If you’re on the fence about whether a metal building is better for your property than a wood building, then you’re not alone. Many people have the same concerns, but a quick look at the pros and cons of each can help you make a purchasing decision that is right for you.
Disadvantages of Wood for Buildings
Wood has a long history of use for buildings, so it’s easy to see why many people naturally gravitate towards buying wood instead of metal. However, wood also comes with many disadvantages when compared to galvanized steel. Some reasons that wood falls short:
- Wood is subject to rot and decay. Galvanized steel never rots, never decays, and never rusts if proper care and maintenance practices are followed. Prefabricated buildings tend to outlast wood at a high rate.
- Wood is subject to insect damage. Wood buildings can’t compare to the impervious nature of steel buildings when it comes to fending off insect damage from critters like termites.
- Wood buildings are susceptible to ruin in the event of a fire. Steel buildings, by contrast, are resistant to fire, making the fallout from a catastrophic fire less catastrophic.
- The temperature inside a wood building can be harder to regulate than a steel building. A properly insulated steel building is much easier to heat and cool, since there’s more airflow between the walls.
- Steel buildings are much more affordable to own than wood buildings.
- Steel is stronger than wood, making it less apt to sustain wind damage when properly installed. When it comes to maintaining its resilience in the face of extreme weather, it’s difficult to surpass steel.
- Design options. Wood buildings allow less room for expansion than their steel counterparts.
- If you decide to sell your property, a steel building holds its value or even appreciates, while wood buildings depreciate in value the older they get.
- Faster construction. If you need to get in your building as quickly as possible, then steel’s the way to go. It takes days to erect a steel building. Wooden buildings may take months to complete.
- Easy cleaning and maintenance. Wooden buildings need to be painted or stained frequently; not so with metal buildings.
- Steel buildings are greener than wood, since they can be completely recycled.
- Steel buildings come with warranties, so you have peace of mind with purchase. You don’t get that same option when you build a wooden building.
- Insurance is higher on wood buildings. Because of many of the aforementioned negatives that apply to wood buildings, insurers see them as bigger risks for similarly sized steel or prefabricated metal buildings.
There you have it; a rundown on the different ways that steel trumps wood. Talk with Viking Steel Structures’ expert team to find out more about wood buildings vs. steel or metal buildings now. Our pros can help you make the best decision possible to help you get your building up and in use quickly.
