Tips for Buying Steel Buildings in High Snow Areas

Over the past few years, snowfall has increased astronomically in northern areas. The increased snow loads have pushed roofs to their limits, often resulting in their collapse. Those who have erected steel buildings, however, have found that, for the most part, their roofs are sturdy and safe, even under the heavy loads of snow dumped on the north this past winter. With scientists and meteorologists expecting even deeper extremes of snowfall in the coming years, it’s even more important to consider the snow load ratings for the roofs on steel buildings of all sizes.

In the North, where snowstorms can dump tons – literally – of snow on a rooftop, steel buildings should feature design alterations to help roofs shed snow more easily and bear the weight of snow without collapsing. If you’re looking to steel buildings to house your car, the last thing you want to worry about is the roof falling in on your precious automobile. These four tips can help you build safer steel buildings in high snow areas.

Strengthen Your Foundation

Your building is only as strong as the foundation upon which it sits, and the roof is no stronger than your steel building. Have the soil of your building site tested for strength. Consider how much weight two to three feet of snow can add to the load your foundation is carrying when you design the foundation. You may need to add concrete columns or build a thicker concrete foundation to ensure that your building’s foundation will support the weight.

Add Structural Support to the Walls

Make sure that your building design will exceed standard load limits to take the weight of the snow into account. If you work with a company that provides plans for your metal building, make sure that the project engineer is aware of local building codes and the likelihood of frequent heavy snow. Proper engineering can amplify the strength of the steel and distribute the weight evenly to avoid stressing any one area. If possible, choose a design whose specs exceed the current codes for load-bearing. Safer is not only better, it will also prevent problems if the codes change in the future and you have to upgrade.

Choose a Design with a Steeper Roof

The steeper the pitch of the roof, the more easily the roof sheds snow and rain. Higher roofs require more materials and usually are more expensive, but the additional expense pays off in better safety, more usable space and less likelihood of leaks and roof damage from heavy snow and standing rain.

Choose a Darker Color for Your Roof

While lighter roofs are more energy efficient in warmer climates, that’s not true when your annual heating costs exceed annual cooling costs. A darker roof helps capture the heat of the sun and use it to melt the snow more quickly. If you live in climate zone 4 or above, choose a darker color roof for higher energy efficiency and a reduction in the chance of roof collapse.

If you’re putting up one or more steel buildings in a snow-prone area, be sure to design your metal structure, from foundation to rooftop, to withstand the weight of frequent heavy snow. It may cost more up front, but the additional safety and durability is more than worth the expense.

Tips For Buying Steel Buildings as Garages

One of the most popular residential uses for steel buildings is as garages. Steel building kits are often created specifically for building garages, which can make it easier to choose the right building kit. On the other hand, with the many dealers on the market offering steel garages and building kits, making a choice can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. These tips can help you choose the right steel buildings for use as garages.

Check Local Building Codes

Your first step – even before you start looking at steel buildings – is to check with your local zoning commission to find out what the building codes are for your county, city or town. Nearly every local zoning commission has standards for building garages, and your steel building kit will need to conform to those standards. You certainly don’t want to get your heart set on a particular design only to find that it doesn’t meet the building codes for your city.

Write down the building codes for reference while you’re shopping and comparing steel buildings.

Ask for What You Need

You may not see exactly what you need on a website, don’t be afraid to send an inquiry. Codes vary from one county to the next, so there’s no one size fits all building. The better steel building dealers will ensure that all of the applicable codes are incorporated into your garage steel building kit, and include it in the overall price you pay for your kit. If you don’t ask, though, you may never know what accommodations may be offered for your building code needs.

Consider the Future

Always plan ahead and buy up. The general suggestion when building garages is to figure out the square footage you need and add 20 percent. Even so, there’s a chance that you’ll want to expand even more in the future. Check with the supplier of steel buildings to find out if they offer expansion kits for the garages you’re considering or if you’d need to replace the entire structure if you want to upgrade in the future.

Generally, constructing steel buildings is easy enough that many homeowners build them as a DIY project, though most hire a contractor to lay down the foundation before they start. You can save money by doing it yourself with the help of a few friends, or do the basis work yourself and leave the foundation and finishing details to a contractor. Either way, when your steel building kit arrives, be sure to check the delivery against the directions and packing sheet to make sure that everything you need is included before starting work. That way, you can follow up and get any missing parts shipped so that they arrive before you need them.

