How Much Steel Do Concrete Contractors Need for These Jobs?

A concrete contractor works on many kinds of projects and builds a variety of things. Concrete is commonly used in construction of all kinds and has excellent durability and compression. However, concrete is weak in tensile strength and must be reinforced.

Steel is the best and most commonly used material for reinforcing the concrete used in building structures. Load-bearing structures used in residential and commercial buildings especially require the use of steel. This includes slab, column, beam, and footing structures. 



It's important to know how much steel is needed for any project. There are rules of thumb that are used to calculate the quantity of steel necessary for building any of the four main structures using concrete.

Concrete Contractor - Calculating Steel Needed for Slab

Concrete slab is one of the most common structures used in buildings of all kinds. It is used as a foundation for floors, or the ceilings/floors of multi-story structures. As it must support a huge amount of weight, slab needs to be reinforced with steel.

The first step to calculating the amount of steel needed for a slab is to take the measurements of the slab - length, width, and thickness - and multiply them all to get the volume of concrete the slab will contain. Now multiply the volume by 0.01 to get 1%. This is the rule of thumb amount of steel to use in the slab.

Calculating Steel Needed for Column

Columns are elements of building design that are aesthetically pleasing but they also have the vital function of supporting the weight of the parts of a building above them. Thus, a concrete contractor will also use steel in making columns.

Similarly to slab, the volume of concrete in the column is calculated by multiplying its height by its width by its depth. The rule of thumb for the quantity of steel needed in a column is 2.5% of its volume. Therefore, multiply the volume of concrete by 0.025 to calculate the volume of steel needed.

Calculating Steel Needed for Beam 

Beams are horizontal structures that can also be made from concrete. They too, are load-bearing and must be strong enough to support the weight placed upon them. Concrete alone is not enough for the task and so beams are also reinforced with steel.

To calculate the amount of steel needed for a beam, the volume must be calculated just like the other concrete structures. Using the standard formula for volume, measure and multiply together the length, width, and thickness of the beam. According to the beam rule of thumb, 2% of its volume is the amount of steel needed. Multiply the volume of the concrete in the beam by 0.02 to get this number.

Calculating Steel Needed for Footing

Footing is an essential part of the foundation of a building. Located at the bottom, it supports the weight of everything and anchors the building to the ground. Naturally, such an essential part of a structure must be very strong and those made from concrete are always reinforced with steel.

Calculating the volume of the footing is the first step. Get this by multiplying its length by its width by its height. Since footing sits flat on the ground, by the rule of thumb, you only need 0.5% of its concrete volume for the steel. Multiply the volume by 0.005 to get the correct volume of steel needed.

Concrete is a commonly-used building material for its strength and flexibility. As it lacks tensile strength, it is commonly reinforced with steel. Calculating the proper amount of steel to use in a concrete structure is essential. An even better way to go is to contact RTS Construction. They have expertise in all kinds of construction and specialize in applications that use concrete.