and barns, steel is sometimes cheaper.
If you are looking to buy a prefab metal building to live in and think you are getting a great deal on building prices, you're mistaken. A prefab building can be bought for as little as $20,000, but once you add interior upgrades, buy the land and factor in construction costs, you'll pay the same amount. You will get a home that is very modern looking, though, and you won't have to wait very long for it. On average, prefab homes go up in just 45 days, rather than the six months it takes to build a traditional home. In some cases, cheaper steel building systems are constructed to renovate urban sprawl, replace trailer parks and house Hurricane Katrina victims. However, these structures are very bare bones and may not be a good fit for everyone.
The advantage of choosing steel building systems is the quick construction. You won't get as many customization options as with wood and the building prices will be a little higher, but steel is a durable material that will withstand any type of weather conditions. Bees and termites won't chew through steel metal buildings, the sun won't warp the boards, the wind won't blow off roof tiles, nor will water rot through and mold up your structure. To get the best deal on your steel building products, be sure to call around to several different vendors for quotes.
Even though steel building prices have gone up over the past few years, the prices are comparable to wooden structures for the most part. Lumber costs have increased, while technological innovations have brought down the price of steel. Data suggests steel frame structures cost 14.2% more than wood, although one could argue the zero-maintenance offsets the upfront expense. For the do-it-yourself builder, the metal building kits cost 42.4% higher than wood framing kits. On structures like storage sheds and prefab homes, the prices are basically the same, with steel costing just slightly more. For garages, satellite offices or schools and barns, steel is sometimes cheaper.
If you are looking to buy a prefab metal building to live in and think you are getting a great deal on building prices, you're mistaken. A prefab building can be bought for as little as $20,000, but once you add interior upgrades, buy the land and factor in construction costs, you'll pay the same amount. You will get a home that is very modern looking, though, and you won't have to wait very long for it. On average, prefab homes go up in just 45 days, rather than the six months it takes to build a traditional home. In some cases, cheaper steel building systems are constructed to renovate urban sprawl, replace trailer parks and house Hurricane Katrina victims. However, these structures are very bare bones and may not be a good fit for everyone.
The advantage of choosing steel building systems is the quick construction. You won't get as many customization options as with wood and the building prices will be a little higher, but steel is a durable material that will withstand any type of weather conditions. Bees and termites won't chew through steel metal buildings, the sun won't warp the boards, the wind won't blow off roof tiles, nor will water rot through and mold up your structure. To get the best deal on your steel building products, be sure to call around to several different vendors for quotes.
Pre Engineered Steel Buildings
Perhaps it is the way "prefab" rolls off the tongue like a delicious dessert. Or maybe it is the magnificent luster of a little box that is paradoxically modest and garish, opulent and frugal, retro and futuristic. These intriguing, quickly-assembled, factory-made pre-engineered steel buildings hold such promise. Can they deliver us from this lumber-dependent, environmentally destructive world? Can they offer the promise of trailer park modernization in a tasteful way that will appreciate property values? Can boomers downsize in style? Is this the post-modern, anti-mansion of the stars? Whatever the allure, famous architects have chosen prefab metal buildings as their playground.
In the school of architecture, modular or prefab steel buildings represent clean clutter-free lines, the minimalist geometric shapes of nature and a throwback to primitive man. Part of the fun with these designs is that they can be linked together like Lego pieces, mixed and matched, built up or deduced down. Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller envisioned these smart designs being mass produced as quickly and efficiently as an automobile on an assembly line. Fuller particularly felt prefabs could change the way people lived. Initially, it was a vehicle for avant-garde expressionism for experienced architects who were bored with trends of the times, but now it has extended to home owners via the internet, allowing people to customize their steel buildings however they see fit.
Pre engineered steel buildings have become the darling of many famous architects. Ray Kappe, winner of the Topaz Medal, shows off his eco-friendly prefab metal buildings at www.livinghomes.net. Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed eleven prefab homes in Sevens Point, Bayside and Madison, Wisconsin. In the fifties, his homes sold for $55,000, which was extremely high back then. Le Corbusier was taken up with turn-of-the-century industrialism and the opportunity to build quick villages in factories to help post-war families start anew. Mies van der Rohe is often referred to as "the father of the glass and steel modernist skyscraper," although he also worked on a very small scale to create structures that lacked ornamentation, instead reveling in clean, simple lines.
