What Are Steel Buildings?
A commercial steel building is a prefabricated building made entirely from steel; there are no components made from wood or other materials. The building’s components are made in a factory and assembled on site, whether they are designed to the buyer’s needs (customized) or out-of-the-box solutions.
Steel buildings are both cheaper than traditional wood structures and faster to build. Since all of the components are built in a factory, there is no worry about weather conditions causing delays or other issues. Additionally, these buildings are fully recyclable and highly durable.
The purchasing and construction process is fairly simple. Select a design, either your own or an existing one, then choose your finishing materials. As the factory goes through the fabrication process, building foundations and other site works can be completed. The building can be assembled once it has been delivered on site, and from there all that’s left is finishing work, such as plumbing, interior walls, and painting.
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Benefits of Commercial Steel Buildings
Commercial steel buildings offer a host of benefits at a reasonable cost, many of which cannot be found in buildings made from more traditional materials. Some of these benefits include:
- Adaptability: While some locations present difficulties when erecting a more conventional or traditional structure, steel buildings are able to be modified to fit in spaces that other structures could not.
- Energy-efficiency: With a full shell on the exterior of the metal frame, there are fewer gaps allowing air to move through the walls and into the building’s interior. Coupled with the insulation within the walls, the inside of the building maintains a comfortable temperature without leaking or taking in air. This offers significant savings on energy costs, making your building more energy efficient.
- Low foundation costs: Rather than pouring literal tons of cement and utilizing steel throughout the foundation, a steel building’s foundation is made up of post holes driven deep enough to support the perimeter. This leaves you with more than sufficient support at a lower cost.
- Low-maintenance: Unlike wood and other building materials, steel does not require constant maintenance. Once the structure has been completed, it is usually years before any servicing or repairs are needed.
- Stability: Commercial steel buildings are perhaps the sturdiest buildings on the market. Extreme weather does not cause damage to the frame, as the heavy posts imbedded in the ground translate heavy winds into lateral strength. Steel buildings also remain standing even in the face of earthquakes or fires, as the materials are highly durable.
How Much Do Commercial Steel Buildings Cost?
Estimating steel building costs is difficult, as there are multiple factors that play into the total cost. The company you purchase through, size of the structure, and any additions all affect your final price. That being said, what follows is a general pricing guide to provide an idea of what you can expect to pay for your commercial steel building.
- Raw materials have an average cost between $5 and $15 per square foot, though this varies based on the project.
- Though the size of the building is the major determinant, steel building foundations have an average cost between $4 and $8 per square foot.
- The cost of labor is directly related to the scale of the project. Labor costs average between $3 and $10 per square foot, with smaller buildings costing less than large ones.
- To offer an idea of price in accordance to scale, a 20 x 20 rigid frame has an average cost between $10,000 and $12,000.
It is important to note than finished interiors, insulation, and wiring all add to the total cost of your commercial steel building.
Steel Building Additional Cost Considerations
With so many different factors impacting the cost of commercial steel buildings, it can be hard to estimate your full price. In addition to materials and labor costs, there are some additional costs you must consider.
Building codes often affect labor and production costs based on your area’s requirements for steel buildings, so be sure to check up on any local codes pertaining to your project. It is also important to consider the weather of your region, as locations with heavy snowfall or extreme weather may come with higher costs for steel buildings. Though the weather itself will not cause issues with the construction of the components in the factory, it does affect the process of erecting the building and the cost of labor.