As a school, chances are you have a limited budget to construct your new school building. Since you will likely be using this new building for many years to come, you do not want to make the wrong decision in construction—particularly in the choice of the best materials. You want the most value you can afford, without wasting a dollar or a day. Whether you have outgrown your classrooms and are in need of expansion, or you are starting a new charter school, you will achieve your goals quickly and economically when you build with steel metal framing. Because you will be using your new building for many years into the future, you cannot afford to use anything less than a high-quality building that is built to last. There are many cheaper quality buildings available, but they can be high-maintenance and cost much more in the long run. Here are the ABC’s of why using steel metal framing is the best choice in framing and construction of your building.

A is for Adaptable.

As a school, you want to try to use your available space as efficiently as possible so it can be adaptable for the changing needs of the students. When a building is framed with steel metal, there is the possibility of a clear-span (column-free) interior up to 300 feet across. This uninterrupted floor space gives you more freedom in the layout and placement of your gymnasium, offices, classrooms and other meeting areas because there are no immovable load-bearing walls that may interfere with your needs for interior spacing or classroom size. When the time comes to need more classroom size, you will be able to easily and efficiently expand your existing building to adapt to the growth. You can then experience the same quality from your new annex as you had in the original building.

B is for Budget.

Building with steel metal will help you stay within the budget of construction as well as the annual budget for maintenance for the new building. Most school boards and committees have many needs and a limited budget meaning the committee must be prudent with the funds that are available. Most building committees have the same goal--to get a quality building that will meet their needs without wasting time or money. This is why many schools are deciding to use steel as their metal of choice in framing. It is the best affordable metal on the market of construction materials. It will help provide a great new school for the kids without exceeding the budget because of construction costs.

Constructing a new school building could be a slow, drawn-out process that only costs more money as time goes by. However, when using steel the metal can be (depending on the company supplying the metal) pre-drilled, pre-welded, and pre-punched at the plant and delivered to your building construction site. As a result, you have fast and simple erection. Your school building has a much better chance of being completed on time when you use steel metal framing. You may even save up to 50% compared to similar buildings designed using conventional construction methods. This can help the school district save money that can be put to important use elsewhere.

In the long run you will save money with lower maintenance costs. For example, school buildings framed with steel metal are more resistant to water, mold, mildew, termites and other wood-destroying insects than standard wood-framed buildings. In addition, building with steel metal makes it easy to add extra square footage for more classrooms, offices, gymnasiums, or assembly areas as the need arises or as the budget permits.

C is for Code (as in building code).

Building with steel will help your school meet code requirements including being weather-tight and fire resistant. Because steel is such a strong metal that it provides tighter connections than inferior-quality metals. You will be able to have a school building that is climate-controlled--without any drafts--making for a better and more comfortable learning environment. Also, this metal is strong enough to withstand high winds that strong thunderstorms and tornados can produce. It gives your roof more resistance to the weight of heavy rain or snowfall. You do not have to be concerned about the look of the building or meeting local zoning requirements when you use metal to frame your school. With steel, you will have the choice from a variety of finishing options such as decorative brick, wood, stucco, glass, aggregate panels, and entrance-way canopies. You will be able to have your school meet your design expectations when you choose steel metal framing instead of wood or other metal materials.