Metals used for architectural purposes include lead, for water pipes, roofing, and windows; tin, formed into tinplate; zinc, copper and aluminium, in a range of applications including roofing and decoration; and iron, which has structural and other uses in the form of cast iron or wrought iron, or made into steel.
In truth, steel buildings are usually half the cost and take half the time to erect compared to traditional construction methods. This means you'll spend less money in labor and avoid costly construction delays.
Metals are commonly used in the construction industry due to their durability and strength to form structural components, pipework, cladding materials and other components.
Steel is the most commonly used metal in the world today, widely used by the building industry. An alloy of iron and other elements, steel has the benefits of high tensile strength combined with low cost which make it perfect for use in construction.
Steel buildings face fewer issues with deterioration and corrosion than concrete or wood, and can out live other structures when properly built and maintained. Most steel buildings last anywhere from 50 to 100 years.
Metal Commonly Used in Construction
Iron versus Steel – The difference between iron and steel is simply that iron is an element and steel, in its most basic form, is an alloy of iron and carbon. Some may believe that “wrought iron” is, in some manner, also referring to steel since “wrought” means forged.
There are many different types of metal used in the construction industry. Designers, architects and builders use metal in construction and manufacturing because of its durability, resistance to all forms of weather and all-round strength and resilience.