Steel

According to Tekla, of the $3.5 trillion spent worldwide on commercial construction, 20 percent goes to waste. That’s $700 billion flushed due to preventable design inaccuracies. Even with computers to work out...

When designing with structural steel, does it have to be all straight runs, angles and joints?

It's nice to have options. New construction can incorporate a number of structural support elements, the basic three being steel, wood or concrete. 

Every pound counts in architectural design. The more materials used, the more expensive the building. However, too little material results in a weak edifice.

Many of our customers are asking us, "Why is steel costing so much?" It's a fair question with no simple answer.

You can erect nearly anything with steel: homes, shops, hangars, factories, warehouses, high rises, entertainment/sports arenas and shopping malls. The inherent compressive and tensile properties of steel lend more versatility to architectural design than any other conventional framing system.

If you're building a new home, or deeply renovating the one you have, you may wonder whether to use steel beams vs. wood beams. The answer depends on your budget, design goals, construction schedule and sustainability preferences.

What do you get when you combine the compressive strength of concrete with the tensile properties of steel? Answer: A marriage made in heaven. 

Steel has long been a favored material for large construction projects since the inception of industrial-level manufacturing. Without it, skyscrapers couldn't exist.

Steel frame building materials are growing in popularity, and in some places around the world, steel is actually displacing timber as the primary framing material for both residential and non-residential buildings.