Why Steel Buildings Are Worth the Cost
What are the differences between wood buildings and steel buildings? Wood buildings may be less expensive and easier to construct, but the longevity and durability of wood don’t come close in comparison to steel. Plus, the maintenance of a wood building will cost you more in the long run.
To help you decide which type will work best for you, let’s take a closer look at wood buildings versus steel buildings.
Statistics About Wood Buildings & Steel Buildings
Before we dive into the many reasons you should consider a steel building over a wooden one, check out these statistics.
- Wood framing is the most preferred for residential constructions; this is most likely because people are hesitant to try something new.
- Steel framing is the most preferred for other types of construction.
- Within the U.S. commercial market, steel framing grabs nearly 55% of all new constructions.
- Within the U.S. commercial market, nearly 95% of all commercial buildings are constructed using steel framing.
Wood Buildings vs. Steel Buildings
About 20% of the total cost of building new construction is spent on framing and trusses. While you may think steel framing would be significantly more than wood framing, the truth is structural steel panels cost only about 5% more than wood trusses.
The labor costs of installing a steel structure or metal building are usually reduced by up to 50% compared to building with wood. This is due to the metal trusses being faster and easier to install.
Another thing to consider when using wood as a building material is that its consistency varies. Because all tree species vary (even the same species), lumber strengths fluctuate in their durability.
Wood also swells when the moisture content changes, causing cracks, twists, and warps in long headers and rafters as the years go by. If moisture content exceeds 20%, decay will more than likely take place in the structure. This is another reason steel and metal storage buildings are a better choice.
Metal Building Maintenance Compared to Wood Buildings
To keep it simple, wood buildings need a lot of upkeep. This requires more labor on your end and will cost a lot of money in regard to the materials you’ll need to perform the upkeep.
Steel buildings, on the other hand, require only a minimal amount of maintenance, with a simple rinsing and cleaning one to two times a year generally being sufficient.
Metal Buildings Are the Better Choice
Metal buildings are almost always the better choice. Whether you’re constructing horse barns or metal carports, you’ll enjoy an array of advantages with steel framing. Wood sheds and buildings simply don’t last as long and are not nearly as sturdy as steel structures.
In terms of longevity, steel buildings often last decades longer than wooden structures.
Contact us today to learn more about our industry workmanship and our 20-year rust-through warranty.
What Our Customers Are Saying
I would recommend bulldog steel highly. They are very professional and accommodating. Want to give special thanks to Randall Hall and also matt preslar. They were very accommodating and helping me fill out paperwork and handling things when a timely basis. The building we were very satisfied with and the installers also were very polite and had things done on a timely basis. Thanks again Randall and Matt you`ve got my five star rating
Shirley M.
Bulldog has been great to work with. They explained everything from beginning to end. I live in the mountains of New Mexico and the staff made sure that my garage had the right support needed for this area of the country. I would highly recommend them for anyone building a new carport or gaeage!
Bruce J.
Bryan Ordonez with Bulldog Buildings was great to work with. Every email or message I sent, he was quick to respond and I got what I wanted. I hate that we had to deal with material issues due to covid but he kept me up to date on issues and end dates. Love me 30x44 building.
Tony & Debbie S.
Good design tool on their website. Great customer service.
John S.
Have had nothing but a positive experience with Bulldog! Bryan was super helpful and still is after our install! He still responds super prompt and helpful. No complaints about our structure, as it looks amazing! Installers did a great job and picked up very nicely after they were done. Highly recommend!!
Kristie S.
I have now had my building in place for 3 months and I want to say that the whole team at Bulldog was very helpful throughout the entire process. My salesperson, Matthew, was extremely responsive. He was very helpful with the design phase, where we went back and forth with 3-4 different designs before settling on the perfect one. He always got back to me right away when I had a question. Although the delivery was delayed, understandable with the pandemic, he helped interface with Carolina Carports when I had delivery questions. So far I have no issues with the completed building. No leaks and all the doors are functioning perfectly. I would highly recommend using Bulldog for all your metal building needs.
Mike W.
Frank Rangel was very helpful and respectful. Also very understanding. I was pouring a concrete driveway and trying to put my down payment down. I may of got a little frustrated in the middle of it all. I could see the smile on Frank`s face the whole time! Thank you sir!
Jason M.
This is my second building from bulldog and I`m buying the same building , just different colors. They are great buildings that are strong and economical.
Parke H.
Excellent customer service during my order process, answered all my questions and they were very patient.
Jack D.
The website was very flexible and helped me customize my carport. The Bulldog staff was very prompt and helpful throughout the process.
Dale & Karen W.
Put up a RV cover for me on a concrete pad. Turned out great and the guys cleaned up after the work. Very satisfied. Would recommend these people.
Dan and Linda I.
I love my “She Shop.” It was amazingly easy. I sent an email, made 2 phones calls and it was done. The installation went even easier. Three guys showed up one day and finished the next. They were polite and cleaned up after themselves. My husband’s friends are all very impressed with the construction and materials used but were amazed at the reasonable price. I could not be more pleased. Thank you
DTheressa J.
I visited their website and used the 3D estimator and was able to see my building with doors, window placements, colors,and overall look. When you add or change any feature, including size, you can immediately see the result and change in price (if any). You can rotate the structure to see the overall look and framework. Once I placed my order, it was quickly and efficiently handled and the cost was lower than the estimate on the website The installers showed up early one morning and by noon the next day they had completed the structure. Everyone that comes by remarks on how nice it looks. I am very pleased with every aspect from ordering to installation.
David T.
Delivering & installing throughout the United States
Bulldog’s metal barns, garages, and carports are available for delivery and installation in most of the U.S. Whether you’re a homeowner in Maine, a rancher in Texas, or a small business owner in California, you’ll get to-your-door delivery and professional installation, so your building will be sturdy and reliable for years to come.
