Why Steel Buildings Are a Green Choice

Steel buildings may not seem like an environmentally friendly choice, but when you factor in the entire supply chain, buildings made of metal are a surprisingly earth-friendly choice. From materials to construction, there are many reasons that steel buildings are greener than nearly any other type of storage shed, industrial building, garage or barn.

Materials

Many of the steel building packages on the market are made of recycled metal, which represents much less of a strain on the environment than wood-frame construction. While trees are a renewable resource, they still require time and resources such as water, nutrients and  minerals to replace. Meanwhile, using recycled steel removes the metal from the waste stream without putting an additional strain on the planet.

Transportation

When you order a steel building package from a manufacturer  for garages, barns and other uses, they’ll make every attempt to ship your order in as few loads as possible. Fewer trucks means a lower carbon footprint, especially when you contrast it with the many trips required to bring you everything you need to construct a wood-frame building.

Construction

The construction process for a metal building is much less energy-intensive than the construction of a similarly sized wood-frame building. Since everything is pre-built and pre-drilled, the building goes together faster, with less preparation on your end. That reduces the amount of energy you use in the way of heavy construction equipment and power-driven tools to assemble the building on site.

Maintenance

A powder-coated steel building needs very little in the way of maintenance to keep it looking fresh and attractive. You won’t be releasing toxic VOCs into the atmosphere when you repaint, since most steel buildings never need repainting, unlike wood-frame buildings which need to be repainted every few years.

Energy Use

Because steel buildings are weather-tight and easier to insulate, you’ll use far less energy in heating and cooling a metal building than you would spend for a similarly sized wood building. Over the years, that adds up to a considerable decrease in the amount of carbon that you’ll put into the atmosphere.

Color Choices

Many steel building manufacturers offer their products in a range of energy-efficient colors like those that reflect the sun’s light rather than absorbing it. It’s another very green choice that can greatly reduce the amount of energy that your building consumes over time.

Demolition vs. Disassembly

Unlike wood-frame buildings, you can disassemble steel buildings and reconstruct them elsewhere, or send the metal to be recycled when it’s time to demolish your building. That keeps the materials used out of the waste stream and puts far less of a strain on the earth.

The Cost Benefits of Steel Buildings

One of the main reasons for the growing popularity of steel buildings is cost. It costs less to construct a metal building than it does to construct buildings of more traditional materials. In most cases, it will be cheaper to build a steel building, and it will continue to save you money throughout your years of ownership. Whether you’re building a garage, a barn, a storage shed or a large storage facility, you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you choose steel as your construction material.

One of the most important factors in your decision to purchase a prefabricated steel building is the company with whom you do business. Many companies will assign a project manager to work with you and guide you through the decisions you’ll have to make, help you deal with the paperwork and permits required for construction and provide you with certified engineered drawings, anchor bolt drawings and construction plans for your building. Working with a project coordinator gives you a single point of contact with the company, a single source of information and communication to make your life easier.

A pre-fabricated, engineered steel building saves you money in a number of important ways.

• All the pieces of your building are pre-cut and pre-drilled so that it’s ready to assemble when it arrives at your site. That means that your contractor or assembly team don’t have to waste time measuring and drilling holes, saving you time and labor costs at the job site.
• Steel buildings are weather-tight, making them easy to insulate. This reduces your energy costs for heating and cooling appreciably.
• Metal buildings require less maintenance because the outer panels are powder-coated and treated to resist rust, weather and corrosion. They also are pest-resistant and resistant to fading, which means no worries about termite infestations, and no need to repaint every few years.
• Since steel is fire-resistant, your insurance costs will be lower, which could save you money for years to come.
• Because prefabricated steel buildings can be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere, you’ll save money if you choose to relocate. You won’t have to buy another entire building, you’ll just have to dig a new foundation.

In short, steel buildings are a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional construction methods for garages, barns and other industrial and storage uses.

Obtaining Permits for Your Steel Buildings

If you’re considering the purchase of one or more steel buildings, it’s important for you to obtain building permits from your municipality or township before you purchase your building. If you’re not certain from the start that you’ll be able to obtain the necessary permits, you could be on the hook for a contract to purchase a building you can’t put up. If this is your first experience with metal buildings, you may not understand the particulars of permitting.

While the paperwork is your responsibility as the owner of the building, many companies that sell prefabricated steel buildings have professionals on staff who can help guide you through the process and advise you on the various types of permits and paperwork you’ll need before you begin construction.

Your first step will be to consult the zoning board for your community to find out if there are restrictions on the size and outward appearance of your proposed steel buildings. Your community may limit the width, height and/or length of your building based on local ordinance. Your new building may have to meet specific requirements regarding appearance and setbacks from the road and property boundaries. You may need to complete a wetlands evaluation of your site, or be required to meet accessibility standards. You’ll be required to submit a plot plan which shows where and how the building will be located on your land and wait for approval before you can begin any construction on your property.

A survey of the neighborhood in which you intend to build can give you an idea of what kind of construction is permitted there. If there are other metal buildings already constructed, you’ll have an idea of how likely it is that your project will be approved.

