Why Steel Buildings Are The Green Choice

In today’s shrinking global world where all of our actions impact more than just our immediate neighbors, many businesses and individuals are trying hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Putting up a new building can pose major challenges to those who want to keep their environmental footprint small. For those people who are committed to minimizing their impact on the environment, steel buildings make green sense.

Traditional stick-built construction uses a large amount of wood, a natural resource that takes a great deal of time to replace. Wooden buildings also require a lot of energy to construct and maintain, and are less energy efficient in many other ways. Steel buildings may seem like a less ecologically sound choice, but appearances can be deceiving.

Steel Buildings Use Recycled Materials

A metal building uses natural resources, of course, but they use less materials and require less maintenance and upkeep. Most of the steel buildings constructed today are built of recycled materials rather than new materials dug up from the earth. The process of pre-engineering reduces the amount of work that must be done on site. Transporting all the materials at once reduces the carbon trail created in getting materials to the site.

Less Maintenance Means Less Stress on the Environment

The metal used in constructing steel buildings is usually coated with rust and corrosion resistant paints that help make them more durable and keep them from breaking down. This means that you spend less time maintaining your building and more time using it. It also has the added bonus of cutting down the stress your building places on the environment – no need to repaint, apply chemicals to treat rot or replace parts that have decayed or rotted away. That means fewer materials used in the upkeep and less downtime for you and your workforce.

Steel Buildings Are Energy Efficient

The fire and rust-resistant coatings on the latest generation of steel buildings have another plus – they’re also energy efficient. Many of them feature roofs and exteriors that are designed to suit their environmental conditions – reflective coatings to reduce heat absorbency and keep cooling costs low in warm environments and absorbent panels that collect the sun’s light and heat for use to help heat the building in cooler environments. A well-designed metal building can be up to 80% more efficient than a wooden building in a traditional design.

They’re also designed to fit together more closely than any wood building can possibly fit, which makes steel buildings more weather-tight and energy efficient than traditional construction. They start out easier to heat and cool, and when you add insulation, they’re even more cost and energy efficient.

Finally, when you’re done with your building, it doesn’t end up in the landfill or shipped out to sea and dumped. Instead, you can sell your metal building for scrap to be recycled yet again, or it can be taken apart and put back together on another site. In short, from conception to demolition, steel buildings are one of the greenest choices you can make when it comes to construction.

Tips on Putting Up Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are one of the most popular choices for people who want to put up their own storage buildings, garages, workshops and home offices. One of the biggest attractions for steel buildings is the fact that they’re touted as being easy to assemble. Many manufacturers and dealers offer steel building kits that can easily be assembled on site by a reasonably skilled home handyman. Some people, however, choose to have their steel building kit assembled on site by a contractor. Whichever you choose, these tips can help you put up your new steel building more quickly and easily.

Assembling steel buildings is relatively easy, but you have to keep in mind that the steel pieces are heavy. If you plan on assembling your steel building kit yourself, you’ll want to recruit at least one other person to help you with the heavy lifting. An extra person or two can help move the pieces of your building into place and hold them in place while you attach them to each other, then lift the walls and supports into place.

Even if you have a helper or two, you might consider renting a forklift from a local rental shop for a couple of days to help with erecting your building.

Lay out all of your pieces in advance to be sure that everything you need is included in your shipment. That will allow you to contact the manufacturer for any missing pieces before you need them, and lets you get to work on the other parts while you wait.

Assemble as many pieces on the ground as possible before moving them into place.

Follow the engineering and assembly plan exactly for best results. The assembly plan is designed to get your steel building up in the quickest and easiest way possible.

If you choose to hire a contractor to assemble your building, these tips can help ensure that you hire a contractor who is experienced and knowledgeable in assembling steel buildings.

Ask the manufacturer or dealer of your steel building kit for recommendations of contractors in your area. Many manufacturers have lists of contractors throughout the country who have experience with their products. That experience can shave hours off a construction project.

