Austin Texas is leading the country in terms of employment and growth as we come out of this economic slump. As a result,Austin is one of the few metropolitan areas nationally that has seen a significant pickup in construction related activity in both the residential and commercial sectors.

A subset of the commercial and residential construction market is the steel and metal manufacturing industry. Steel beams, flanges, channels and other steel related products are used for both small and large residential and commercial steel erection projects. In Austin, Texas alone; hundreds of developments are popping up throughout town where there is a significant need for steel and other metal working and metal related items. Many of these items must be purchased with raw materials and then manufactured or fabricated using the metal. Whether a general contractor is needing an embed plate or anchor plate to assist with structural support for pipe racks, pipe supports or general concrete; or whether a residential home builder or apartment developer is needing a metal manufacturing company to assist with the building of steel staircases, metal handrails or metal drain grates; the auxiliary jobs and additional items needed by the construction industry will continue to have a positive effect on the Austin economy. These items that are needed by the apartment complex developers or new home construction industries wind up creating numerous jobs for the Austin Texas economy. Manufacturing jobs in the metal manufacturing arena, specifically the making of rails, guardrails, handrails, embed plates, metal awnings and general welding are just some of the many jobs that wind up being created as a result.

Projects such as the new apartments being developed on south Lamar will all have a need for metal staircases, handrails, fences, drainage grates, metal embed plates, and other steel based items. But in addition to this, many of the local architects as well as landscape architects have taken a liking to steel and metal retainer walls, steel planter baskets and other €non-essential€ items, which are not necessarily needed, but add a level of beauty and sophistication to their projects. Unlike typical wood planter baskets, steel planter baskets have a unique and pleasant look to them while at the same time allowing for a long and durable life. This same steel can also be used to match the steel stairs and steel retainer walls, helping to create a wonderful look in both urban and rural settings. The next time you are driving down south Lamar near the Alamo drafthouse, take a notice of all the new projects that are going up along with all the steel related items that are being used by the construction industry. Often times, when wood gets expensive, builders and developers will begin using steel. Then, when steel gets expensive, the builders begin using steel related items. Additionally, the more popular the use of steel items become - items like steel awnings, steel planters, steel retainer walls and other €non-essential€ items that the end customer will pay a premium for, the more you will see builders and developers begin to use these items in new construction.