Newbies in the construction industry may see structural steel as a brand-new material or innovation. Really, it isn’t. It has been used to build large structures for decades, and a great example of this is the Empire State Building which was built back in 1931. Such belief of structural steel being a new thing is a myth, and in the construction world, many more myths surround this fantastic building material.
Today, we want to tackle those myths to help individuals looking to utilize structural steel be as informed as possible:
Myth 1. Structural Steel Looks Ugly
As we must point out, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. This means that some people will typically see structural steel as ugly, while others will see it as something truly beautiful. That said, assuming that structural steel is ugly and believing that nothing can be done to fix it is wrong. Plenty of times, structural steel is paired with another material such as stone to diversify the design options, and the steel itself can also be painted to look better. Plus, steel is quite flexible and malleable at high temperatures, meaning it can be bent and molded into any shape to maximize function and form.
Myth 2. Structural Steel Is Too Noisy
People often associate steel and other metallic materials with noise. After all, things like metal roofs, walls, and even floors tend to make quite a bit of noise. However, structural steel doesn’t have this problem. This is because, when using structural steel, insulation will also be used to cover up the building. Not only does the insulation help to keep the internal environment of the building warm, but it also helps to dampen any sound the steel produces. At the same time, it helps to keep outside noise out and inside sound in.
Myth 3. Structural Steel Is Too Expensive
There is a partial truth to structural steel being expensive. When looking at things solely at their upfront cost, structural steel can cost more than other materials like concrete. However, as a business, long-term is the name of the game. When looking at things for the long term, it will soon be evident that structural steel is just a lot cheaper. The material requires little maintenance, and when repairs are necessary, they can be carried out quickly and easily.
Myth 4. Structural Steel Is Bad in Hot Areas
As mentioned earlier, steel is malleable in high heat. However, this is only true if that temperature can get anywhere near 1370 Celcius, which is the melting point of steel. One does not have to worry about dealing with that temperature in any typical scenario, especially weather-wise. As such, structural steel is incredibly resilient to any weather, performing amazingly in hot or cold climates.
Conclusion
If you previously believed any of the above myths, now you know better. Structural steel is a fantastic material, and if you were worried that it wouldn’t be performing well in hot climates, that it would be too expensive to use, that it would be too noisy, or anything else, worry no more! That being said, if you still have questions about structural steel, don’t be afraid to reach out to professional steel providers. They can give more answers to shed light on structural steel, and from there, we hope you can make the most informed decision before investing in structural steel.
KGS Steel Birmingham is a full-line structural steel and carbon steel service center offering the products and services to meet any steel needs. If you are looking for structural steel in Birmingham, contact us today!
