The construction business is one of the fastest growing industries in Canada. Therefore, steel construction products are in high demand leading to the emergence of different types of steel suppliers. It’s a good trend, economically speaking, but can be confusing to a common citizen looking to purchase some steel products for construction. Some of the most common steel construction products are stainless steel corner guards, steel beams, pipe, and steel bars.
The confusion could stem from the measurements, units of measurement, and where to purchase. In terms of measurement, there’s always a lot of confusion vis-à-vis weights, thickness, gauges, and gauge numbers. MSG (Manufacturers Standard Gauge for Steel Sheets) is the widely used gauge system in Canada. The gauge system was developed with a fixed thickness for each corresponding gauge number.
Different Types of Steel Products
Steel corner guards are used to polish sharp edges in a building. They are sheared in factories and are made from stainless steel. Steel pipes are used in construction to convey fluids (liquids and gases). Steel bars are used to reinforce concrete while steel beams are attached by joists to the ceiling and floor to provide structural support for the walls.
The Most Common Units of Measurements
Even the most common units of measurements in the steel business come in numerous variations. Because steel as a construction tool has been around for quite a long time, several terms are uniquely used in the steel business; sometimes interchangeably to refer to different things. The mostly used steel measurement units in Canada are Pounds (LBS), CWT or hundredweight, and metric tonnes.
Where to Buy
All the different steel products used in Canada are acquired through several types of steel suppliers. There are quite a few options when it comes to buying steel products in the country. Take a look:
Mills
Steel mills are large organizations and buying steel directly from them is not always a good idea. They do not offer many size ranges and often want to ship in bulk. Buying directly from a mill eliminates the need for a middleman.
Service Centres
Service centres are usually smaller than milling companies. Service centres cut steel into small coils and sheets for industrial use. They act as the distribution centres since mills don’t want to hold inventory or ship in small volumes.
Traders and Brokers
Traders or brokers are your best option if you want to import steel from another country. They negotiate with the steel supplier on your behalf and can handle the import process for you. Foreign steel can be significantly cheaper than domestic steel. The only downside is that you will be dealing with a middleman and you’ll have no control of the quality of steel materials you receive. For more insights, BOSS Steel Limited has resources and information available on their website.