The first pre engineered steel buildings were built around the idea of comfort and a do-it-yourself attitude. In the 1830s, London carpenter H. Manning built "the Manning Portage Cottage" after immigrating to Australia. Since he didn't want to deal with the hassle of tracking down materials in the new land, he needed to construct his house of pieces he could bring with him on a ship. Once his prefab building turned out well, he began importing and raising a number of cottages. In 1908, Sears, Roebuck and Co. marketed metal building kits by catalogue, costing less than two-thirds of a traditional house. In fact, more than 100,000 sold. Far less prefab metal buildings sell these days, but people use prefabs as metal storage buildings, steel barns, office buildings and more.
In the school of architecture, modular or prefab steel buildings represent clean clutter-free lines, the minimalist geometric shapes of nature and a throwback to primitive man. Part of the fun with these designs is that they can be linked together like Lego pieces, mixed and matched, built up or deduced down. Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller envisioned these smart designs being mass produced as quickly and efficiently as an automobile on an assembly line. Fuller particularly felt prefabs could change the way people lived. Initially, it was a vehicle for avant-garde expressionism for experienced architects who were bored with trends of the times, but now it has extended to home owners via the internet, allowing people to customize their steel buildings however they see fit.
Pre engineered steel buildings have become the darling of many famous architects. Ray Kappe, winner of the Topaz Medal, shows off his eco-friendly prefab metal buildings at www.livinghomes.net. Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed eleven prefab homes in Sevens Point, Bayside and Madison, Wisconsin. In the fifties, his homes sold for $55,000, which was extremely high back then. Le Corbusier was taken up with turn-of-the-century industrialism and the opportunity to build quick villages in factories to help post-war families start anew. Mies van der Rohe is often referred to as "the father of the glass and steel modernist skyscraper," although he also worked on a very small scale to create structures that lacked ornamentation, instead reveling in clean, simple lines.
The first pre engineered steel buildings were built around the idea of comfort and a do-it-yourself attitude. In the 1830s, London carpenter H. Manning built "the Manning Portage Cottage" after immigrating to Australia. Since he didn't want to deal with the hassle of tracking down materials in the new land, he needed to construct his house of pieces he could bring with him on a ship. Once his prefab building turned out well, he began importing and raising a number of cottages. In 1908, Sears, Roebuck and Co. marketed metal building kits by catalogue, costing less than two-thirds of a traditional house. In fact, more than 100,000 sold. Far less prefab metal buildings sell these days, but people use prefabs as metal storage buildings, steel barns, office buildings and more.
Types of Stainless Steels
You may have a stainless steel frying pan or a stainless steel knife at home, which leads many people to mistakenly assume it is some sort of special coating like Teflon. After all, nickel, zinc or chromium coatings may be applied to strengthen a material. However, stainless steels are solid metals that are manipulated during manufacturing, adding 10% or more chromium to form a natural chromium oxide coating that hardens the material. As a result, it is impossible to wear off or damage the exterior. The shiny gloss is corrosion-resistant, which makes this type of metal more desirable than carbon steels and other steel alloys.
There are five main types of stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel is the most common form, with 7% nickel content to increase flexibility and make the building metal more suitable for cookware, industrial piping, washing machines, boilers, construction and indoor architecture. Martensitic stainless steel contains 13% chromium, making it hard enough for knives and turbine blades. Ferritic stainless steel contains less than 30% chromium and ferritic, which makes it ferromagnetic, with good ductility. Duplex stainless steel, which is composed of austenitic and ferritic steel building metal, is strong yet flexible and is used for various processes in the paper, shipbuilding and petrochemical industries. Precipitation hardening stainless steel is a chromium-nickel alloy that is solution-treated.
When shopping around for stainless steels, understand that the grades are based on mechanical and physical properties. The undisputable strength of this material makes it appealing for use in steel building systems. The lower thermal conductivity of grade 304, compared to traditional carbon steels, makes it ideal for thermoses and cappuccino cups. Since stainless steel has a greater rate of thermal expansion than ordinary steel, care should be taken during welding. Carbon steels may also suffer from pitting, crevice corrosion, galvanic corrosion, chloride stress corrosion cracking or inter-granular corrosion.
