If you live in a part of the country that regularly experiences hurricane-strength winds and heavy rainfall, you're going to need to be extra careful when selecting the material used for building an external garage. Wood should be immediately dismissed since it isn't very strong and will suffer from moisture problems very quickly, which means that most people will be left having to decide between either concrete or steel.
Concrete might seem like the natural choice; after all, it is both thick and strong. However, steel is a much better option for external buildings, such as garages, if they are going to have to deal with tougher conditions.
Wind-Resistance
Concrete might seem like it would offer superior wind-resistance to steel, but this is not actually the case, and this is down to flexibility. When struck with high-speed winds, steel buildings can flex slightly in order to distribute some of that force, but this isn't something that concrete is capable of doing. Instead, the pressure will build up across the surface and start to affect the weakest areas, such as the mortar joins. In general, steel external buildings stand up excellently against heavy winds.
Life Span
Probably the most compelling reason to pick a steel garage over a concrete one is that steel buildings will last for years without showing any signs of wear. Once they are erected, metal buildings won't be likely to suffer from any cracks or chips since its surfaces will be of uniform strength, with no weak points that need to be addressed. The same is not true with concrete; the surface is actually quite brittle, and cracks can occur more easily when environmental conditions are more testing.
Maintenance
This intense durability also means that you'll spend very little time having to maintain your steel garage. There shouldn't be any cracks or chips that have to be fixed, and it's not like you'll need to treat the surface. You don't need to treat concrete either, but you do need to regularly inspect it for signs of wear.
Unfortunately, even the smallest crack can quickly become a lot more serious if it is not addressed right away. Even under normal conditions, cracks can be quite common in concrete garages, and installing one in an area that sees strong winds and heavy rainfall only increases the risk. This isn't just a problem because of the fact that it will necessitate costly repairs; any weak joints or growing cracks can allow moisture and pests to get into your garage.
