Steel is an incredibly useful and durable material, used in most building structures, in vehicle manufacturing, and all sorts of household appliances. And its usefulness is only increasing, as no less than 1870 million tonnes of steel were produced in the year 2019 alone.

However, as demand for this material increases, so does the amount of lower quality steel on the market. If you are looking to buy steel for your new project, read below on how to make sure you choose the best type suited for your needs.

Look for high-quality materials

No matter the type or grade of steel you purchase, you need to make sure it is of the highest quality possible. What that means is, you may need to look at the material itself to make sure it has no irregularities, perforations, or cracks on its surface – this means your construction may not be durable, as the steel will crack even more under pressure. Even worse, if the steel is used for piping installations, it may lead to leaks and even explosions.

Make sure it is anti-corrosive

For steel to be as durable as possible, it needs to have a high degree of anti-corrosiveness.

Steel in itself has varying degrees of anti-corrosive properties, but there are ways to increase this feature. For example, steel that is manufactures using thermo-mechanical treatment technology (or TMT steel) is more resistant to rust as well as erosion.

Bonus point: this process also makes steel more flexible, further increasing its quality.

This type of steel can actually be cheaper than stainless steel and higher in quality, especially when it comes to resistance to weather conditions.

Take earthquakes into account

A thing that may lead to disastrous consequences if overlooked is whether the type of steel you purchase is durable in the event of an earthquake.

Certain types of steel are sturdy and rigid, which may actually be the opposite of what you want in areas that are prone to seismic activity. Instead, you should opt for so-called TMT steel bars – they are more flexible, meaning they won’t instantly break and can easily come back to the original position after the earthquake, keeping the construction intact.

Think of the purpose

There are various types of steel as well as different grades for it, so for every project you take on that requires this metal, you first need to think about the purposes. Different uses require different types of steel, so for example a house foundation, a column or a water tank will all need certain variations of the material. Don’t jump at a cheap option and get a different type of steel just because it is less expensive. It will not be as effective and may result in long-term damages to your project.

Choose the right supplier

The last but not least important factor to account for when buying steel is the supplier of your desired materials. Whether you are buying your steel online or physically, you need to choose a reputable, reliable, and knowledgeable supplier that can help you figure out if the product is suited for your project or not. They also need to be run by extremely knowledgeable people regarding the steel manufacturing process. If at any point you sense hesitation or lack of knowledge on key aspects of steel usage and manufacturing, that is a red flag, and the supplier should be avoided.

You should always do a little research before choosing a supplier, by searching where to find steel suppliers near me online and reading the reviews thoroughly.