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But Aren’t Steel Buildings Outdated and Ugly?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.