12-Gauge vs 14-Gauge Steel Tubing
12-gauge vs 14-gauge steel tubing, which is better? Well, it really depends on your specific project and budget. If we had to give you a one sentence answer, we would tell you that 12-gauge galvanized steel tubing is better than 14-gauge galvanized steel tubing, as it is thicker, has a higher wind and snow load rating, and is smaller, which means your metal building or structure will actually be ever so slightly larger on the inside.
However, there are many things to consider when choosing which gauge of steel to do your project with. We’re going to be exploring these considerations, in addition to the advantages of choosing to use 12-gauge steel, in this article.
NOTE: “Tubing” and “framing” are each used throughout this article. They are the same thing and can be used interchangeably.
What is Galvanized Steel Tubing?
Before we dive into 12-gauge vs 14-gauge galvanized steel, we wanted to explain exactly what “galvanized” means. Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, which prevents rusting. The most common method for galvanization is a process called hot-dip galvanization. During hot dip galvanization, the steel is coated by being submerged in a bath of hot, molten zinc, at a temperature of about 450° C (842° F).
All steel framing The Carport Co. uses is galvanized. This means whether you choose 12-gauge steel or 14-gauge steel, it should rust at the same rate. Galvanized steel generally last between 20 to 50 years before it shows signs of rust. Most manufacturers offer a 20 year rust warranty on select steel gauges. More on that below.
Advantages of Using 12-Gauge Galvanized Steel Framing
12-gauge steel is better than 14-gauge steel in the following ways:
Thickness: As we’ve mentioned 12-gauge steel is thicker than 14-gauge steel. 12-gauge steel tubing has a diameter of 2 ¼” x 2 ¼”, but the thickness of steel itself is 0.1046 inches (2.6mm). 14-gauge steel tubing has a diameter of 2 ½” x 2 ½” inches, but the thickness of steel itself is 0.0785 inches (1.9mm). This means that 12-gauge steel is 40% thicker than 14-gauge steel, that’s a massive difference.
Wind and Snow Load: Because 12-gauge tubing is thicker than 14-gauge, it drastically increases both snow load and wind load, as it’s harder to bend the steel, because it requires more force. If your structure is manufactured right at the required specification levels, it may be a good idea to upgrade to 12-gauge steel in case an “act of god” occurs in your location. Imagine if your city/township required a snow load of 35 PSF, and your carport is manufactured exactly to that requirement. What would happen if the largest blizzard your area has ever seen came through? It’s possible the snow piles up on the roof, get’s too heavy, bends the frame bows, and the roof caves in. You may have saved $500 when you ordered your structure, but now you’re out $1,500 for a new carport because you forgot to add it to your homeowner’s insurance.
Lifespan: In environments where moisture, salt (looking at you rust belt customers), or industrial pollutants are common, 12-gauge steel will generally last longer, as corrosion can occur. Because 12-gauge steel is thicker, it will take longer to corrode. Additionally, 12-gauge steel is more suitable for weather resistance, not just snow load, which we’ve already covered, but also things like falling branches and hail. 12-gauge steel is also more resistant to things like UV rays, humidity and fluctuating temperatures.
Warranties Offered: Many manufacturers either don’t offer warranty on steel gauges higher than 12-gauge, or the warranties they do offer are lacking compared to their 12-gauge counterparts. For example, American Steel Carports, the largest manufacturer in the United States, offers no warranty on 14-gauge steel tubing, but they do offer a 20-year warranty on 12-gauge steel tubing.
Why 14-Gauge Steel Framing Might Be Adequate For Your Project
Though 12-gauge steel tubing is technically better, 14-gauge steel tubing makes its way on to more installations for the following reasons:
Industry Standard: 14-gauge galvanized steel framing has been the carport and metal building industry standard for 30+ years. If 14-gauge steel didn’t meet local requirements, and couldn’t withstand the test of time, it would no longer be in use.
Cost Effective: 14-gauge galvanized steel framing can be significantly cheaper than 12-gauge steel, and can be a more economical approach for many customers. For example, a 24×30 carport with 14-gauge framing costs $4,475 through American Steel Carports. With 12-gauge framing, the same structure costs $5,330. That’s almost a 20% increase in price.
Deciding Steel Gauge Based on Your Budget
Using 12-gauge galvanized steel tubing is not a cheap option, and for some, not budget friendly. Cost and strict budgets are one of the largest factors for any project. After setting a budget, most people will get the largest structure they can whilst staying within their budget. This is great, but it’s not always necessary. Your carport might not require the extra 10’ you added on because you thought you might need it in the future. Instead, you could go with a slightly smaller structure, and upgrade your 14-gauge framing to 12-gauge framing.
Again, it all comes down to what you’re willing to spend. Upgrading to 12-gauge steel is only worth it if it’s worth it to you.
Conclusion
The winner of the 12-gauge vs 14-gauge steel framing is of course, the 12-gauge steel for thickness, wind and snow load, and warranty. However, 14-gauge has been industry standard for 30+ years, and most projects will be more than adequate with 14-gauge galvanized framing.
If your budget is unlimited, or you’d like to extend your steel framing rust warranty by up to 20 years, then you should go with 12-gauge framing. If you are trying to keep project costs low, and aren’t worried about (they are both galvanized steel after all), then you should go with 14-gauge framing.
We hope you have found this article helpful. If there are questions we forgot to answer relating to 12-gauge vs 14-gauge steel, please email [email protected]. We’ll work to get the article updated as fast as possible.
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The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide is a collection of articles by The Carport Co. These articles have been catered to first time steel and metal carport, garage, and commercial building buyers. Our goal is to share as much information with customers as possible, to help make informed decisions, and ensure a customer doesn’t discover an addition they would have liked to added at the time of sale, but was not aware of the option’s existence.
Here is a preview of a few articles. To view the full Buyer’s Guide, please visit the Ultimate Buyer’s Guide page.