Check with friends, family and neighbors, especially those who have had steel buildings erected on their own properties. Don’t just ask for recommendations, ask about the experience – what was good and what was bad about it.

Ask any contractors you are considering for a list of references, and contact those references. If possible, ask if you can come see the work done by the contractor. That will tell you far more than the answers to any questions.

Ask for your contractor’s license number and check with your local city hall or building office to make sure that his license is current and has no complaints against it.

Ask to see your contractor’s insurance certificates for personal liability, worker’s compensation and property damage and make sure that they’re all current. The last thing you need is to find yourself liable for a work accident that happened on your property.

Steel buildings offer many advantages for just about any kind of construction you’re planning to build. Be sure to follow all the recommendations and requirements when assembling your steel building so that you’re sure to get the full benefit from every one of them.

Recreational Storage and Uses for Steel BuildingsStorage

Is your RV sitting out in the driveway? Do you garage your speedboat on the side lawn? Recreational vehicles, including marine vehicles and ATVs, represent a significant investment, and deserve to be protected from the weather and from vandals or thieves. Steel buildings provide the perfect solution to the garaging and storage needs for recreational vehicles and equipment of all types. Why choose steel buildings for your recreational storage and garages? These are just a few of the reasons.

Steel Buildings Are Affordable

Steel is one of the most affordable building materials available, and building with steel has built-in money savings. For example, you don’t have to build a foundation for most steel buildings. Depending on the building codes in your area, you may be able to put up steel garages and carports on a cement slab or with cement pier footings. That cuts out the expense of paying for a foundation to be dug, as well as the cost of the materials for a foundation.

Steel Buildings Are Durable

When you build with steel, you build for the ages. Most steel buildings are engineered to withstand the weather conditions in the area in which they are built. Because of the way it’s fabricated and designed, your metal building will withstand hurricane force winds, earthquakes and heavy loads of snow that would destroy a stick-built construction.

Steel Buildings Are Low Maintenance

The last thing you want to do is spend the time you could be enjoying your boat or ATVs repairing the garages you built for them. That won’t ever be a problem when you build them with steel. Most steel buildings have a protective finish, usually powder-coated, that resists rust and corrosion, and that lasts far longer than any paint job on a wood building. In fact, if you choose a powder-coated steel building, you probably won’t have to think about repainting for ten to twenty years.

Steel Buildings Go Up Quickly

Because your steel building arrives ready to assemble, it’s not unusual to go from bare ground to finished garages in just a weekend. If you’re handy and are used to using power tools – and have access to a crew of friends for a day or two – you can even put up your garage or storage space yourself in just an afternoon or two, depending on the size.

If you’ve invested a lot of money into your recreational equipment and vehicles, don’t risk them being damaged by the elements. Tarps and makeshift shelters can only provide a limited amount of protection. Steel buildings are the best choice to keep your expensive recreational vehicles, ATVs and marine vehicles safe and sound.

Steel Buildings Give You the Strength and Versatility You Need

Steel is one of the most versatile materials available—in fact, it can be used to build a multitude of structures from residential buildings, such as garages and potting sheds, to farm facilities like barns, to commercial buildings, such as small workshops or storage spaces for inventory or valuable equipment.  In addition, they can used to house public service vehicles, such as fire trucks, airplanes and school buses.   If you’re wondering why you should think about steel buildings for your needs, here are some benefits you may not have considered.

Metal Buildings Assure Plenty of Room

Quonset buildings are useful because they will allow large vehicles, such as commercial trucks, and even airplanes, to fit easily inside the steel building while also leaving room for supplies to be stacked along the edges. This means that not only will your main equipment stay safe, but you’ll have plenty of room to store tools, equipment and other items needed to repair or maintain your large equipment.  Metal buildings can also be useful to store not only your large objects and related tools and equipment, but can be used as a warehouse to store a multitude of other objects—like shop inventory.

What Makes Steel Buildings the Best Choice?

