Steel buildings began receiving a great deal of attention during the first few decades of the 20th century. This was due to a number of factors, including the availability of steel at economical prices and advances in design and construction techniques. In Austin, the company to contact when you need steel building fabrication is Southern Son’s Fabrication & Welding.
What Is Steel Building Fabrication?
In broad terms, Austin steel building fabrication is the process of cutting, machining, forming, and welding raw components to make metal buildings. Of course, fabrication services are more complex than the previous statement indicates. The type and size of the steel building design must be considered to select the right materials and fabrication methods. The plans for the steel building construction must also be considered. For example, backyard sheds are normally prefab metal buildings that virtually any homeowner can assemble. However, aircraft hangars, warehouses, and other large metal buildings will typically require a team of skilled construction workers to erect them properly and safely.
What Is the Process for Steel Fabrication?
Steel building fabrication in Austin begins with the steel building design. Typically, the project’s architect will provide the fabricator with blueprints that reveal what the structure should look like after completion as well as individual components that the fabricator needs to produce. The company providing the fabrication service then uses specialized software that will help create detailed shop drawings of every component. After the shop drawings have been approved by all parties, the individual components are created. The components can then be taken to the steel building construction site.
What Are the Most Common Steel Building Designs?
Most steel buildings are classified as either arch or straight-walled designs.
- Arch buildings are self-supporting, so they do not require beams, trusses, or columns. They are considered the easiest style to assemble.
- Straight-walled styles may be either single-span or multi-span structures. Single-span structures have support beams at either frame, but they do not require interior columns. Multi-span structures have beams, but they also have interior columns for support and strength.
What Are the Advantages?
Austin steel building fabrication can provide you with several important benefits that will not be present if you choose traditional methods of design and construction.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The life cycle expense of a project has a direct impact on the return on investment. Steel’s resistance to corrosion, low maintenance needs, and exceptional durability make it a desirable choice for buildings of all types.
- Versatility: From Quonset huts and other arch types to straight-walled buildings that house massive industrial facilities, metal buildings can be designed in different styles and sizes.
- Predictability: Steel components have very well-established specifications for dimension and strength. This allows engineers and architects to be extremely accurate in their designs, thus ensuring high-quality construction plans.
- Sustainability: Metal buildings have excellent longevity, but they will eventually need to be replaced. When the time comes, almost every pound of steel in the structure can be recycled.
To learn more about steel building fabrication services in Austin, contact Southern Son’s Fabrication & Welding. We are a respected company with an exemplary reputation for service, quality, professionalism, and dependability. In addition to fabrication, we offer structural fabrication, beam steel construction, metal handrail fabrication, steel fabrication, and prefabricated stairs and handrails. You can contact us by completing the online form, emailing Justin@SSFabWelding.com, or calling 512-585-9425.