Brick Structures vs Steel Structures

Deciding On Steel Vs. Brick For Your Next Structure

When it comes to building any type of structure, the first decision you have to make is the material that will work best for the project you’re trying to complete. As much as all wood structures are still very much an option, most buildings – especially in more metropolitan areas – tend to either be steel or brick; and sometimes a combination of both. So why should steel be your go-to for your next building project? There are quite a few reasons why prefab steel outperforms brick construction and should be the main consideration for your next building project.

Durability

There’s no doubt that brick is a tough materials, but steel holds its own as one of the strongest and most long lasting construction materials on the market. It’s strong enough to withstand not only regular wear & tear but specific things like extreme weather such as high winds, heavy snow and ice. Steel is also pest and fire resistant on top of all of this.

Flexibility

This durability also helps prefab steel structures to be much more flexible. In the event that you need to make moves or other adjustments to the structure, brick makes the process almost impossible without major reconstruction. Steel will not break or warp when it’s being taken down or moved, so the materials can be easily used again in a new location.

Easier On The Environment

Steel is much better for the environment in many ways, and at every stage of the process. The material itself is 100% recyclable, meaning it can be constantly reused in the event that you no longer need your building and take it down. Most of this recycled materials goes on to be used in a variety of ways, but mainly back into construction materials. The prefab nature of these structures means the parts and pieces of the structure come to your build site ready to be put up. This means there’s no unnecessary waste created during the construction process. Steel buildings are also extremely energy efficient, meaning you’ll use energy in much more productive ways inside a steel building vs. a brick one – that will require much more effort to heat and maintain a comfortable temperature on the interior.

Reduced Costs

In up front costs, prefab steel tends to be on average 30% cheaper than other methods of construction, so steel is a much better option than brick is price is an important part of the decision making process. Brick can eventually deteriorate and be susceptible to crumbling depending on factors like accidents or impact, as well as extreme weather and just regular wear and tear and molding. This is the type of thing that will require regular maintenance to some degree, whereas steel building require little to none. This will save you money in the long run by not having to pay for regular maintenance, repairs and upkeep.

Easier Construction

Like the largest advantage prefab steel buildings has over construction with brick is the ease of construction. Prefab steel buildings come ready to put together in much simpler DIY style than something that requires a skill as specific as brick-laying. Bricks need to laid in a specific way, as well as grouted and insulated to ensure it’s done correctly. With prefab steel, it just needs proper placement and securing. This makes for a much shorter construction process that can be over in a few days rather than a few weeks, depending on how large the building is.

These are just a few reasons why you should consider steel buildings over constructing with brick for your next building project.