Types of Steel Structures, What You Need to Know

11 min read

Table of contents

Transform your vision into a reality!

Chat with one of our building experts to craft the perfect design to suit your operational needs.

Understanding 5 Common Types of Steel Structures

Types of Steel Structures, What You Need to Know

Types of Steel Structures, What You Need to Know 1024 768 Steel Buildings | Allied Steel Buildings

Architecture
Steel structures, when you’re thinking of building, considering the use of steel is the best choice. However, this is a choice that requires a lot of knowledge and experience. This expertise is necessary because the design of metal buildings is not all the same. It would be best if you got the most value for your money. Take into consideration the quality of the products you’re getting and then decide on a supplier with the best building kits for you.

Our Allied steel buildings do not compare to any other steel building kits in the market; no other comes close. The prices are very fair, and almost everyone can afford it, but the quality of the features it delivers will fit all of your needs.

Typically, there are five types of steel structures, and they are utilized in low-rise construction mostly. The following are the five different types.

Light-Gauge Steel Buildings

For the light-gauge steel buildings, the technique involved is similar to that used in wood framing. The only difference is conventional 2×4 lumber in a “stick-per-stick” manner instead of cold-formed galvanized steel studs. The labor for these types of structures is very intensive. All the steel used is cut to length at the building site, using a chop saw. The studs on the light-gauge framing are typically placed 16″ to 24″ inches apart.

Another challenge posed by these structures is that heat/cold transference is very difficult for the builders. The wall cavities limit the thermal break and insulation options since they’re of small capacity. If there happen to be intense fires, the frame on the light-gauge steel will lose its toughness. This result will happen even though steel is fire-resistant. The loss of building integrity can lead to it collapsing; this is a dreadful situation, especially for firefighters. Repainting is also done frequently by the owners since they might experience a “ghosting” challenge on the interior walls. This painting choice causes weird dark streaks to form on the walls.

Web-Truss Buildings

Steel trusses form the framing for the web-truss buildings. Web-like patterns are created by steel pieces that are parallel with metals between them connected in zigzag. The frame requires the use of 10″ to 16″ increments in its spacing. This placement can make it challenging to have wider doors set. Since most companies do not provide them, you might not get framing for the end walls if you build this type of structure. This shortcoming will lead to an extra cost of buying lumber to create your end wall.

The exterior sheathing for web-truss gets a gauge that’s light and weaker. As a web-truss building owner, you’ll experience a problem with birds nesting on the trusses since they love it. The birds will nest and roost on the web framing, which then leads to fowling. It creates a mess and also acts as a significant health hazard to the building’s occupants.

Allied Buildings

The allied metal buildings can span large spaces. These structures use rafter beams and I-beam red-iron columns. Builder’s preferences determine the design of the components, and they are computer-designed. The framings for the Allied steel buildings offer easy systematic assembling since they are ready to use as soon as they arrive at the job site. These types of building kits reduce construction time by one-third. Putting up the Allied prefab metal building structures are so easy that it only requires a few people to complete a medium-sized building. This ease of use helps save money since you won’t have to pay for many people to erect the installation for you. There are also special clips that are pre-welded on the Allied framings. Using them, attaching purlins and girts becomes so much easier for the builder.

Take the next step

We have a passion for unconventional solutions that bring your vision to life.

Price Your Building Today

Arch Structures

These are also popularly known as Quonset huts; this is because arch buildings’ structural design involves walls and roofs that are curved. Steel sheathing corrugated on the exterior is primarily used, with no framing added. The arch structures have many advantages linked to them that you surely can’t resist. The first thing is that building them and also taking them down is an easy task. The cost is also very encouraging since they are cheap to purchase, and getting them shipped to you is also very easy. You won’t go through much of a hassle getting the arch buildings up.

These historic structures worked great as temporary World War II buildings for the military to use. However, a few setbacks are linked to the buildings, especially for a modern-day builder despite many advantages. Most builders are versatile and expect to have many colors for exterior sheathing. However, with the arch structures, this is not an option. A builder can’t choose the colors they prefer for the exterior sheathing. This lack of options is because it can be hard to dress up the arch buildings’ curved surfaces. You can use stones or even bricks to make the exterior look more appealing.