Metal buildings are able to withstand the hazards of changing weather and other environmental factors, while other building materials may not. For instance, if a barn is constructed out of wood, there is a possibility of the wood rotting after several years or, in severe cases, a fire can start and destroy a barn and everything inside. They can also protect against the coldest of weather and keep your valuables safe inside. Steel buildings are sturdy and promise to stay strong and withstand the inevitable unexpected forces of nature.

The Cost of Steel Structures

The costs of steel buildings are usually quite affordable, but depend on width, height and other discerning factors. It’s important to remember, however, that whatever the price, a steel building is a lifelong investment. A  Quonset building, with its perfect design, will last for years, keeping your possessions protected, and won’t have to be replaced in a few years time as a wooden garage or barn may have to be.

Choosing steel over any other material to house your valuables and supplies is an easy decision to make.  Steel buildings will last long into the future and promise to keep your property secure. Make sure when you’re deciding what material to use to house your truck, farm equipment, shop supplies or vehicles you give steel a fair chance—it’s a decision you won’t likely regret.

Why Steel Buildings Are The Best Choice for Storage

If the words “steel buildings” bring to mind rows of unattractive, galvanized steel hoop buildings, it’s time to update your perceptions. Times have changed, technology has improved everything and steel buildings are no exception. In today’s world, steel is a flexible building material that offers multiple options for colors, size, framing, style, roofing and accessories. Developers and contractors discovered the advantages of building with steel decades ago. Today, homeowners are discovering those same advantages when it comes to building storage buildings, home offices, garages and other outbuildings on their property.

Cost Advantages of Steel Buildings

Many of the advantages of steel buildings relate directly or indirectly to their cost. Building with steel is more affordable than it’s ever been, thanks to the ease of working with prefabricated steel building parts. When you choose steel for your buildings, your material costs start out lower than the materials costs for stick-built construction, but that’s just the start of the savings.

Save on Foundation

One of the bigger expenses when you build with wood is the need for a dug foundation. Many steel buildings need only a minimal foundation or none at all, which saves you a considerable amount of your cash up front. When your steel building does require a foundation, you can often build safely on a cement slab foundation, or on pier footings, both of which are considerably less expensive than a full basement foundation.

Shorter Construction Time

Because your steel building kit comes ready to put together, “construction” is more like assembly. If you’ve chosen to have your building constructed by a contractor, this means you’ll be paying for far less of the construction crew’s time – as little as a day or two for small storage buildings. If you’re putting up a commercial building, you’ll be ready to open and get up and running in much less time than if you had chosen a traditional wood frame construction. Based on industry figures, you’ll save up to 60 percent on your construction and materials costs.

Easy to Expand

Adding onto a steel building is far easier than expanding any other type of construction. In most cases, you can simply add another unit to the back end without interrupting your business or services at all. Your cost savings on expansion are comparable to your savings for the original construction.

Virtually Maintenance-Free

Steel is an ideal building material, renowned for its strength and flexibility. Unlike wood, steel won’t crack, rot or mildew. It won’t become infested with mold, termites or other pests. Most dealers of steel buildings offer multiple finish options, including powder-coated steel in many colors and stucco or brick finishes. No matter what the finish, maintenance is generally a matter of washing down the building a couple of times a year to remove surface dirt.

If you’re considering building a storage building, garage or a hobby room for your home, consider the many advantages of steel buildings when making your choice of construction. You’ll find you get far more for your money when you choose steel.

Costs of Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are among the most versatile choices for nearly any type of construction, but they’re especially popular with homeowners and hobbyists who want a storage building or workshop on their property. They’re also often used as garages, barns, auto workshops, home offices or small stores. Steel buildings come in a variety of colors that match the most popular house colors, making them an ideal choice for installation on a residential property.

You can build them on different types of foundations, allowing you to choose the most economical for your uses. To top it off, steel buildings are essentially fireproof, resist insect infestation and are relatively low-maintenance. It’s no wonder, then, that they’re popular with many different types of owners. Steel building prices range widely from about $1,000 to well over $50,000 depending on the size and options that you choose. These typical costs can give you an idea of what it might cost to build the garden shed or home office of your dreams.

