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Conventional steel buildings come with many significant advantages over other building materials. For example, a much quicker and more efficient on-site building process. Due to steel not being delivered as a raw material like wood, the erection process for steel can take place quickly, and transpire much quicker than the erection of a wood building. Also, given steel’s ability to span great distances, it is a perfect solution for clear-span framing, or where bearing wall or building column frequency is desired to be minimized. Steel being a non-combustible building component can also be incorporated into a project to allow for a particular construction classification to be achieved.
When considering what the disadvantages of steel tend to be, thermal conductivity is on the top of the list. Due to the increased need for insulation, as well as a higher need for a heating or cooling source, added insulation cost compared to a wood-based structure is likely. Another major disadvantage of steel is the reduced ability to alter the structure on site. Due to materials being delivered to the job site in their completed form, should any issues arise, steel is a more complicated material to alter.
Due to steel’s properties, in most cases, steel-based structures do not require load-bearing walls, which are typically required in wood structures. This allows for flexibility in floor plans and overall building geometry. Furthermore, due to steel’s durability, conventional steel buildings achieve a longer lifespan than wood structures.
Another major benefit of steel is that materials are one hundred percent recyclable, making steel an environmentally friendly building material.
Since 1947, Sheridan has self-performed the erection of almost all our conventional steel building projects through the use of our fleet of cranes and other heavy equipment, in addition to the dedicated efforts of our experienced erectors and equipment operators. Furthermore, the benefit of having an in-house engineering department and fabrication shop ensures that structural modifications can be designed and incorporated quickly into our projects.
