Metal buildings are a popular commercial construction choice for businesses looking for a faster build, cost-effectiveness, and durability. You’ll find steel construction in industrial projects, manufacturing facilities, food processing plants, autobody shops, car dealerships, veterinary and medical practices, as well as hotels, offices, and homes.
When it comes to the structure of a metal building, there are several construction options to consider. Structural steel is stronger and often used in high-rises, while pre-engineered metal buildings, or PEMB, provide wide-open internal spaces, often used for warehouses or distribution centers. In cold-formed or light-gauge steel buildings, you’ll find internal support systems of steel in smaller applications, like offices, mid-rise buildings, or homes.
Metal vs. Steel
The difference between metal and steel is that steel is a metal, but not all metal is steel. Metal is a broader category of natural chemical elements that includes iron, copper, and gold. Steel, which is an alloy, is made up of iron mixed with less than 2-percent carbon. It is man-made and therefore not a natural element. Steel is extremely strong and durable, making it the perfect choice for the construction of skyscrapers, bridges, vehicles, ships, and other machinery.
A steel building is typically constructed with steel columns and beams for framing, as well as wall girts and roof purlins for support. Steel can also be used for exterior cladding, which is fully customizable.
Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings
Pre-engineered metal buildings are factory-built structures constructed with non-combustible elements instead of wood. Steel is typically used for the columns and beams, making the building more durable in the event of a fire or earthquake. Metal buildings are also more energy efficient, sustainable, and resistant to pests.
Besides being more durable than wood, pre-engineered metal buildings are also more cost-effective than custom-built steel buildings, with a quicker construction timeline as most of their components are constructed off-site and then assembled on location, like the Simply Self Storage project recently completed by SEA CON LLC in Seattle.
SEA CON LLC is a full-service steel building contractor and a top-ranking dealer in pre-engineered and hybrid steel systems in the Pacific Northwest. We specialize in light-gauge steel framing and structural steel building systems, as well as hybrid and pre-engineered steel systems. Our five decades of experience and high-quality steel building solutions will save you both time and money.
Light-Gauge Steel Framing
Light-gauge steel framing, also called cold-formed building, uses steel sheets to construct a building’s structure instead of traditional wood studs, joists, or trusses.
While light-gauge framing is thinner and lighter in weight compared to other steel, it is extremely strong and resistant to warping.
Cold-formed steel sheets are shaped using rollers, while the computer-controlled manufacturing method ensures accuracy, straighter walls, and easier installation. Thin gauges are used in non-structural applications, like interior walls. Medium gauges are used in partitions. And thicker gauges are used for structural components and exterior walls.
Light-gauge steel framing is commonly used in smaller buildings, including offices, hotels, custom homes, and mid-rise buildings up to five stories. Light-gauge steel can also be used for interior walls on larger commercial projects.
Structural Steel Framing
Structural steel framing provides the stronger support needed for larger projects like skyscrapers, stadiums, and bridges. This type of construction uses steel frames to support the weight of the structure, including in high-rise buildings, and to withstand high winds or earthquakes.
Rigid Frame
Rigid-frame steel buildings allow for the maximum amount of space inside without the need for internal supports. Rigid frame buildings are built with a rigid framework of tapered steel columns and beams to handle all of the load, allowing for an expansive interior.
Rigid Frame designs are often used for warehouses, large retail buildings, and airplane hangars, like Pellitteri Hangars, which was built by SEA CON in Hayden, Idaho.
Open Truss
Open Truss is a prefabricated, interconnected structure – built of wood or steel – to carry the weight of the roof. Open truss metal buildings allow for quick assembly, maximum overhead space, and unobstructed indoor spaces.
Post-Frame
Post-frame, which is often built using wood, can also be constructed with steel. The design allows the vertical load of the building to be supported by a series of posts around the perimeter and through the center of the building. Post-frame metal construction is a popular choice for agricultural and storage buildings.
Arch or Quonset
Arch or Quonset metal buildings are also prefabricated steel structures, but with a curved design that provides unobstructed interior space with no central supports. These metal buildings are stronger and can handle heavy snow, wind, or seismic activity.
While the curved walls limit the amount of usable space inside compared to straight-wall buildings, they are often used for garages, workshops, and vehicle or farm storage.
Tube Steel
Steel tube framing or hollow structural section, also known as HSS, is also used in various shapes and sizes to provide structure to metal buildings. The hollow tubes support heavy loads while minimizing waste, which makes them a more sustainable option.
Hybrid
Hybrid steel buildings use a combination of steel construction and pre-engineered construction to balance durability, sustainability, customization, and cost-effectiveness.
Hybrid steel buildings incorporate metal for the structure while using other materials, such as wood, glass, or brick, to enhance the architectural style. This type of construction is often used for retail spaces, office buildings, and restaurants, as well as for industrial projects like warehouses and manufacturing plants.
Why SEA CON is an Industry Leader in Constructing Metal Buildings
SEA CON is a national leader for full-service pre-engineered and hybrid steel systems, and has been building steel structures throughout the Pacific Northwest for the past 50 years.
Serving Washington state, Idaho, and Oregon, we specialize in pre-engineered steel systems, hybrid steel building systems, structural steel building systems, and light gauge steel framing.
SEA CON is the industry leader in steel construction for manufacturing and storage facilities, airplane hangars, food processing plants, restaurants, veterinary hospitals and medical buildings, autobody and retail shops, wrecking yards, car dealerships, and even sports facilities to provide wide, unobstructed indoor spaces for ice rinks and pickleball courts.
Interested in custom steel construction? Check out our steel buildings in Seattle, Redmond, Issaquah, and Tacoma. You can also try our pricing tool to create a 3D design and receive a custom quote for your project or contact SEA CON today for a free consultation.