FAQs About Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are an excellent solution to many of the storage, retail, manufacturing and housing problems that people face, but there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about them. Here’s a quick rundown of questions and answers most commonly fielded by companies that manufacture and sell steel buildings every day.

Steel Buildings Are Mostly Used For Factories And Farms, Right?

That may have been true in the 1940s and 1950s when the process of building with steel was being developed and refined. Steel was prized for its strength, versatility and affordability, and captains of industry and agriculture quickly adopted it as the building material of choice. In those early years, it was mostly used for large commercial buildings, industrial uses and agricultural uses, such as grain storage and equipment barns. These days, steel buildings are cropping up everywhere as shopping malls, sports arenas, factories and office buildings. But the largest growth sector in steel buildings is in small buildings for residential use as garages, workshops, home offices and storage buildings.

Of course, steel buildings still serve a fill a major niche in agriculture as well. It’s used for grain silos, barns and storage sheds, as well as for small farm stores and vegetable stands.

But Aren’t Steel Buildings Outdated and Ugly?

Again, that might have been true once upon a time. If you’re still imagining the metal sheds and Quonset buildings of yesteryear, you haven’t seen the changes in the metal building industry. Today, buyers can choose many attractive options for their steel buildings, including siding and trim that matches your house, and brick or stucco exteriors to completely hide the steel frame. Today’s buildings of steel will enhance your property’s appearance and add value to your home or property.

Can I Really Put up a Steel Building by Myself?

Absolutely. Smaller buildings, including sheds and barns built from kits, are easy to assemble and finish out by the typical home handyman. All you need is the appropriate tools – generally, a power drill and a hammer – and a basic understanding of building principles. From there, it’s just a matter of following step-by-step directions.

Of course, larger buildings are a bit trickier and are best put up by a professional crew. Many contractors specialize in erecting steel buildings, and can easily put up and finish out a steel building in much less time than it takes to build a traditional wooden structure.

How Much Does a Steel Building Cost?

The answer to that varies with the size and complexity of the job. The larger and more complicated the building, the more it will cost. But on average, steel buildings are considerably less expensive than other traditional construction, and will generally be ready for use in as much as half the time.

Avoid These Mistakes When Shopping for Steel Buildings

The word is spreading about steel buildings – they’re among the most economical and practical solutions to storage needs for residential and agricultural uses. Their versatility also makes them ideal for many other uses – garages, barns, carports, riding rings and many other applications. As they’ve become more popular on the market, however, the ranks of those selling steel buildings, metal buildings and steel building kits has grown considerably. While most dealers of steel buildings are reputable, some cut corners and deliver substandard products, some do a poor job of customer service, and some are just a poor fit for inexperienced customers. If you’re looking at steel buildings, it’s important to understand the process of choosing and ordering the building you want, as well as to know the most common mistakes people make when shopping for steel buildings.

Choosing the Wrong Type of Supplier

There are essentially three types of dealers who supply metal buildings – general contractors who can handle every part of the purchase and building process for you, brokers who sell a wide range of steel building options but don’t manufacture or erect them, and manufacturers who design and make the parts for steel buildings. The one you choose will depend upon your situation. If you want to work with one company from the design stage through completion of your build, then you want to work with a general contractor. A broker is a good choice for someone who is familiar with the types of buildings and the process of buying and building them, but may leave a novice feeling completely over his head. Manufacturers vary. Some are very good with novices and will help you with every step of the process. Others are used to working with people who know and understand the process and may not be the right fit for you if this is your first time working with steel buildings.

Letting Yourself Be Bullied Into Buying

Don’t fall for aggressive sales techniques. Most steel buildings dealers are reputable, but some engage in high-pressure selling techniques. Don’t let yourself be pushed into making a decision on buying before you’re ready. There’s a lot of important information you need before you choose among the many options for steel buildings, and being pushed into a decision can land you with a steel building you can’t use. Instead, do your homework, and deal with those who are willing to answer your questions openly.

Not Checking Local Building Codes for Steel Buildings

The most important piece of homework you can do is checking your local building codes before placing an order for a steel building. Many parts of the country have strict specifications about weather readiness, size and wind load. Be aware of them before you buy, and make sure that your building will meet them before you sign a contract.

