One primary concern for many construction clients is the cost of the building materials, and this includes all the material required for a house to be properly habitable. While many clients may prefer cheap materials to manage the building costs, experts advise that this is not always the best course of action.
Experts warn that low-cost materials may be associated with bad quality, affecting your construction’s durability in the future. When you start a project to build your house, many questions might strike your mind like the cost, maintenance of the building, and precisely the type of building you want. Before you can answer any of this question, it is always prudent to decide on the building material’s choice.
Advantages of Traditional Timber Buildings
Timber and steel are the significant and most sought building materials you can use today. Considering that the traditional wood and steel have their advantages and disadvantages, it is good to put them into the test to get a clear image of your decision on the material to choose for the construction. Always ensure that you select the right building material that will be appropriate for your property. Let us look at both advantages and disadvantages of timber and steel consecutively.
Sturdy and reliable
When your building is timber, the confidence built in you because the materials are stable and reliable, many people grow trees. You only need to contact the sellers and acquire the materials ready for the construction. When choosing the type of wood to use for your building, seeking professional assistance as a different hove has an additional strength. The poor choice might lead you to a fragile structure.
Flexible and original design
Construction made of wood has existed for many years, and people have always liked them. Whenever you want to change or move, the building timber structure’s location is very flexible, giving you an original design made of timber. The timers being many natural people tend to mean that it gives them a conducive environment while living in the building. When an expansion is required later, steel building requires fewer pieces than a wood structure because, in most cases, that bears less weight at the foundation.
Temperature regulation
In most cases, people who live in wooden houses have a good temperature regulation as timbers are the lousy conductor of heat. Compared to temperature-prone steel, you do not have to be worried about the hot weather outside or the cold winter when using wood. You can always regulate the house’s temperature with the timer constructed house when using steel to make your home might be a challenge if you cannot control the house’s temperature, which might hurt your small kids affected by extreme weather.
Disadvantages of Traditional Timber Buildings
On the other side, timber constructions have been associated with various disadvantages, making them unfavorable to use in buildings.
Unfriendly with the Environment
Many people are always happy to see the good-looking construction of their structure made of traditional timbers. The building looks fantastic, but you would be surprised when you calculate the number of trees that must be cut down for just one design. For example, a typical 2,400 square foot a house ideal for a single-family would require framing lumber of about 16,000 board feet, including other wood products of over 4,000 square feet. After doing the calculations, you would need about 60 tons of fresh trees. This will make you ask yourself how many trees are required to make a steel building; if you are an environmental conservatism, it might be hard to choose wood.
Difficulties in Remodeling
The timber construction can give you a flexible and well-designed house that you will enjoy living in it. It might stand difficult or impossible when it comes to remodeling to accommodate the modern way of life. The ability to remodel to include appropriate ventilations and natural light that everybody is looking in the house today might be very tricky.
Susceptible to Rust, Mold, Insects, and Termites
When it comes to durability, it isn’t easy to have wood that will pass the test of time compared to steel. Although wood is treated nowadays, it does not mean that woods will not be infested with insects and termites. Over time, these woods following construction may get some cuts, which will pave the way for molds, insects, and termites to cause the structure’s deterioration. And after some time, the wooden materials will be eaten, and its lifespan slashed. If the timer is not appropriately treated or the installation is not done accordingly, they will eventually mold, making them weak with time.
Danger of Fire
It goes without saying how wood can be drastically consumed by fire, considering the amount of property lost and lives, which would have been avoided if the construction was made of steel. Damage to timber structures has been reported in many areas of the United States. And even though some companies offer treating wood to prevent fire, it is not always the safest way to avoid damaging a wood-made building.
High Insurance Claims
One of the critical reasons insurance companies charge more for timber buildings is their high fire rating or overall strength and durability. They command high maintenance costs due to more repairs and replacement of parts, but they will see more claims on average. It is also crucial to evaluate the steel structure to have a clear picture before deciding on the best construction material to suit your construction investment.
Advantages of a Steel Building
Low maintenance cost
The materials used in constructing a steel building requires significantly less maintenance cost compared to the timber structure. A traditional timber building requires frequent maintenance due to time to time shedding such as dump proofing; steel building comes with a properly installed paint that is treated and does not fade quickly. The color also maintains the aesthetic of the building for many decades. Metals are not affected by termites, insects, or molding, significantly decreasing the building’s maintenance cost.
Low cost of construction
Various researches have been conducted comparing the cost of constructing a traditional timber building and a steel structure. There are 50% savings when you opt for a steel building. Steel sheds are also very easy to install, and this reduces the labor cost. With the steel materials, you can choose optional cool-coated roofing panels to ensure enough energy-saving expenditure during the summer season. With steel structures, unlike the traditional timber constructions that will take a lot of time and a lot of work, you will only need to install and assemble the steel part, and within less time, the building will be standing without a hassle.
Durability
The durability of a pre-assembled building made of steel is often the construction’s selling point. The structure can stand unfavorable weather conditions such as heavy rains and snowfall, including tornados and earthquakes. While galvanizing is added to the structure, the building is prevented from rusting, increasing their lifespan. Another significant point about the steel structure is its endurance to fire. Unlike the traditional timber structures, steel buildings are non-combustible, implying that they are not affected by the fire.
Easy & Quick Assembly
When constructing a traditional timber structure, the building will take several months or longer to complete. When building a pre-engineered steel building, you only need some hours to make, and it is already ready for a family in a hurry to settle. The building also comes with a manual that will guide you if you plan to do the plan for yourself. You are driven by step-to-step instructions that will lead to installing all the structure requirements.
Reduced Insurance Rates for Steel Buildings
Much research has been conducted and proven steel buildings to be associated with cheap insurance rates compared to traditional timber buildings and concrete buildings. The structure can resist high winds, fire, lightning, insects and termites, and heavy rains, making insurance companies give a considerable amount of discounts to such buildings. With such savings, you can always want to invest in steel structures.
The decision over what construction material to use may seem confusing. It is essential to consider various factors before deciding between a timber building or a steel building. When people often choose to use wood because of the steel structure’s look, they tend to do away with many benefits just because of the aesthetic possibilities.
People must carefully examine any misconception about the building materials to use, including the advantages and disadvantages each material possesses. But the final decision will always depend on your needs, budget, and considerations when selecting which type of building you want. But it is good to choose a durable structure that will serve you for many tears.