Hoop style steel buildings are often chosen as an option to metal pole barns. Neither requires a foundation, cutting the costs of building considerably. A DIY construction kit for a steel barn – which contains all the materials needed to get your building up and ready to use – will run you from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the size and finish options you choose. It will cost you between $8,000 and $50,000 to have one built for you by a professional contractor.

If you’re going to build a prefab steel building on a foundation, the cost for the basic structure will run between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on the size, the options you choose and the quality of the materials. Some dealers of steel buildings include shipping in their price quotes, but others will charge you separately for shipping. The cost of shipping will vary depending on the distance shipped and the weight of the shipment.

While many people erect their own steel buildings, others decide to hire a contractor to put up their building. Paying a contractor, installing a foundation and adding finishing touches like electricity, plumbing, walls and flooring can add $20 to $50 per square foot to the cost of your steel building. For a 10 by 12-foot steel building – a standard storage building size – that’s an additional $2,000 to $6,000.

What Should Be Included in Your Steel Building Kit

These prices don’t include the cost of the land, of course. You can expect certain things to be included when you purchase a steel building kit. Steel building kits will usually provide all the materials you need to put you your structure except the floor or foundation and anchor bolts, if you’ll be using them.

Your kit will also usually include engineer-certified drawings, anchor bolt patterns and construction plans. Those – especially the engineer-certified drawings – may be required by your local building code authority before they’ll issue you a license.

Tips for Shopping for Steel Buildings

Before you purchase a metal building, ask for references from other customers and be sure to check the references. Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints and do a search online for any complaints and problems from other people.

As you can see from the prices listed here, steel buildings are often the most economical choice for garden sheds, garages, barns and other residential, agricultural and industrial buildings. For more information and a price quote, contact a dealer of steel buildings with specifics about what you want.

Why Steel Buildings Are Popular Choices for StorageBuildings

Steel buildings are designed and built for heavy-duty usage. Unlike cheap metal buildings made of aluminum, steel buildings are far sturdier, and an excellent choice for both long-term storage and seasonal storage, as well as for use as a garden shed. The durability of steel buildings provides protection from the elements, including most catastrophic weather events – most are rated to withstand hurricane-force winds and earthquakes. In addition, metal buildings discourage thieves and vandals because they are more difficult to burglarize.

Why Steel Buildings Are Popular

There are a number of reasons for the popularity of steel buildings. Generally, metal buildings are budget-friendly, from the very start. If you’re erecting a relatively small structure, you probably won’t need much in the way of a foundation. That can be quite a savings in the erection costs. In addition, steel garden sheds and steel storage buildings are very affordable to buy, and you can often purchase a DIY steel building kit and save money by erecting it yourself. Finally, steel buildings save you money over the years because they require far less maintenance than typical wood construction.

Most steel buildings are made with powder-coated steel that resists rust and corrosion. The steel coating also won’t fade or peel over the years as painted wood does, so you’ll save the costs of re-painting every few years to keep your shed looking fresh. The only regular upkeep most steel building exteriors need is a thorough washing once a season to remove surface dust and dirt.

You’ll also never have to worry about termites when you choose a steel building. The little critters have yet to develop the stomach for steel filings. Other critter infestations are also less likely, thanks to the close-fitting construction typical of metal buildings.

Steel buildings are available in an enormous range of sizes, from garden shed size just big enough to house your lawnmower and a few garden implements to sizes capable of serving as an airline hangar or a full-scale factory. Even better, steel buildings are versatile – depending on the style you choose, it’s easy to add on to the building’s length by just adding to the back.

A steel building is a sensible investment, not only because it costs less than most wood construction buildings, but because it offers more value over the entire life of the structure. If you’re considering adding a shed to your property for storage or building a factory or garages, take a serious look at the many options that steel buildings offer for your needs.