Five Differences in Steel Buildings of Today

So you think you know a thing or two about steel buildings. You may believe, as many people do, that metal buildings are either huge skyscrapers or those old steel boxes that used to dot the landscape a few decades ago. Steel building technology has come a long way from the days of Quonset buildings. Today’s steel buildings have seen lots of improvements in construction, engineering and design that make them the most popular choice for garages, barns, home offices and so many other types of structures. Here are five ways that steel buildings today are different than their progenitors.

Attractive

Forget the old stereotype of the ugly steel shoebox. Today’s steel buildings are nothing if not stylish. While you can still buy Quonset buildings and the like, you’ll also find designs and styles that fit right into the suburban and urban landscape without a second thought. In fact, thanks to the versatility of steel, your metal building can take just about any style you want.

Green

One doesn’t often think of steel buildings when looking for green building choices, but the truth is that the steel is among the greenest of construction materials. Most steel buildings are made with 100 percent recycled steel, so you’re not taking more non-renewable resources – like wood – from the earth. Instead, you’re keeping all that steel out of the waste stream and reusing a resource that has already gone through at least one cycle of use. On top of that, steel buildings are more energy efficient in a number of other ways, and even take up less of a carbon footprint, thanks to the way they’re manufactured and delivered to the building site.

Color

Once upon a time, steel buildings manufacturers seemed to have taken their cues regarding color from Henry Ford, who once famously quipped that you could buy a Ford Model T in your choice of color – as long as your choice was black. Not too long ago, you faced similar choices when it came to picking a color for your steel building – only a few of the most basic colors were available. Today, most metal building manufacturers supply their buildings in a range of standard colors that will match most popular exterior home colors, and a lot are willing to mix custom shades to match the color of other buildings on your property precisely.

Fast

Forget about the weeks upon weeks of bolting I-beams and posts together. Today, steel buildings are delivered ready to assemble, with each component for your building clearly marked and ready to put into place. Many smaller metal buildings are assembled completely onsite by the owner of the building and a few friends.

Stronger

Every steel building is designed to meet the safety standards and building codes of your region and community. As long as you supply the codes for your region to the building manufacturer, design engineers will create a building that will stand up to the weather and conditions in your geographical area.

Steel buildings have changed considerably since the day of the Quonset hut. Today, you’ll find many stylish, attractive steel buildings that are perfect for your garage, barn or other home building project.