There are many grades of stainless steels developed for various uses. For instance, type 102 austenitic is widely used in furniture making, while type 202 is used as a good general purpose steel. Type 301 is good for welding, although 304 is the most common grade. In surgical tools and food, type 316 is used for its corrosion-resistance. A 316L may be used in stainless steel watches. Type 420 is cutlery grade, 430 is used as decorative trim and type 440 is an even higher grade of cutlery steel. The different grades vary on their resistance or ductility in the presence of heat or cold.
There are five main types of stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel is the most common form, with 7% nickel content to increase flexibility and make the building metal more suitable for cookware, industrial piping, washing machines, boilers, construction and indoor architecture. Martensitic stainless steel contains 13% chromium, making it hard enough for knives and turbine blades. Ferritic stainless steel contains less than 30% chromium and ferritic, which makes it ferromagnetic, with good ductility. Duplex stainless steel, which is composed of austenitic and ferritic steel building metal, is strong yet flexible and is used for various processes in the paper, shipbuilding and petrochemical industries. Precipitation hardening stainless steel is a chromium-nickel alloy that is solution-treated.
When shopping around for stainless steels, understand that the grades are based on mechanical and physical properties. The undisputable strength of this material makes it appealing for use in steel building systems. The lower thermal conductivity of grade 304, compared to traditional carbon steels, makes it ideal for thermoses and cappuccino cups. Since stainless steel has a greater rate of thermal expansion than ordinary steel, care should be taken during welding. Carbon steels may also suffer from pitting, crevice corrosion, galvanic corrosion, chloride stress corrosion cracking or inter-granular corrosion.
There are many grades of stainless steels developed for various uses. For instance, type 102 austenitic is widely used in furniture making, while type 202 is used as a good general purpose steel. Type 301 is good for welding, although 304 is the most common grade. In surgical tools and food, type 316 is used for its corrosion-resistance. A 316L may be used in stainless steel watches. Type 420 is cutlery grade, 430 is used as decorative trim and type 440 is an even higher grade of cutlery steel. The different grades vary on their resistance or ductility in the presence of heat or cold.
Steel Building Construction
Steel building metal is produced out of iron ore, which is mined from the earth and manufactured industrially. Even though it is tied to mining operations, which some ardent environmentalists argue is destructive to the planet, others advocate steel building construction as an eco-friendly manufacturing material. Since most structural steel contains approximately 80% recycled content and can be recycled many times, commercial steel buildings and consumer goods are very popular.
There are environmental pros and cons to constructing buildings of steel. On one side, iron ore (the base of steel) is mined from the earth and heated up tremendously by coal-burning plants, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by the thousands of tons. It also takes tons of fuel to transport the materials from a small number of steel building manufacturers to all the different US markets. Sounds pretty bad, right?
However, carbon steel remains the strongest and most reliable building metal, which keeps steel building construction exceedingly popular, used in 28% of all architectural building jobs. To reduce environmental impact, almost all new projects use recycled discount steel. Using scrap metal from old automobiles, refrigerators and bridges as a base, intense heat converts these raw materials into molten steel. Even the smaller Electric Arc Furnaces can produce as much as 400 tons of steel at a time through this method; therefore, operating costs are very low. Since these facilities don't require close proximity to the raw materials, they can be placed directly next to consumer markets to limit the fuel consumption associated with transport.
Steel metal buildings have a number of uses, aside from commercial, steel building construction. Do-it-yourself kits allow consumers the ability to put up their own low-cost sheds and storage spaces. Steel barns and agricultural domes are becoming more and more popular. Prefab steel homes are rapidly replacing homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, updating trailer parks and delighting affluent fans of modern and post-modern architecture. Given its easy assembly, affordability and relative eco-friendliness, steel building products are likely to proliferate, despite economic setbacks.
There are environmental pros and cons to constructing buildings of steel. On one side, iron ore (the base of steel) is mined from the earth and heated up tremendously by coal-burning plants, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by the thousands of tons. It also takes tons of fuel to transport the materials from a small number of steel building manufacturers to all the different US markets. Sounds pretty bad, right?
