The Advantages of a Steel Frame
With wooden frames as popular as they are, you may be wondering why more and more people prefer a steel frame for their new construction. When you think about it, steel isn’t usually as readily available as the wood from the trees all around us. So, why do so many people prefer a steel frame?
Well, the answer is both simple and complex. The simple answer is: because it’s more robust. As for the complex answer, well, that’s what we’ll cover today. In this month’s blog post, we’re discussing the many advantages of choosing a steel frame for your new construction.
Steel Frames Are More Durable than Wooden Ones
As you might expect, a steel frame is almost always going to be more durable than a wood frame. This is because of a few different factors.
1. Steel Frames Don’t Absorb Moisture Like Wood
Wood famously absorbs moisture over time, which increasingly opens them up to vulnerabilities, such as:
- Swelling
- Warping
- Shrinking
- Cracking
As the vulnerabilities compound, your wooden frame will become even more at risk. However, steel frames don’t suffer from any of these issues.
2. Bugs Don’t Eat Steel Frames
Pests prefer to make their homes in wood, which they feed off and breed in. From there, they can even invade your home and cause damage to other structures within it. Bugs particularly like damp wood and can even cause serious structural damage.
3. Steel Frames Aren’t Combustible Like Wood
As you can guess, steel frames aren’t nearly as vulnerable to fire as wood frames. Where a wood frame can increase risk of a fire spreading, steel frames can keep its strength at temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
Steel Frames are Longer Lasting
Though both frames last a considerable amount of time, steel frames famously outlast wood frames despite being a comparable cost. In fact, properly insulated steel frames can outlast wood framing by a matter of decades. At the same time, your steel frame will require much less upkeep than a wood frame in order to reach its maximum life expectancy.
All in all, steel frames are the right choice if you plan on building something to last.
Learn More About Steel Frames Today
Are you interested in finding out more about the perks of steel framing for your new construction? If so, we here at State Building Products are here to help. Click here to contact us today!