In addition to zoning board approval, your steel buildings will also need to meet local construction codes. Those codes will vary depending on the state and municipality in which the building will be located. In the Northeast, for example, you may need to meet strict safety standards for roofs that have to withstand the weight of heavy snows. In Florida and other hurricane-prone areas, your building will have to meet standards for wind load. If your building will be occupied by a high number of people, such as an office building or retail store would, you’ll have to meet higher standards for safety than if your building were to be used solely for storage.

Many steel building companies will work with you to make sure that any building you purchase from them meets all local codes and standards. If a company doesn’t provide you with certified stamped engineered drawings and an anchor bolt plan, find another company that does. Those two documents will help you determine whether your new building will meet local codes. Without them, you could end up paying for a building you’ll never be able to use.

Choosing the Right Steel Buildings Company

Once you’ve decided that a steel building is the right construction for your needs, you’ll be faced with yet another, yet just as important, decision—which of the many companies that supply steel buildings will you work with? There are so many variables to confuse the issue such as different prices, multiple styles, different types of material and different kinds of buildings. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information you have to absorb. Luckily, a basic understanding and a few guidelines can help you make your decision.

Building Types

In general, there are three kinds of steel buildings on the market—steel and wood structures, steel I-beam buildings and Quonset buildings. Quonset huts, originally developed for the military, are the least expensive option. They’re the easiest to assemble and often the most durable. They are also generally the least attractive, and can be expensive to insulate. Metal and wood structures, also known as pole buildings, may seem less expensive, but the steel building package often doesn’t include the lumber needed for your building. The final choice, a steel I-beam building, is a complete building package that includes the design, an assembly plan, and all the materials you need to construct your building, except the work crew.

Materials

Your building is only as good as the materials from which it’s made. Look for a company that uses only 100% American commercial-grade steel. That will ensure that every part of your building is made from the highest quality steel available. You should have a choice of exterior colors and trim color for your metal building, and the pieces should all be factory painted and complete with a guarantee.

Customer Service

Customer service is one of the most distinguishing aspects of any company, and it’s especially important when it comes to ordering a building from the right company. Shop around carefully and look for a company that provides you with an expert contact: an architect, designer or customer account executive who can help you through the maze of decisions you’ll need to make about your order, as well as guide you through the permitting and regulations that you’ll need to understand and follow.

Assembly

In addition to your purchase, you’ll need to work with a local contractor to assemble your building. Many companies that supply steel buildings work with a network of local contractors who are specially trained and experienced in assembling buildings from that particular company. Choosing a company that works with a local contractor you can trust gives you an added level of assurance that your metal building is top quality.

For the Farm, Steel Buildings Offer Many Advantages

Steel buildings on farm property are nothing new, but new technology makes them completely modern. Nearly 40 years ago, many farms stored grain and equipment in metal Quonset huts as the norm.  Steel Quonset huts are just one of the many types of steel buildings available to today’s farmers.

Agricultural concerns have used metal buildings for decades for equipment storage, farm sheds, workshops and more. They were relatively easy to erect, and the steel construction became the wall structure, the roof structure and the outer walls of the building, cutting down on a lot of unnecessary construction and materials costs. Many of today’s agricultural steel buildings are based on the same metal hoop construction that made Quonset buildings so popular in the American Midwest and Northwest.

Scalability

Pre-fab and pre-engineered steel buildings offer the advantage of scalability. Depending on your needs, you can purchase and erect steel buildings in sizes applicable for uses from simple garden sheds to huge structures spanning up to 300 feet.

Style

Rounded Quonset huts aren’t your only option for style. New technologies and style sensibilities have introduced straight sides of varying heights coupled with rounded dome roofs or clever hybrids with rounded gambrel roofs that fit into a classic farmhouse setting. New technologies have also introduced color options so you’re no longer stuck with a steel-gray building that rusts and weathers. Most vendors of pre-fab steel building kits offer them in a range of powder-coated colors that withstand weathering without rusting or corroding, which is an ideal option for coastal towns where salt is a pervasive problem.

Metal Wall Panel Construction

Among the latest advances in steel building construction, metal wall panels simplify the construction process even further. The wall panels for your metal building are cut to size and pre-assembled so that you or your construction crew simply puts up the trusses and frame, then lifts the steel wall and bolts it into place.

Steel buildings outlast farm buildings made of other materials. They’re fire-resistant, which makes them safer for storage or for use as a barn or garage, and often leads to lower insurance costs. If you’re considering replacing an older building on your property or building a new one for any use, consult an expert vendor of steel buildings to see if there’s an option that will save you money, time and work.

Five Ways You Save with Steel Buildings

 Steel buildings offer lots of pros, but one of the most convincing advantages for many people is their economy. Steel buildings are less expensive than many other construction options at the start, and the savings just get better as time goes on. If you’re considering a steel building for your property, consider all the ways that choosing a metal building can save you money in the long run.

Lower Construction Costs

Pre-fabricated steel buildings often require little in the way of a foundation. Many smaller steel buildings are designed to have a dirt or gravel floor and only require concrete footings for secure construction, which can be a considerable savings. Steel buildings over 120 square feet require a foundation, but if you work with a foundation engineer who is familiar with the particular type of building you’re constructing, the costs of that foundation can be kept to a minimum.

