Why Steel is the Best Choice in Construction Materials

The term “steel structure” has in the past, unfortunately, been associated with cheap and unattractive structures and huts. However, you will be pleased to learn that there have been numerous improvements and advances made over the past 40 years, and pre-engineered steel building systems are now one of the top choices for bigger and more complicated projects. High-grade steel is today being used for such functions as agricultural applications, auto repair facilities, flight training facilities and many other structures.

Steel buildings first came into use in the early 20th century. Initially, steel was used for automobile enclosures—however, because of its durability and low cost, it was soon being used for small businesses and storage sheds.

With the 1920s came the use of steel for farm buildings and other agricultural applications. Wood was being disregarded by farmers and ranchers in rural areas in favor of those designed with steel.

During the 1940s the first line of pre-fabricated structures applying a rigid structural frame method came into use. Rigid frameworks, as the support for the structure’s frame, were developed to be a strong and durable assembly style. This structure is an established type of building for many applications, and is still in use today. At a lower price, businesses and industries could now acquire more functional and larger configurations coupled with the benefits of a faster erection time. Aircraft hangars that utilized other building materials were replaced by steel almost immediately after the 1940s.

With the end of the 1940s, improvements were made on pre-fabricated all-steel buildings involving added size and design versatility. The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) was established in 1956. For steel buildings this alliance normalized manufacturing, and began an effort towards new approaches and increased attraction for a larger consumer audience. With one million dollars in new construction by the end of the 1950s, the pre-engineered steel building industry increased markedly to more than 2.5 billion dollars by the year 2000.

The use of premium grade steel continues to grow in the 21st century. Due to a number of factors, the price of steel has increased also. However, the cost of building with steel is still highly favorable over other construction materials, illustrating the reason why so many individuals and companies continue to choose steel for their construction projects.