Can’t decide between metal and wood for use as building materials? Both materials do come with their own advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the best one depends on your needs and preference. Of course, another critical aspect when deciding which one to use is your budget. 

In fact, the budget seems to be the most crucial factor when deciding on the best option for your building. That is why many people ask, “are metal buildings cheaper than wood?”

In this article, we will compare metal buildings to wooden buildings.

Price

Metal buildings are noted for their affordability. Metal is a cheaper material, which is excellent for those on a tighter budget. It usually makes sense economically to choose a metal building.

Wooden sheds tend to be more pricey since it is not a cheap material. One reason why wooden structures are more expensive is that they can be personalized. However, wood is not really that expensive; if you look hard enough, you can get a wooden structure that fits your budget.

Durability

With proper and regular maintenance, wood can last a long time. You do need to touch up paint every three to six years. It is also prone to pests, as termites can eat the wood, while carpenter ants can bore holes in them. You will require regular pest control to keep these pests away. Wood also tends to rot or warp over time.

The roofs also need to be replaced, usually every 15 years.

Metal buildings require little lifetime maintenance as they do not rot, warp, or split. Termites and carpenter ants are not attracted to metal – their jaws are not powerful enough to pierce this material. Depending on how you use it, metal can last 25 years without maintenance.

Strength

While metal and wood are solid materials for buildings, wood tends to lose its strength over time. 

On the other hand, metal can withstand heavy rains, strong winds, extreme heat, heavy snowfall, and earthquakes, which is why it is considered as perhaps one of the strongest building materials there is. 

Construction timeframe

Metal is non-combustible, giving it an unfair advantage over wood which is a material that can quickly burn.

Conclusion

The almost zero maintenance of metal buildings makes it a cheaper option in the long run. But if you are after the aesthetics, wood is hands down the prettier option.

Still, with modern technology, metal is no longer far behind when it comes to creating a beautiful structure. 

So if you want a better bang for your buck, a metal building is the better choice for you