Structural Steel Buildings Vs. Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings: What is What?
Knowing what steel structure is best for your project is half the battle.
So, you’ve learned that steel is 100% recyclable, cheap to manufacture, and can provide long-term savings to your energy bill, and you want your next project to be made with steel. Congratulations! Now you have to decide what kind of steel building you want.
Typically, there are two major types of steel buildings: structural steel and pre-engineered. But what’s the difference? What should you know to make your decision
Structural Steel Buildings
Structural steel buildings are a more conventional form of construction. This means there are distinct steps to this construction process, such as design, excavation, foundation construction, framing, and erection. Each step is very particular, so scheduling is paramount to this type of building. As such, they often take longer to complete from conception to finished product.
However, structural steel buildings are hugely beneficial from a design perspective, as they allow more room for complex designs and for design changes to be made during construction. This is because these custom steel buildings, while primarily made from steel, include other building materials like concrete, wood, and glass. As a result, structural steel buildings often result in more waste at the construction site, have a higher price tag due to labour costs, and require more long-term maintenance because their weight can weaken foundations over time.
Structural steel buildings are most useful, though with highly complex designs, particularly when the shape of the building is unusual. They’re also beneficial in cases where penetrable walls aren’t desired. These types of buildings are especially appropriate for high-rise parking structures but can be utilized for many needs, including custom retail shops.
Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings
Pre-engineered steel buildings are more streamlined than conventional steel, as they do not require an architect or engineer to design them. These buildings are pre-designed, pre-fabricated, and ready to construct. This makes them quicker and more efficient to erect, results in material waste and reduces the building price tag due to lower labour costs.
However, as a result of being pre-designed, pre-engineered steel buildings do not allow for the same amount of design flexibility as structural steel. There is still a component of design flexibility to be had with pre-engineered steel buildings, of course, just not nearly to the same extent. That said, if you don’t need a complicated building, pre-engineered steel buildings more than makeup for their shortcomings with lower long-term maintenance, durability and stability, and the ease of future expansions.
Pre-engineered steel buildings are, therefore, useful in many situations, particularly commercial and industrial buildings. We’ve erected dozens of pre-fabricated buildings across all industries, including retail, farm, multi-purpose shops, home shops, mining, and storage.
Which Type of Building Is Right For Me?
Ultimately, the type of steel building that is best for you depends on your building needs and overall timeline. Here’s a chart outlining some of the pros and cons we’ve discussed that can be helpful when seeking out your next professionally constructed building.
One benefit of pre-engineered buildings is scalability — check out more about this advantage in our article: Scale Your Business with Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings.
Metal Structure Concepts has been designing and constructing steel buildings across Canada for over 20 years. From retail spaces to warehouses to wineries (and more), we are the experts for your next project. Contact us today to get a free quote.