Building a small church can seem like a monumental endeavor. In terms of the benefit you bring to local communities and congregations, it really is.
Fortunately, the logistics of building the structure itself may be easier than you think. Selecting an affordable, easy-to-work-with building material for your church’s building can change things. With this strategy, building your church may even be efficient and economical.
That’s where steel can truly (or, at least, metaphorically) shine. Here are the costs associated with planning and building a small church.
How Much Does Building a Church Cost?
If you’re choosing a steel-framed church building, you can plan on paying somewhere between $8.00 and $40.00 per square foot. This means that, depending on how big your plans are for your church, you may need to consider a large budget. Your church’s scope could be anywhere from $50,000.00 to $500,00.00 (and more).
Clearly, that’s a very wide range.
The precise cost of your church will depend on myriad factors, which include:
- The availability of your chosen materials at the time of build
- Local labor costs
- Your community’s building codes
- Any specific needs your congregation may have
- Your required timelines
If you decide to purchase a prefabricated steel church, the materials for your structure would likely fall to the lower end of the price range.
While small buildings have smaller price tags overall, the larger your project is, the lower price per unit you’ll get for your material.
What Building Materials Should I Use for My Small Church?
Over the years, designers and builders have used many different types of materials to create traditional, gorgeous houses of worship. Ancient Gothic cathedrals have featured incredible, intricate stonework. Local community churches may be simple brick or wooden structures.
We may be biased, but there are clear perks associated with choosing steel for your modern or traditional church building.
Simply put: Steel is affordable. And the aesthetics are malleable. If you’re hoping for a specific look for your church building, you have options. You can make a steel building look like wood, stucco, or brick.
However, the benefits of steel church buildings go far further than flexible aesthetics. Here are our favorite features of metal builds for church buildings:
The affordability.
We know, we mentioned this above — but it bears repeating. Building complex and beautiful structures can cost a lot of money. Steel structures tend to cost less to build, and also to maintain, heat, and even expand upon in the future.
The durability.
Steel can help your building resist extreme weather such as high winds, earthquakes, and even disasters like destructive fires. Insurance companies are aware of steel’s tendency to last. You may be able to negotiate for lower premiums with a steel structure.
The eco-friendliness.
Steel structures are more environmentally friendly than many of their competitors. The steel used for buildings today is recyclable. Additionally, the steel industry has been able to reduce its emissions significantly, so manufacturing steel in the first place is a much greener process.
What Do I Need to Consider Before Purchasing or Building a Steel Structure for a Church?
Before you break ground on your steel church, it’s key to consider the present needs of your congregation and your plans for growth in the future.
While steel buildings are relatively easy to update, starting with a future-proofed building plan will reduce your stress (and expenses).
For churches specifically, we’d recommend thinking about the following needs:
- The number and types of rooms your church may need (from a simple one-roomed structure with an atrium to an entire church complex!)
- The size of the congregation or community your church will serve
- The local building permits required
- What type of furniture and decor your church will require
- How much parking you will need for your congregation
Ready to Break Ground on Your Small Church? Call the Experts at Peak Steel Contractors
Our team’s goal is to help our Georgia-area clients build beautiful, practical buildings that serve them and their communities well. If you’re interested in building a church with a steel frame that will last, we’re interested in helping you achieve that dream.
Scroll through our gallery of past projects to see what we can do, and then give our team a call for more information.