The Benefits of Steel
Steel offers a multitude of advantages for builders, homeowners, and the environment, from enhanced structural integrity and durability to cost-efficiency and sustainability.
Steel: The Ultimate Construction Material
Steel offers unmatched strength, durability, and sustainability, making it the ideal choice for modern construction. From reduced costs and faster build times to enhanced safety and environmental benefits, steel delivers exceptional value for builders, homeowners, and the planet.
Steel is a Superior Construction Material
- Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material (stronger and lighter)
- 100% recyclable
- Non-combustible – does not burn and will not contribute fuel to the spread of a fire
- Inorganic – will not rot, warp, split crack, or creep
- Dimensionally stable – does not expand or contract with moisture content
- Consistent material quality – produced in strict accordance with national standards, no regional variations
- Superior service life
Benefits to the Consumer
- High strength results in safer structures, less maintenance and slower aging of structure
- Significant property insurance savings
- Reduced construction costs 10-20% of overall project value
- Less probability of foundation problems – five times lighter than wood, which results and less movement
- Less probability of damage in an earthquake, lighter structure with stronger connections, results and less seismic force
- Less probability of damage in high winds – stronger connections, riveted and screwed versus nailed
- Design flexibilty
- Faster building time
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Reduced energy costs
- Minimal thermal bridging
- Minimal air leakage
- Less insects and pests (tighter home)
- No additional preservative chemicals are required over and above the galvanizing process to treat steel, unlike the treatment of timber
- Fire safety
- Not vulnerable to any type of fungi or organism
- Not vulnerable to termites
- Reduced financing costs
- LEED Program points
- Larger internal space (narrow walls)
- smaller carbon footprint
- Fire spread reduced
Benefits to Builder
- Workers comp insurance reduction (approx 26% nationwide)
- Substantial sub-structure savings (25% less footings)
- Lower builders risk insurance by 85%
- Code and engineering compliance typically met at controlled design stage
- Environmental selling and green positioning
- Straight walls and square corners
- Callbacks due to cracks are eliminated
- Windows and doors open and close as they were designed
- Waste 2% for steel 20% for timber
- Reduced disruption to nearby buildings
- 3X faster than stick framing
- Reduced soil reports
- 50% less hardware
- Design flexibilty
- Efficient transportation
- Reduced shipping costs
- Supply chain control (lumber prices change weekly)
- Less manpower
- Less injuries
- Highly skilled labor reduced
- Faster ROI
- Reduced equipment rental
- Better overall product (structurally and aesthetically)
- Improved quality control
- Better takeoff accuracy
- Reduced warranty claims
- Carbon footprint reduction
- Easy material selection no need cull or sort
- Build year around
- Build in sandy soil
- Reduced security costs
- LEED Program points
- Less framing material (typically 24″ O.C. vs 16″ O.C. with wood)
- Flame retardent coating option for improved fire rating and insurance savings
Benefits to Architects and Engineers
- Innovative building shapes
- Non-conventional rooflines
- Structural flexibility
- Design possibilities are endless
- Better client experience
- Larger internal space (narrow walls)
- Reduced load bearing walls
Benefits to all trades
- Reduced equipment costs
- Reduced tool costs
- Faster Installation
- Reduced material costs
- Reduced load bearing walls
- Less cleanup
- Straight and square walls and ceilings
- 50% less hardware
Benefits to Framer
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Reduced scaffold rent times
- Reduced or no crane/pettybone costs
- Faster installation
- Precut and precisely measured components
- Labeled wall assemblies
- 50% less hardware
- 95% less pickup
- NO straight edging
- Quicker/stronger backing installation
- Reduced material costs
Benefits to Plumber
- Pre punched service holes (exact elevation locations including sloped)
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- No drilling
- No nail plates
- Reduction in fittings
- 75% longer pipe runs
- Trim labor reduction (predictable backing locations)
Benefits to HVAC
- Pre punched service holes (floor joists only)
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- No drilling
- No nailplates
- Reduction in fittings
- 65% longer pipe/duct runs
Benefits to Electrician
- Pre punched service holes
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- No drilling
- No nailplates
- Inside corner wire routing labor drastically reduced
- 80% longer wire runs
- Better/easier wire management
Benefits to Insulator
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- Consistent layout
- Less cutting
- Reduced fire barrier
- Reduced blocking in internal wall assembly
Benefits to Drywaller/Taper
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- Straight and square walls
- No nail plates (no bulging)
- 50% less hardware (no cutting around)
- 95% less floating/darby
- Faster fireproofing
Benefits to Finish Carpenter
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- Less caulking
Benefits to Painter
- Reduced equipment and tools
- Faster installation
- Reduced material costs
- Cleaner and faster cut in
- 75% less caulking
Benefits to Finish Trades
- Straight walls and square corners
- Faster installation
- No grinding or scribing
- Less shimming