Tips for Buying Steel Buildings

Choosing among the many steel buildings on the market can be confusing. There are so many factors to consider, some of which you may not even realize. These questions can help you make the right choice and buy a garage or shed that is right for your needs.

How Much Space Do I Need?

You’ll need to consider two different measurements when choosing the size of your building – the usable interior space and the exterior dimensions. The exterior dimensions are vital to making sure that the building you choose will fit into the space you have for it. Most steel buildings provide the largest amount of usable interior space in ratio to the exterior dimensions than any other type of construction.

In general, experts recommend that you choose a building that offers at least 20 percent more space than you think you need. It’s especially important to choose a structure that is wide enough. It’s fairly easy to add on to steel buildings length-wise. Adding extra width, however, is much more difficult.

When calculating height, consider the amount of door clearance you need. For example, if your doors need to be at least 12 feet high to allow for trucks to enter, most steel buildings will need to be at least 14 feet high to take into account the clearance needed above the door.

Take Local Building Codes Into Consideration

Before choosing a steel building for any purpose, check with your local zoning office to find out which, if any, building codes you’ll have to meet. In some areas, even structures as basic as 8-by-10 foot garden sheds must have a building permit and conform to certain building codes and standards. Some communities may not allow steel buildings, or may have specific rules and codes to which they must conform.

Once you’ve checked your local building codes, find a manufacturer of metal buildings that will customize the building plans and prefab pieces to fit local codes.  While it may cost slightly more to have plans modified by an architect to conform specifically to your local building codes, it’s far less expensive than have to pay fines and make changes to an already-built structure.

Once you’ve made your basic choices, you’ll have numerous other choices to make such as the number and style of windows and doors, the color of the trim, the type of roof and other fun decisions that will allow you to customize the structure you choose so that it doesn’t look like all the other steel buildings out there. No matter what choices you make, you’ll be sure to have a structure that meets or exceeds all local building standards, and at a price far below most conventional buildings.