Cost and Design Comparison
Wooden Outbuilding Applications
We all use outbuildings for a variety of purposes: RV storage, personal workshop, storing heavy machinery or professional equipment, or even as aircraft hangars. That can make it difficult to zero in on what type of prefab outbuilding is the right fit for your circ*mstances. So we’ve compiled a few of the most important factors in the decision process to see how the two most popular building types compare: steel outbuildings and wood outbuildings.
Aesthetics
Many people choose wood outbuildings because of their traditional aesthetic. The rustic exterior often sets the foundation for intricate landscaping, or it’s simply a nostalgic link to the past. To complete the look, wood outbuildings are painted, which can include expensive labor costs and or delay completion of the outbuilding. Wood buildings are certainly aesthetically pleasing, but without consistent maintenance, they can quickly deteriorate.
Consumers have long known the structural security that comes with a steel building, but the aesthetic quality of the building material often lagged behind its strength. That’s no longer the case as steel building distributors, including General Steel, now offer multiple customization options including color scheme, doors, windows, and more. The big-box aesthetic has been replaced with a sleek, modern touch that lives up to the building’s well-known practical superiority.
Wooden Outbuildings
20x20$10,000-$12,000
20x30$12,000-$14,000
30x40$20,000-$24,000
Metal Outbuildings
20x20$8,000-$12,000
20x30$12,000-$18,000
30x40$24,000-$37,000
- Insurance
- Construction
- Maintenance
Combustible = Lower Costs
Wood buildings are naturally susceptible to fire and structural failings due to rotting, cracking, mold, and pest damage. That’s why wood structures usually come with more expensive insurance policies when compared to steel structures. Steel’s strength and fire-resistant properties makes a steel outbuilding a safer investment and limits insurance costs along the way.
Bolt Together Construction = Lower Costs
Wood construction requires detailed work at the worksite, including cutting, framing, and electrical preparation. That means paying professional laborers over the course of an extended construction timeline. Steel buildings, however, feature all bolt-together construction and don’t require professional help – saving you up to 50 percent on time and materials when compared to traditional materials such as wood.
Save Time and Money Long Term
Whether it’s repainting, repairing, or replacing, a wood outbuilding requires constant and potentially costly maintenance. Wood is especially vulnerable to warping, cracking, and other natural processes that can cause major headaches for building owners. Steel’s durability and resistance to structural dangers make it easy to maintain over an extended period of time, allowing you to save time and money.
Final Thoughts
After examining all of the factors that go into purchasing an outbuilding kit, we recommend a steel structure over traditional building materials like wood. While upfront costs tend to favor wood construction, the long-term stability of a steel building will win out over time. It’s important to note that our outbuildings are long-term solutions designed to store and protect your most valuable assets, including a business fleet of vehicles, car collection, or farm machinery, for example. If you’re looking for a temporary storage shed, a big-box hardware store might be a more appropriate solution.