However, carbon steel remains the strongest and most reliable building metal, which keeps steel building construction exceedingly popular, used in 28% of all architectural building jobs. To reduce environmental impact, almost all new projects use recycled discount steel. Using scrap metal from old automobiles, refrigerators and bridges as a base, intense heat converts these raw materials into molten steel. Even the smaller Electric Arc Furnaces can produce as much as 400 tons of steel at a time through this method; therefore, operating costs are very low. Since these facilities don't require close proximity to the raw materials, they can be placed directly next to consumer markets to limit the fuel consumption associated with transport.
Steel metal buildings have a number of uses, aside from commercial, steel building construction. Do-it-yourself kits allow consumers the ability to put up their own low-cost sheds and storage spaces. Steel barns and agricultural domes are becoming more and more popular. Prefab steel homes are rapidly replacing homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, updating trailer parks and delighting affluent fans of modern and post-modern architecture. Given its easy assembly, affordability and relative eco-friendliness, steel building products are likely to proliferate, despite economic setbacks.
Pros And Cons of Steel Buildings
Steel buildings are the most cost-effective and structurally-sound structures in architecture today. To date, it is hard to find an example, besides the World Trade Center Towers, of a steel building that has collapsed. Not only are steel metal buildings cheap to build, but they are also resilient, resisting the elements, termites and even natural disasters like earthquakes. Reinforcing with additions or heating/cooling upgrades is easier than with wood structures too, experts say.
There are many pros to erecting steel buildings, versus traditional wooden edifices. For starters, steel is lighter than wood, concrete and brick. It can't warp, expand, contract, absorb water, feed termites, rust, catch fire or become a breeding ground for fungus. Since most steel is flame-retardant, many insurance companies reduce rates for home owners who choose steel building products. The government also recognizes steel as an energy-efficient, eco-friendly choice, so they reward citizens with tax credits.
As with anything, there are a few cons to steel buildings too. First, not all builders are familiar with building metal structures, let alone constructing to the latest standards, using the most up-to-date computer software. Special tools are required to work with this material, which not every builder will have. They will need to employ very specific designs to brace the steel correctly. Additionally, some metals are coated in oil, which may cause a toxic odor while working with it. The biggest disadvantage of working with steel is that it is an excellent conductor of heat, so in colder areas, the heat can be absorbed into the structure and quickly lost. Mold also has a tendency of growing around steel studs in the winter. To combat the energy issue, home owners can use a double wall system or high efficiency insulation to prevent heat transfer.
Steel buildings can be purchased in large pieces, pre-assembled or as a modular unit deliverable by truck. With Computer Assisted Design, steel building systems have gotten much more reliable and accurate over time, opening the door for many amateur builders to try their hand at building a prefab home, a small steel barn or a pre-engineered shed. Even so, most people prefer to hire a steel building manufacturer to do all the tough work the
There are many pros to erecting steel buildings, versus traditional wooden edifices. For starters, steel is lighter than wood, concrete and brick. It can't warp, expand, contract, absorb water, feed termites, rust, catch fire or become a breeding ground for fungus. Since most steel is flame-retardant, many insurance companies reduce rates for home owners who choose steel building products. The government also recognizes steel as an energy-efficient, eco-friendly choice, so they reward citizens with tax credits.
As with anything, there are a few cons to steel buildings too. First, not all builders are familiar with building metal structures, let alone constructing to the latest standards, using the most up-to-date computer software. Special tools are required to work with this material, which not every builder will have. They will need to employ very specific designs to brace the steel correctly. Additionally, some metals are coated in oil, which may cause a toxic odor while working with it. The biggest disadvantage of working with steel is that it is an excellent conductor of heat, so in colder areas, the heat can be absorbed into the structure and quickly lost. Mold also has a tendency of growing around steel studs in the winter. To combat the energy issue, home owners can use a double wall system or high efficiency insulation to prevent heat transfer.
Steel buildings can be purchased in large pieces, pre-assembled or as a modular unit deliverable by truck. With Computer Assisted Design, steel building systems have gotten much more reliable and accurate over time, opening the door for many amateur builders to try their hand at building a prefab home, a small steel barn or a pre-engineered shed. Even so, most people prefer to hire a steel building manufacturer to do all the tough work the
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