Building faster, better and smarter
For years, construction companies have stuck to the traditional way of building. Today, budgets are under increasing pressure and we face tighter deadlines. Simply put, better projects must be delivered in a shorter time. This requires faster, better and smarter construction! Whereas the construction world is sometimes somewhat reserved when it comes to innovations, whereas Woonstaete believes that as a marktleading company you have to move with the times. In order to build faster, better and smarter, we choose to build with prefabricated, better known as, 'prefab' elements. Major advantages of building with prefabricated elements arethat the dimensions are extremely accurate and the construction process can be controlled, which ensuresthat costs can be clearly estimated in advance.The Woonstaete Residential Villa is always produced in steel frame. The Woonstaete Ground-Level Homes can possibly also be realized in other prefabricated construction systems, depending on the housing type and the possibilities at the time of realization in the market. In this article, we will elaborate on the major advantages of building with steel frame construction.
The major advantages of steel frame construction
Steel frame construction is less susceptible to moisture and mold, has higher resistance to fire, is more flexible in design and so on. The arguments for choosing steel frame construction are truly endless. However, for us, in terms of durability and cost reduction, there are 4 very important advantages:
- Accurate dimensions
When looking at the dimensions, building with steel frame is extremely accurate. This means that we can estimate very precisely how much steel is needed for the realization of a housing project. Thanks to these precise estimates, we can produce exactly what is needed and there is hardly any residual waste. So we always stay close to zero-waste; better for nature and better for the wallet.
- Highest strength-to-weight ratio
The fact that steel is used so much in earthquake zones is not without reason. In fact, besides being light, flexible and accurate, there is another important element related to steel: it is incredibly strong! Of the various building materials, steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio which means that less steel is needed (than, say, timber structures) to achieve the same structural value. In addition, less maintenance in the long run is an advantageous benefit.
- Controllable construction process
Not only the dimensions of steel frame constructions are accurate, the work during the construction process can also be planned more accurately. Because the entire structure is manufactured in advance in the M-frame factory in Zwartemeer, the entire building process is very controllable. Because the construction is realized in the factory, we do not have to deal with setbacks such as wind, rain, heat and frost. Costs can therefore be estimated more accurately in advance, the shorter construction period results in considerable cost savings and, logically, there is less pollution during this efficient construction process.
- Steel is recyclable
Where the construction industry is quite often related to environmental impact, Woonstaete wants to work as sustainably as possible. We all know that quality and affordable housing is indispensable, but how do we realize this with as little environmental impact as possible? This is another reason why we choose steel frame structures. This is because steel is fully recyclable and, once finished, can be reused without loss of quality. This significantly minimizes the need for new raw materials, while at the same time reducing waste.
A sustainable response to rising housing demand
In conclusion, Woonstaete is doing everything possible to meet the demand for quality and affordable new housing in the most sustainable way possible. For years, the residential projects we have designed have been successfully and sustainably realized using steel frame construction. Curious about these projects? Then please refer to the Woonstaete Projects overview. For the rental and sale of the completed homes, we refer you to our sister company: www.wbsrealestate.nl.
