HOW DO THEY COMPARE?

Steel vs. Wood

Benefits for Owners

Steel Benefits:

  • Non-combustible
  • Termite resistant
  • Rodent resistant
  • Lower permanent property insurance
  • Can increase property value
  • Provides grounding in electrical storms
  • Dimensionally stable – will not warp or sag over time
  • Inorganic – not vulnerable to mold
  • Highly recyclable at the end of life

Wood Benefits:

  • Many people know how to design and build with wood for apartment buildings, offering flexibility.
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Benefits for General Contractors

stock photo of men's hands with architectural steel framing blueprints in front of them on the table

Steel Benefits:

  • Non-combustible, which leads to lower builder’s insurance cost.
  • Opens the potential to permit as Type II-B.
  • Steel is relevant for taller buildings and other building types requiring non-combustible material.
  • High potential for engineering value-add to basic components (location features, etc.)
  • Dimensionally stable and not vulnerable to mold, reducing rework and field risk.

Wood Benefits:

  • Large supply chain – easy to pick up components if necessary.
  • May have a large subcontractor community with strong expertise.
  • Can cut and shape material in the field with simple tools.