How Galvanized Steel Revolutionized Construction
With the excitement of modern advances in technology like computing and AI, it’s easy to forget just how marvelous some of the technology we don’t often discuss truly is. After all, it’s fun to think about what we can do with AI or rocket science, but we often overlook the significance of more practical discoveries that paved the way for essentials like reliable homes or indoor plumbing.
Here at State Building Products, we have a soft spot for discoveries these practical discoveries. We know that, without them, the world would be much worse off. So today, we’re going to do something different. We’re going to spotlight the importance of our favorite practical discovery: galvanized steel.
What Makes Galvanized Steel So Special?
If you’re not already in construction or engineering, then you may be wondering why galvanized steel is so important that we’re dedicating an article to it. After all, it’s just essentially just steel dipped in zinc, right? Well, yes—but the benefits from this process of galvanization are huge.
By dipping in steel into a bath of molten zinc, that zinc binds itself to the steel, creating an alloy. As an alloy, zinc and steel actually alter each other’s chemical composition, giving each other unique properties. Essentially, galvanization gives us the perks of both steel and zinc in one material
How Galvanized Steel Changed the Game
All of this sounds great in theory, but why don’t we just use regular steel? After all, steel is already an amazing material; it’s cheap, strong, and reliable. Well as it turns out, regular steel has environmental weaknesses that can be inconvenient at best or dangerous at worst.
The Shift to Galvanized Steel
Like most common metals, steel is vulnerable to oxidation. While it may take years for steel to rust in temperate, drier environments, coastal and industrial environments can cause rust within a few months. This means buildings that rely on non-galvanized steel may need consistent maintenance just to stay upright. In the past, this severely limited structural steel’s use. For reference, a skyscraper could take between 2 and 10 years to construct. Theoretically, companies using this steel might have to begin the maintenance and renovation process just as they finished construction.
But through the process of galvanization, steel in harsh climates has a lifespan of up to 20 years, and up to a whopping 50 years in temperate locations. And here’s the kicker: galvanized steel generally costs less than a dollar more than regular steel per pound. Stainless steel, by contrast, is usually 4-5 times that price. Galvanized steel’s affordability made long-lasting steel constructions not only feasible, but accessible. Now, you’ll find galvanized steel in most homes across the industrialized world.
Get Galvanized Steel for Your Construction Project
Are you searching for effective, historically tested building materials for your construction project? If so, then galvanized steel may be the best choice for you. To order your own galvanized steel construction materials, click here to contact our team at State Building Products today.
