Why Steel Construction?
Steel vs Concrete Block?
Currently in Panama the majority of detached and low rise residential construction is built with concrete block. Sterling Pacific Construction does offer concrete block construction to our clients. However, we strongly recommend using light gauge steel construction. Compared to block construction, steel construction is far superior for a multitude of reasons.
1. Steel frame homes are far more energy efficient compared to concrete block homes. Concrete block homes are a relatively solid mass, because of this characteristic, heat easily transfers through the exterior block wall of the home to the inside of the home. During the night the concrete block also radiates the heat collected during the day. Air space is considered an excellent form of insulation. Steel frame construction has much less mass than concrete block and much more air space within the wall significantly reducing the direct heat transfer. Therefore, lower air conditioning bills.
2. Steel material is consistent, ensuring straight walls and square corners. Typically, the finishes in a home built with steel construction are far cleaner than a home built with concrete block.
3. The current price of steel is at an all time low due to the world economic crisis. There could not be a better time to purchase steel. In Panama, because concrete block is the main construction method used, the price of concrete and concrete block is quite expensive and fluctuates frequently making it difficult to forecast the cost of construction over the construction period.
Why Build with Cold Formed Light Gauge Steel Studs?
1. Strength & Durability of light gauge Steel Framing
Steel frame homes are high-quality homes. By virtue of its material characteristics and properties, cold formed steel studs offer significant advantages to both home owners, builders and consumers. Steel studs and joists are strong, lightweight, and made from uniform-quality material. Steel walls are straight, with square corners, and all but eliminate pops in drywall. This virtually does away with the need for costly callbacks and adjustments.
Consumers enjoy steel framing for fire safety and termite protection.
- Steel framing doesn't contribute combustible material to feed a fire.
- In Hawaii in 1998, over one-third of all new homes were built with steel to protect against the voracious Formosan termite. These termites, as well as some other harmful parasites, can destroy a house in one year.
Steel frame homes can be designed to withstand wind and seismic loads caused by hurricanes and earthquakes. The strength and ductility of steel allows it to meet the strongest wind and seismic rating in the national building codes. And steel joists and steel trusses can achieve greater spans, opening up large spaces inside a home.
2. Wood Construction in Panama
Wood Construction: Environmentalists have become concerned about wildlife habitats and are requiring selective cutting of timber. This makes the price of wood unstable and guarantee a price increase in the future. Also, more importantly wood has numerous problems when used for construction in a tropical climate such as Panama. In Panama unless all lumber is pressure treated "which is a very costly process" your new home could be destroyed from the inside out due to termite infestation. Also, untreated lumber will mold easily creating a serious environmental hazard inside the home.
Summary of Steel Construction Benefits
Builder Benefits
- High Quality Home - precisely manufactured, sustainable engineered material, straight with square corners
- Greater Design Flexibility - highest strength to weight ratio, stronger frame, light weight, greater spans, opening up large spaces inside a home
- Long Term Price Stability - steel vs. lumber
- Less Waste - steel studs are cut to exact lengths from steel stud machine
- Dimensionally Stable - no shrinkage, no rotting, no warping
- Quality Assured - engineered, controlled workmanship
- Eliminate Insect Damage - mold, termite & carpenter ant proof
- Withstands Wind and Seismic Loads caused by hurricanes and earthquakes
- No costly call-back and adjustments - no nail pops and drywall cracks
- Easy to Panelize off-site under controlled conditions
- Easy install and Reduced Risks on job site - pre assembled
- Cleaner Jobsite
Homeowner Benefits
- Healthier Living - non-toxic, allergy free, no waste, and recyclable
- Highly Durable Material - no jammed doors and windows, no wavy walls or sagging roof lines
- Fire Safety - does not burn
- Lower Insurance Premiums - fire retardant, withstands high winds, more durable in hurricanes and earthquakes