Advantages and Disadvantages of Metal

The use of metal has grown in popularity.

A metal is classed as a chemical element suitable for conducting heat and electricity. As a material, it is quite popular in manufacturing and building work, with a significant business model that revolves around the use of metal in creating structurally rigid items and additions to non-metal structures. There are clear advantages as well as disadvantages in the use of metal; many people are willing to bear the disadvantages to utilize the element.

Buildings and Advantages

The kinds of advantages and disadvantages that you may face from using metal depend on how you intend to use it. If you wish to construct a metal building, such as an addition to your home like a garden shed, it has the advantage of being sturdy enough to not require the use of concrete pillars to keep it upright. Buildings made of metal are also more durable to weather -- unlike buildings made of wood -- and are less prone to burning.

Buildings and Disadvantages

Despite all the advantages of buildings made of metal, there are also certain disadvantages. Metal may face the risk of rust, especially since if it is located outside and at the mercy of the rain. This not only affects the outside of a structure, but also the inside of it (metal buildings are known for being difficult to seal completely from water). Other disadvantages include the difficulty in attaching hooks and shelves to metal, which you need professional tools to do, and the relatively less 'aesthetically attractive' appearance of metal structures compared to wooden structures.

Roofs and Advantages

Another popular item made from metal is roofs. Some people go for this option due to the main reason of metal roofs being good for the environment. Because metal is a good conductor of heat, it is suitable to retain heat inside a house, creating less need for artificial heating. This can save you money in energy bills; it is estimated that the use of a metal roof can save you from 20 to 40 percent on energy costs. Metal roofs are also more durable than non-metal roofs because they usually only need to be replaced every 50 years.

Roofs and Disadvantages

The disadvantages from using metal in roof work are the initial expense of installing it on a home. Because of the growing demand for roofs made of metal, they can be quite expensive and are only really worth doing if you plan on staying in the same house for a number of years. Another disadvantage comes when it rains, as the sound of rainfall on a metal roof tends to be very noisy, and can't be completely silenced with additions such as roof insulation.

References

• Cheap Sheds.com: Metal Sheds: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Types of Roofing; Advantages and Disadvantages of Metal Roofing; March 2011