Building a skyscraper typically costs roughly $200,000 to $250,000. About $150,000 of that goes into "civil installation," which involves laying concrete, erecting the mast, backup generators, fencing, a small air-conditioned hut, and security systems. The rest goes toward the construction of the building itself.
That's according to John Dinan, director of media relations at the American Institute of Architects, who said many towers cost between $20 and $50 million to build. He added that the price can be considerably higher if you want the building to have special amenities such as a spa or gym.
Installing a tower requires planning permission from your local government agency as well as a license from the Federal Communications Commission. The license is required to demonstrate that you are competent to construct a radio station facility. It also provides an official record of the location so it can be found in case of an emergency.
Towers come in three main types: self-supporting, supported, and pole-mounted. A self-supporting tower does not use any kind of foundation; instead, it rests on its own structure. This is the most expensive option but also the strongest because there are no pillars surrounding the base of the tower exposing workers to falling objects. A supported tower uses steel beams that support the weight of the tower and any equipment mounted on it.
The bracketed tower costs $200/10' straight section or top section and mast, plus another $200 for supplies and labor. Example: 44' necessary, 3 straight, 1 top, 4 parts at $200 each equals $800 + $200 for installation. Total cost of tower and cable attachments is about $1 million.
The minimum height required to erect a sound tower within the limits set by local authorities is 40 feet. The higher the tower, the greater its distance reaching into the sky, which means more transmission capacity. A tower can reach maximum heights of between 500 and 600 feet or slightly more.
The average price of a microwave tower in the United States is $150,000 to $250,000. The total cost includes the land ($10,000 to $20,000), materials (about $100,000), and labor ($40,000).
Microwave towers are very heavy, usually weighing between 20,000 and 30,000 pounds. That's why they require a crane to be placed on site to lift them into position.
The quality of the land directly affects how high you can build your tower. If the soil is weak, it must be reinforced with steel beams or concrete slabs. This prevents it from collapsing under the weight of the tower.
The typical cost of constructing a cell tower is around $175,000, but the cell tower lease can add $600,000 to $1 million or more to the property's worth. The tower's maintenance costs are about 10 percent of its initial construction price.
Cell towers need to be constantly maintained to ensure they work properly. They also have to be replaced every five years or so. This maintenance and replacement cost comes out of their owners' pockets.
The base structure of a cell tower is made up of columns tied together with horizontal beams called girders. These components provide support for the equipment housed in the top part of the tower. The roof protects this equipment from weather damage and any falling objects. The tower itself is usually painted red to make it visible from a distance. It can reach heights of between 120 and 180 feet (37 and 55 m), depending on the regulations in your area.
There are several different types of cell towers used today. Most common are microcell and macrocell towers. A microcell tower is designed to cover a small area, such as an office building or shopping center. These towers usually hold no more than four cellular antennas and are meant as an additional safety measure in case of a fire on the premises. Microcell towers are generally less than 35 feet high.
Cell tower leases have some drawbacks for some property owners. For example, a property owner who doesn't want the attention of being used as a cell tower site will likely lose value when a site must be selected before construction begins. A property owner who wants to avoid having a cell tower built on their land may find it difficult to get financing for construction if a cell tower company requires that the site be selected prior to construction.
The price range for cell towers varies depending on how new they are and what kind of technology they use. Old cell towers that are no longer useful as communication tools can be bought for under $10,000. New digital cellular systems require more expensive cell towers because they need to transmit data at higher rates. Personal wireless services (PWS) providers often build their own cell towers because they need towers that can handle high traffic loads. The cost of building a PWS-specific tower can run up to $3 million or more.
In addition to costing money, cell towers also can cause damage to property values if they are located near homes or businesses. The size of the tower, its proximity to neighboring buildings, and how it is designed can all affect its impact on property values.
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