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Steel Buildings and Tiltwall Construction
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Steel and Tiltwall Together: Using the Strengths of
Each
An important fact to remember is that
the use of steel in building is not necessarily exclusive
of concrete or blocks. In larger or more sophisticated
projects the different raw materials and construction
methods are frequently used together.
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This
Mervyn's building in the Dallas / Ft. Worth,
Texas area was constructed with a combination
of steel and concrete - a steel framework
surrounded by tiltwall walls for exterior
facades.
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Here are some very common examples of
how steel, concrete and tiltwall construction are used
together to provide the best quality and value:
- A large steel office building or
retail center may use tiltwall concrete panels for
interior fire walls or exterior facades. The Mervyn's
department store in the Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas
area pictured to the right was constructed in just
this manner.
- An existing manufacturing building
or warehouse made of concrete blocks could be expanded
by adding a steel lean-to structure to one of its
exterior support walls.
- A distribution center built using
the cement blocks of traditional construction will
frequently use a steel roofing system and a rigid
frame similar to what a metal building might use.
Regardless what material is used, this combination
of a rigid frame and steel roof is necessary to provide
a large clearspan.
These are just a few situations where
the best choice for a project might be a steel building
with tiltwall construction components, or a concrete
structure with steel framework, roof system or steel
add-ons or expansions. A general contractor who is well
versed in the advantages and limitations of all methods
of construction can help determine what is the best
approach on any given project. Visit our Construction
Links page for general contractors and construction
managers who are experienced in tiltwall construction.
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