Before?the use of concrete or steel, building homes and structure are mostly done with the use of wood, thatch, and adobe. Now is a modern construction industry, indeed. The generations before our forefathers might not have visualized today’s cities?with massive skyscrapers piercing overhead.?
The question now is which construction material is responsible for all these? Is concrete more superior than steel or vice versa? It’s necessary to look into?concrete and steel?individually in order to answer that question.??
The Benefits of Concrete and Steel??
There’s no doubt that concrete and steel offer a lot of?benefits?to humankind.?While it may not be necessary to compare one to the other because they have different qualities, it may be interesting to note how each contributes to the following factors:???
- Safety?
Between steel and concrete, studies show that concrete is much safer. The cast that concrete forms make?a building resistant to impact and explosions. Concrete can also endure a very high temperature for quite some time without losing its structural integrity. It can also resist wind quite effortlessly.??
Steel, on the other hand, can’t do most of what concrete can do in the list above. Steen can melt and soften away when subjected to a very high temperature. Even so, there are additives to steel that can make it work better in terms of fire and heat.?
- Cost?
Construction materials are getting more expensive by the minute. However, concrete prices seem quite stable, which is good news. Concrete prices rarely fluctuate even if the prices of other commodities have risen so high.??
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for steel. The prices of steel sways strongly it is almost impossible to predict how it will behave in the next couple of years. The increase in?the?price of steel can go from 20% to 50% over a specific period of time.??
- Availability?
Steel and cement are manufactured using natural resources so it’s quite understandable that there will be reports of shortage every so often. There are many factors why there?is?a shortage?of?concrete production. Mostly it’s due to depleting resources and partly because of limited transport ships.??
On the other hand, the need for steel is global. While it’s possible for every country to produce their own concrete products, it may be difficult for some to make steel. That’s why they have to outsource it overseas. Over?time, there may not be enough of it for everyone.??
- Construction Scheduling?
The timeframe is the construction industry is rather strict. Construction companies can earn more if they are able to complete projects faster. It all boils down to pouring concrete at a much faster rate in order to build at least one floor of the building every day.??
Steel, on the other hand, is built by?framing?them?together. This requires specialized heavy tools and equipment to get done. Steel fabrication, on the other hand, can be done offsite or onsite, depending on the construction needs.??
These are all the comparisons and contrasts of steel versus concrete. Now you decide which material is better than the other. Even so, it can’t be denied that they are always best used together. If you need quality concrete finishing services, be sure to hire a construction company with professionals who are experts in handling concrete and steel.??
Recent Comments