Which is the One for You: Steel or Wood Structured Home?

When it comes to building structures, two of the most popular options are wood and steel. While both materials have their advantages, they are often used in different types of buildings. Wood is a natural and organic material that has been used in construction for centuries. In fact, wood is the dominant material used in residential construction due to its availability and ease of use. However, it is not as commonly used in commercial construction, where steel reigns supreme.

One of the main differences between wood and steel is their consistency. Wood is an organic material, which means it can be inconsistent and vary in quality. Steel, on the other hand, is man-made and uniform, providing consistent quality across all pieces.

Another difference is in the span of open spaces that can be achieved with each material. Wood has restrictions on how far it can span open spaces, while steel can achieve much larger open spaces with proper structural support. Wood, despite its many advantages, is not able to rival steel in terms of strength. In order to bolster the load-bearing capacity of wood in construction, it is necessary to employ frequent and closely-spaced wood sections (at intervals of 2 feet). As a result of this approach, the walls within a wood frame assume structural significance, rendering the removal of walls to create open spaces and large windows or the retrofitting of existing buildings infeasible. Consequently, architectural spaces must be enclosed by structural walls, leading to a contained, choppy, and cramped feel. In contrast, steel is capable of withstanding clear spans of 20 feet or more, effectively resolving all of the aforementioned issues.

When it comes to retrofitting a building in the future, steel is typically easier to retrofit since there are no walls playing a structural role. Wood, on the other hand, can be more difficult to retrofit due to the reliance on structural wall systems.

The lifespan of a building is also an important factor to consider. Wood buildings can deteriorate over time and lose their attractive appearance, while steel buildings retain their integrity and appearance for a much longer period of time. This can also impact the appreciation of land, as land with a traditional timber building typically stays the same or could even depreciate, while land with prefabricated steel buildings tends to appreciate.

In terms of pests, wood-framed structures are prone to termites, wood ants, vermin, and mold. Steel structures, on the other hand, never attract termites or vermin and do not require expensive chemical treatments.

Lightning strikes can also be a concern for wood structures, as the moisture content in the lumber can cause the framing to detonate when struck by lightning. Steel, on the other hand, is a great conductor of current and disperses harmlessly into the ground.

Wind is another factor to consider, as nail and staple connections used in wood framing can fail under extreme pressure, causing the roof to lift and the walls to topple. Steel structures combat high winds with stronger components and stouter connections.

When it comes to fire, wood structures are combustible and add fuel to a structural fire. This can result in higher insurance premiums for wood structures. Steel, on the other hand, is non-combustible and less likely to be the point of ignition in a building fire, resulting in lower insurance premiums.

Finally, under the stresses of a seismic event, wood studs can snap and connections can fail. Steel systems, however, create moment frames that allow framing to move slightly and absorb lateral forces caused by shaking.

At ModuleUp we stand by the quality and benefits of our steel-structured units. The table below summarizes the benefits delivered by ModuleUp steel structured units.

• Consistency

  Man made, uniform and consistent

• Span (Open Spaces)

  Achievable

• Future Retrofit

  Easy with no walls playing structural role

• Life span

  Framing in prefab construction maintains it structural integrity throughout its lifetime. Steel buildings retain their attractive appearance (and selling value) far longer than wood structures.

• Land Appreciation

  Land with prefabricated steel buildings tend to appreciate

• Termite

  Never attract termites, wood ants, vermin, or mold— nor do they need repeated, expensive chemical termite treatments.

• Lightening

  Is a great conductor of current. If lightning strikes a metal building, the current passes through the steel, dispersing harmlessly into the ground

• Wind

  Rigid-steel buildings combat high winds with stronger components and stouter connections. The high-strength steel bolts and nuts uniting steel-framing members withstand greater wind forces than wood structures.

• Fire

  Fire-resistant steel framing never becomes the point of ignition in building fires and does not add fuel to the fire.

• Insurance

  Lower premium due to behaviour against fire

• Earthquake/ Vibrations

  Steel systems create moment frames. During an earthquake, moment connections allow framing to move slightly, absorbing the lateral forces caused by shaking. *Weld-up steel buildings— where the framing pieces are welded together rather than bolted— do not perform well in earthquakes. Welded connections may break during a trembler

• Environment

  100% recyclable material

Interested to learn more about steel-structured spaces? contact us here