Steel buildings are among the most economical and practical solutions to most building needs, but it’s important to know what you need before you shop. Take the time to do your homework so that your steel building is exactly the right one for you.

Tips for Buying Steel BuildingsBuildings

Considering your options in steel buildings for a particular building project? A steel building offers many advantages over traditional wood construction for nearly any type of use. The basic arch construction style is easily adapted for just about anything from a manufacturing shop to a home studio. But its very flexibility can make it confusing to choose among the many different styles and options available. These tips can help you come to a decision about the type of steel building you need for your project.

Always call your local building department first. Explain that you’re considering a pre-engineered steel building for your lot and find out about all the building codes that will apply at your location and which permits and licenses you may need before you start to build. While you’re at it, if you’re building in a residential area with a homeowners’ association, check with the HOA to make sure you won’t be violating any HOA regulations.

When you start shopping for a building, be sure to find a supplier that will work with the code information you supply from your town or municipality. Don’t be fooled by suppliers who give code building “standards” and claim that their buildings meet all “standards and codes.” Building codes and standards are determined at the local level, so it’s important that your steel building manufacturer know the standards that your building must meet before providing a quote. A reputable supplier will ensure that the building you get is one that meets all of the standards required in your area.

If you’re working with a supplier of custom steel buildings, go into detail about how the building will be used. Your intended use will make a big difference in the design options and choices, and ultimately in your final price. The requirements for a riding stable, for example, are far different than the requirements for a dance studio, even before you start furnishing the interior. The more your supplier/designer knows, the better he can meet your needs.

Make sure you know exactly what is included in the price you’re quoted for your steel building. Don’t make any assumptions to avoid being disappointed. Always ask which trim options are included in the quote and which you’ll need to supply yourself or pay extra to have. Often, for example, steel buildings come with the framed openings for doors, windows and skylights, but you’ll have to pay extra for the actual windows. Gutters and downspouts for your roof may also incur an extra charge.

Make sure that you’re comparing identical steel buildings when you’re comparing prices. If there’s a large difference between one building kit and another, it may be because the lower priced manufacturer is cutting corners, or because the higher-priced building includes options that you don’t actually need.

No matter which choices you make, you’ll find that steel buildings offer a great deal of value for the money you pay. If you haven’t yet made a decision on your building construction, consider the many advantages of steel building construction.

Ideas for Steel Buildings

Prefab and custom-designed steel buildings are an easy way to add inexpensive additional living space to your home. Most people think of these steel buildings – especially Quonset building arched steel buildings – as storage sheds and garages, but they can be used in so many other ways. Easy to erect steel building kits are ideal DIY projects for the home handyman, and can be the perfect solution to many small building projects often tackled by moms, dads and other homeowners. Consider how a steel building might be the perfect choice for one of these common home building projects.

Steel storage sheds are fairly easy to set up with basic DIY skills and tools. You can build one over a poured cement floor or over an installed wooden floor, depending on your preference. In most cases, you won’t need any kind of permit and won’t have to dig a foundation. If you can build a deck, you can put up a prefab steel shed. They’re available in a wide range of colors and trim styles, so you can easily find a steel building that fits right into your property style.

Playhouse

Give your little boy or girl the perfect spot to play – his own playhouse. Steel buildings are the perfect framework for anything from a cowboy’s bunkhouse to a fairy castle. All it takes is some serious decorative skill to turn a barebones steel building into a one-of-a-kind palace where memories are made. For a little girl’s playhouse, install window boxes filled with blooming annual flowers. Furnish it with a table and chairs and a play kitchen set and finish it off with lace curtains in the window. Turn a small metal building into a cowboy bunkhouse or sheriff’s office with wooden shutters and a big star or horseshoe on the door. Outfit the inside with bunks, a picnic-style table and benches and, if you’re so inclined, a “jail cell” built from a repurposed baby gate or two.

Pool Storage

Don’t haul your pool equipment all the way out from the garage or basement whenever you need it. Build a steel storage shed close to the backyard pool and cut down on all those extra steps – while freeing up space in your garage or basement for other things. Choose a building large enough to hold your pool chemicals, skimmer, pool vacuum and pool toys, as well as the cushions for your lawn and deck furniture. If you make it big enough, it can serve as winter storage for your deck furniture, grill and other summertime apparatus.

