If you are currently deciding between different steel building options for your next project, we recommend seriously looking into cold-rolled buildings. Here at Gorton Structures, we design and install cold-rolled steel structures across the nation. We have seen the cold-rolled steel benefits on-site every week. Let’s walk through what cold-rolled buildings are suitable for so many industries, from strength to speed of build.
What Is Cold-Rolled Steel?
Cold-rolled steel is formed at room temperature rather than under heat. Through doing this, they strengthen the steel as it’s shaped, one of the main cold-rolled steel benefits that people overlook. The process of creating cold-rolled steel outputs thinner, lighter sections than hot-rolled steel, but these sections can still carry serious structural loads.
We delve deeper into this in our beginner’s guide to structural steel terminology. This covers where cold-rolled sections sit within the wider family of steel profiles. This is exactly why cold-rolled buildings’ popularity has increased so much across the agricultural and commercial storage industries.
Why Are Cold-Rolled Buildings So Strong?
The first question that people normally ask about cold-rolled buildings is their strength. The cold-forming process work-hardens the steel, which increases its yield strength. This means that cold-rolled steel structures can carry much more weight than you may expect.
Our structural design team will calculate how thin the sections can be without compromising performance. For farmers and business owners, that translates directly into a building that stands up to daily use for decades.
How Do Cold-Formed Steel Benefits Save You Money?
As the sections are lighter, you will need less steel overall, creating material efficiency. Lighter steel also means lighter foundations, and reduced foundation work reduces your overall project cost. Your transport and handling costs will also reduce due to cold-rolled steel weighing less than traditional hot-rolled frames. With all these reductions, cold-rolled buildings tend to come out as the most cost-effective choice.
Are Cold-Rolled Steel Structures Fast to Install?
Speed is important on every construction site. Cold-rolled steel structures arrive pre-cut and pre-punched, ready for bolted assembly. As there is no on-site welding required, this tends to significantly cut down the labour time. But please remember that getting the groundworks right first is still extremely important.
Our guide on preparing a site for structural steel installation covers what steps you should take before the frame arrives. Weather delays become less of a factor as installation doesn’t rely on hot works. If you have a time-pressured project, this is one of the biggest benefits of cold-rolled steel there is.
Can Cold-Rolled Buildings Handle UK Weather?
British weather puts building materials to the test. Cold-rolled buildings are galvanised or coated to be resistant to corrosion, keeping steel performing well through rain and frost. If you pair the frame with the right industrial cladding, you are adding another layer of reliable weather protection. Our article on improving building efficiency with modern cladding systems dives into this in more detail.
Cold-rolled steel structures are also better at resisting warping than other lighter-gauge alternatives. This is due to their work-hardened strength. Whether you are building on a coastal site or an exposed hillside, cold-rolled buildings are built to handle it.
Are Cold-Rolled Buildings Sustainable?
Sustainability is increasingly part of every decision and something that we explore further in our article The Sustainability of Structural Steel. Cold-rolled building suse less raw steel than heavier framing systems, and steel itself is completely recyclable at the end of the building’s life.
UK structural steel recovery rates are estimated at around 96%. This is one of the benefits of cold-rolled steel buildings that is often overlooked, but is so important for long-term environmental impact. Choosing cold-rolled steel structures can genuinely reduce a project’s overall carbon footprint.
Ready to Build with Cold-Rolled Buildings?
Understanding the benefits is the first step, but the next step is ensuring that your project is correctly specified. At Gorton Structures, we design, engineer, supply and install cold-rolled buildings for clients across the UK. Whether you need an agricultural store or a mezzanine floor fit-out, we can take your idea to a finished piece.
Get in touch today to discuss your cold-rolled steel structures project.
