There were 14 weather and climate-related disasters each causing damages of more than $1 billion dollars in 2019. With weather-related disasters growing, having a sturdy home is more important than ever.
If you’re building your next home, consider making it a metal home. Are you wondering what living in a metal building is like? Read on for everything you need to know about living in a metal home.
A Brief History of Steel
Steel’s been around for hundreds of years but it wasn’t always as strong as it is today. Steel was brittle and production was inefficient. The expansion of the railroads in the early 1900s gave urgency to solving these problems.
One of the first patents for a better steelmaking process went to William Kelly who later sold his patent to Sir Henry Bessemer.
Sir Bessemer developed an even more successful process resulting in stronger steel. By 1900, through the efforts of Andrew Carnegie, steel was cheap and efficient.
Early cotton factories were at high risk for fire due to the flammability of cotton. Sparks from machines and oil lamps often caused devastating mill fires. Iron fire-proof frames pioneered by William Strutt reduced the fire hazard in mills.
Most residential homes today are still built using traditional wood frames. There are lots of pros to going with a metal building instead. So why live in a metal home?
Eco-Conscious
Living in a metal home means you’re not contributing to deforestation. Wood-framed homes use a lot of trees! Many steel products are recycled.
There’s also a lot of overages and waste involved in building wood-framed homes. If you’re looking for a more environmentally-friendly housing option, a metal home is a good choice.
Pre-Build Homes
Traditional wood construction takes time because the home is built on-site. This means weather and worker absences slow down the build. A traditional home takes anywhere from six months to two years to finish.
A metal home is often prefabricated in a factory setting and then shipped to the building site. Metal homes are quick and efficient when it comes to building.
Durable
Metal homes are fire-resistant and durable. They hold up well in hurricanes and earthquakes. You won’t worry about your home collapsing.
If you’re living in a metal home, you won’t worry about termites, wood rot, mold, or mildew. Did you know a metal roof can last 40 years or more? A traditional wood home needs a new roof every 15 years or so.
Do you like the look of a traditional roof better? No worries. There are plenty of metal roof options that look like regular shingles.
Another plus about the roof? A metal roof is the perfect setting for solar panels.
You can get metal siding that looks like wood, brick, or even natural stone. The difference is, metal siding lasts about three times longer than wood! Between the roof and the siding, maintenance costs are much lower than with a wood-framed home.
Corrosion-Free
The steel in metal homes is primed with a protective coating. This keeps the steel from rusting. Regular wood homes corrode over time.
Load-Bearing Walls
Wood-framed homes have load-bearing walls that carry the weight of the roof. This translates into restrictions for the interior of the home. If you want to change the interior, you can’t move load-bearing walls without incurring big expenses.
The exterior perimeter bears the weight in a steel home. Customize the inside any way you want. Changing the inside walls is easy if you change your mind about the configuration.
Is your family growing? Do you need another room? Change or add a wall with ease.
An Engineered Home
An engineer designs your metal home to custom specifications. Are you living in a cold climate with lots of snow? The engineer designs the home to withstand a heavy snow load on the roof.
Engineered homes are more structurally sound than traditional wood homes.
The Contractor Issue
Building a traditional home comes with lots of headaches. You’ll deal with many subcontractors, each with their own specialty.
Most metal homes are built by one contractor. If a problem arises, you’ll only deal with one person.
Heating and Cooling
Most people worry that living in a metal structure means living in a cold home. That’s not the case.
Steel homes have large interiors offering room for more insulation making them warm in the winter. Metal panels on the side of the house reflect the sun’s rays keeping things cooler in the summer. This means lower electric bills in the summer.
Up-Front Costs
Your up-front costs with a metal home are often higher than traditional wood but your maintenance costs are much lower. Over time, the metal home is a better bargain.
Interior Design
You don’t need to sacrifice beauty inside your metal home. Metal homes offer spacious open-plan interiors. Many have lofts or a second story.
Decorate your home to your taste. Metal homes are perfect for modern designs but also work well with traditional decor styling.
Metal homes are often built with dual purposes for living and working. Because of their large open interiors, some people split them into a home and workspace.
Living in a Metal Building Offers Many Advantages
Living in a metal building is a great alternative to a traditional wood-framed home. A metal home is durable, fire-resistant, and eco-conscious.
No more worries about termites, wood rot, mold, and mildew. While your neighbor saves for a new roof, you’ll save for your next vacation!
Your metal home is pre-built and engineered to your specifications. Hurricane season? No stress.
When it comes time for your next home, consider a metal design.
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