Steel buildings are ideal for many uses. Small steel buildings are especially easy to adapt in ways that enhance your family’s fun year-round.

DIY Solutions with Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are growing in popularity around the country, but chances are that you won’t notice them in your neighborhood. But that doesn’t mean they’re not there. The newest designs and advances in technology have simply made it easy to erect steel buildings that fit right into the landscape and environment. Whether for residential, commercial, retail or industrial use, steel buildings offer an excellent solution to many construction needs. For the home DIY enthusiast, smaller DIY steel buildings kits offer an easy solution for storage, garages, home offices, craft shops and so many more uses. Consider some of these novel uses for steel buildings to help spark your own inspiration.

Home Office

If distraction makes it impossible to work from home, but paying office rent in perpetuity is impractical, take a look at what steel buildings have to offer. If you have an unused corner in your back or side yard, you can easily construct a small, single-room steel building and outfit it as a home office. It’s the ideal solution for the self-employed professional who’d rather not pay for office space, or who wants to cut out their daily commute.

Greenhouse Addition

Energy-efficient designs make steel buildings a practical solution for the gardening enthusiast who needs indoor space for starting seedlings, repotting plants, storing garden equipment and growing flowers and vegetables in the off-season. If you build it right, you can even use it as an alternative to a conservatory. Today’s steel building options include skylight windows, weather-tight design and the ultimate in open floor plans – no interior beams at all to hinder your design. Choose arch steel construction, such as a Quonset building, add skylights and a windowed front, and you’ll have a stylish, efficient gardening house that you can use as a cold frame or greenhouse.

Carport and Garages

Steel buildings are the ideal choice for garages, carports and other vehicle storage. If you’ve got a boat, ATVs or even a small airplane, the arch construction of steel buildings gives you plenty of room to maneuver and park beneath a roof. Protect your investments from the ravages of the weather by sheltering them under a steel dome, and you’ll recoup your investment in no time.

Steel buildings are often available as DIY kits that include everything you need to put up the structure yourself on your own property. If you need more space on your property, consider the advantages offered by a steel building.

Steel buildings – What Size is the Right Size?What

Once you’ve decided that a steel building is the right choice for your project, you’ll be faced with a number of other decisions. One of the most important is the size of the building you buy. Whether you’re building for industrial use, office use or home use, choosing the right size is of major importance. A building that’s too large will cost you more to heat, cool and light – in addition to costing more up front. One that’s too small will be cramped, and may not suit your needs. Luckily, steel buildings are available in just about any size you need.

The general rule of thumb when choosing among steel buildings is to estimate the amount of space you’ll need and add 20 percent. However, coming up with that first figure can be confusing. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right size for your building.

Measure Your Space

The first factor, of course, is the amount of building space you have. It’s impossible to shoehorn a 50-foot long building into a 40-foot long space. Measure your lot carefully, and be sure to account for access space. You’ll need to allow at least a few feet on all sides to get around the building, both for construction purposes and after it’s built.

Determine Your Needs

The second important factor is determining your minimum space needs. These standard sizes for common uses of steel buildings may help you decide.

The minimum size for a single car garage is 12 ft. wide by 22 ft. long. Double car garages may be as small as 18 ft. by 22 ft. long. Keep in mind that those are absolute minimum sizes. If you want to do anything more than park your car, you’ll need to add more space. In addition, local building codes may specify minimum sizes for garages in your area.

Garden sheds can be as small as 4 x 4 feet to as large as you want. A 4 x 4 shed gives you just enough room to store basic gardening equipment, and perhaps a lawnmower. An 8 x 8 foot shed will house your riding mower and a set of shelves, but not much more. An 8 x 10 foot shed is the most popular size for garden sheds. That size allows plenty of room for storing garden equipment, shelves, a small potting bench and your lawn furniture.

Steel buildings are often used for workshops, which come in varying sizes depending on what you’re planning to do in them. In most cases, you’ll want your wood shop or craft/hobby center to be the size of a small room – at least 8 feet by 12 feet to give you room for your equipment and for maneuvering. If you want a metal shop or are planning to do car repairs or restoration, plan on building to garage size.

Keep in mind that local building codes may determine the largest size you can build in your area. Once you’ve figured out how much room you need for your building project, check online to see the range of steel buildings available in that size.