Best Building Materials for Your Garage, Workshop, or Storage Building

The best building materials for your structure are always dependent on build-site factors. If for example you’re located close to seawater, then a steel building may not be the best choice since the salt in sea-water can corrode it. If it’s in a location with active termite populations, then a wood structure may not last long.

Workshop, storage building, and garage building materials should be carefully considered before starting a project. You want to be sure you have the best and sturdiest materials possible that will hold up to the elements and stand the test of time.

Common Building Materials

There are many materials you can use, but not all materials are created equal. The most common garage-building materials are:

Steel
Wood
Concrete
Drywall

While wood and drywall are the most commonly used building materials for attached residential garages, it’s not always the best choice. If your garage or workshop is in a cold region of the country and isn’t going to be heated year-round, then drywall isn’t a great solution. Drywall shrinks when it freezes. Ideally, you’ll keep the temperature above 55°F. Wood also has its own issues with long-term maintenance, rot, and pest/termite problems.

If you are looking to build a new garage or car park, then you should definitely consider steel. Steel buildings come in two main formats which are steel-framed buildings and steel Quonset buildings.

The Benefits of Building With Steel

For decades steel has been well-known for building because of its strength and durability. However, there are many reasons to choose steel as the best building material for your garage or workshop.

Weather-Resistant

One of the best things about steel is that it is impervious to snow and rain. You can rest assured that your workspace will not be lost to weather damage. Steel is not only sturdy enough to withstand heavy winds, but some are hurricane proof too. If you’re building for storage, you can be sure that your belongings will be safe no matter what the conditions are outside.

Cost Effective

Your first thought when constructing a garage or storage building is probably, “How much is this going to cost?” Steel may not be the least expensive option short-term, but when you factor in maintenance costs, often reduced insurance, property value increase, etc., it provides incredible value. Steel is not susceptible to UV damage, water damage, or termite damage. This cuts back on potential future repair costs.

Sturdy

Some steel buildings are engineered to be so strong that they can withstand earthquakes. Earthquakes and shifting are particularly a problem for concrete or cement block buildings as there is no flexibility and any significant movement causes the material to crack and crumble. With quonset steel buildings, the arch profile adds to the strength of the steel and the simplicity of design makes small flexes manageable. Steel can withstand heavy winds of up to 170 mph (check with engineering to see if your building is rated for this).

Conclusion

There are some great building materials for garages, workshops, warehouse buildings, and commercial structures. If you’re looking for the best choice to keep your belongings and yourself protected for decades, we’d choose steel every time.