Lower Assembly Costs

If you choose a steel building kit, you can save a considerable amount on the actual construction by doing much of the work yourself. The pre-cut shapes for steel buildings are easier to assemble than lumber, which means less time and a lower cost, even if you hire a construction crew to do the actual work. The best metal building kits have all the holes pre-drilled and come with easy to understand construction instructions so that you’re not paying for time spent drilling holes and figuring out the assembly instructions.

Lower Finishing Costs

Because many metal buildings arrive already powder-coated with your chosen colors, you don’t have to worry about the cost of paints and exterior finishes. Put it together, and you’re done. Compare that to the cost of priming wood, painting or staining it, or applying a protective weather coat to preserve your wood.

Lower Utilities Costs

Well-constructed steel buildings are weather-tight, unlike many buildings made of other materials. There are no gaps between planks or chinks at corners to admit wind or rain. With even a minimal amount of insulation, you’ll realize significantly lower utility costs than you would with a non-metal building.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Most steel buildings are treated to be rust and corrosion-resistant, and are naturally resistant to pests that damage wood, such as termites. Powder-coated color lasts for decades without fading, so you’ll save the costs of repainting your building every few years as well.

Lower Insurance Costs

Because steel buildings are fire-resistant, you’ll often also realize savings on your property insurance.

Tips for Erecting Steel Buildings

 Many people who choose steel buildings as a solution to their storage, expansion or other needs have no experience in construction. While the typical metal building is easier to put up than other types of construction, they’re not a do-it-yourself project for the typical home handyman – there’s far too much riding on getting the measurements and angles precisely right.

That said, many home and business owners choose DIY metal building kits to put up small garages, sheds and storage areas with the intent of doing it themselves or hiring a local contractor to do the actual work. If you’ve chosen a steel building to keep costs down or because you’re impressed by the many advantages of metal building construction, these tips can help ensure that you put up your structure safely and within reasonable budget and time limits.

• Provide a proper space for materials and staging around the perimeter of your construction area. You’ll need an area with stone, gravel or some sort of paving to place your materials when they arrive as well as to stage the various components before you assemble them.
• Keep your foundation clean and clear of any obstructions so that it’s ready when you’re ready to put up your building. If you don’t stay on top of things, you could find yourself wasting time clearing the site when you could be bolting walls into place.
• If your building requires a poured foundation, be sure to choose a concrete contractor who can do the job correctly. The building components require precise dimensions and thicknesses. If the concrete isn’t poured correctly, you could lose time while you find another contractor to fix the job an inexperienced concrete contractor messed up.
• Choose your erection crew wisely. If you’re planning a DIY job, be sure that someone on your crew is familiar with construction methods for steel buildings, or you may find yourself waiting for parts to replace others that have been ruined or misplaced because of your inexperience.
• If you decide to use a construction crew to put up your steel building, choose one that has experience building the brand and style you’ve chosen. If the company you purchase your building from has its own construction crew or partners with contractors in your area, take advantage of their knowledge and experience.

Choosing a steel building as a garage, storage, retail space or equipment shed can save you money and time. Just be sure that you work with partners who know what they’re doing to avoid offsetting your savings with expenses related to the construction.

Sustainable Construction with Steel Buildings

 Are steel buildings sustainable? The answer might surprise you. While metal buildings may seem to be the very opposite of everything the green building movement stands for, looks can be deceiving. In fact:

• The steel used in pre-fab steel buildings is often largely recycled – a very green choice
• Steel buildings are largely recyclable, unlike wood-frame buildings which offer few recyclable parts
• Metal buildings can be disassembled and reassembled on another site if you move, saving you money along with the wear and tear it saves on the earth
• Metal roofs are a sustainable and green choice and can be even more so depending on your choice of materials

 In addition to the basics of sustainability, the choices you make when planning and constructing your steel building can make it even more sustainable. For example:

• Galvanized metal roof panels reflect sunlight instead of absorbing heat, keeping your building cooler during the day and saving the energy you’d normally use to cool your plant
• Solar panels mount easily on metal roofs, offering you an option to store and generate your own energy without the use of fossil fuels
• Insulated panels in the walls and the roof of metal buildings help reduce heat transfer and save energy
• Skylight panels fit easily into steel frames, and allow natural light into your building, which is a healthier and more energy efficient option than artificial lights
• Cool white steel panels are energy-star rated for their reflectivity and emissivity and they reflect heat and reduce your use of energy.  What’s more, steel powder-coating requires very little maintenance. You won’t have to repaint for years.

 Their durability is another factor that makes steel buildings a greener choice than many other options.

• Steel buildings last longer than concrete, wood or earthen buildings.
• Because they last longer, you’re not using up more materials to rebuild or replace them when they fail.
• Naturally resistant to fire and corrosion, steel buildings won’t require chemical sprays to eliminate pests and reduce their susceptibility to fire

If you’re planning a new structure on your property or for your business, consult a manufacturer of steel buildings to find out how the latest technologies can help you build green, more sustainable structures for all of your storage and other needs.