Another disadvantage is that it can be extremely challenging to insulate an arch building because of its curved appearance. The curved shape is the main challenge involved even in finishing the exterior finish. It also leaves a large amount of unused space left on the arch structure’s curved wall, especially if the building is extensive. Zoning is another hindrance since there are restrictions in many areas that forbid the establishment of arch structures. You can also have a difficult time getting electricity and plumbing installed in arch buildings.

Welded Buildings

The kits are cut and welded on the job site piece by piece for these types of buildings. This process is time-consuming since you cut and weld as you create the framing. The skills of professional and experienced welders are also required to set up the structure well. They typically consist of red-iron pipes welded on a frame. The design in these structures has no engineering behind it. This decision can cause a problem with getting the permit, and building inspections in certain areas can be a significant problem. They are making that one of the major setbacks.

Why Allied Buildings Are a Unique Choice

With the Allied buildings, you can choose from a variety of beautiful colors. These options are because of the use of heavy-duty 26-gauge steel in finishing an Allied building. There are also a variety of exterior finishings to choose from as well. For instance, if a builder needs a more traditional exterior, tilt-up concrete walls, bricks, glass, stones, and many other materials can give a conventional exterior design. The durability is another exciting feature of the Allied buildings. They can last for several decades, still looking beautiful and not diminishing their value.

This type of framing is the best since it guarantees that all building loads requirements will be met and exceeded. You will not be concerned about environmental degradation as well since the kits are a green building choice. The steel framing we offer on our steel framings has a high content of materials that can be recycled. You also get thick insulation since the wall cavities are deep in design. With our Allied options, you’ll reduce the cost of heating and cooling by up to 50%. With our healthy Allied buildings, you get features that other companies consider premium features, including water-resistance. You’ll have to pay for those features in different companies, but in our company, it’s part of the standard package, you won’t spend more.

Take the next step

We have a passion for unconventional solutions that bring your vision to life.

Price Your Building Today

Final Thoughts

Allied Buildings are the best when it comes to strength, versatility, beauty, and durability. The structures are easy to build, easy maintain, economical, and friendly to the environment. It’s the best option you can make for the building. It fits any structural applications with which you’ll want to work. The following are some of the applications you can use the Allied facilities on:

  • RV storage and garage
  • For your agricultural structures such as metal barns and a storage place for equipment, you use it on the farm
  • Mini-warehouses and efficient storage buildings 
  • Office buildings and other commercial buildings
  • Industrial buildings, including warehouses and also manufacturing plants
  • Equestrian structures such as stables, open-air covered pavilions, and indoor riding arenas
  • Truck dealerships or automotive, machine shops, fabrication facilities, and repair shops
  • Churches
  • Recreational buildings such as bowling centers, pavilions, indoor pools, indoor sports arenas, indoor pools, and ballrooms
  • Retail, commercial buildings such as warehouse stores, strip shopping centers, shops, and restaurants
  • You can also have individual hobby huts for your needs, extra storage for any items you might have, and even offices at home if you work from there 

We offer you the best packages and quality for all your building needs at Allied Buildings. You get value for your money with the quality of the products we offer you.

Summary
Article Name
Understanding 5 Common Types of Steel Structures
Description
There are five types of steel structures. Learn about their differences and how Allied Steel Buildings can help build your selected steel structure type.
Author
Publisher Name
Allied Steel Buildings
Publisher Logo

About Allied

Discover the world of steel structure solutions with Allied Steel Buildings - a global leader delivering over 5,500 structures across more than 65 countries. Trusted by clients worldwide, we excel at tackling the most intricate challenges, thanks to our team of skilled professionals and cutting-edge technology. From design to engineering, we set the highest quality standards, ensuring unmatched reliability. Experience the true essence of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability with our exceptional prefabricated buildings. Embrace innovation, choose Allied.

You might also like

See more articles