Buying Tips for Steel Buildings

With the growing popularity of steel buildings sold direct to consumers, many vendors and websites have cropped up to take advantage of the trend. Frequently, buyers who take advantage of advertised low prices on steel buildings bought online find themselves disappointed when they learn, after placing and order and signing a contract, that the metal building they’ve agreed to buy is little more than a shell. In fact, many companies in the industry use a two-step sales process: first, they take the order for a steel building from the customer and arrange for the manufacture of the shell once the contract has been finalized. The initial sale price typically only includes the structural components, the walls and the roof of the building. Additional components, such as doors and windows, insulation, gutters and downspouts and other design modifications can be ordered separately after the initial contract is signed and the customer has paid a non-refundable deposit.

Consumers who are not familiar with this two-step process that is typical in the construction industry are often surprised by the additional cost. If you’re planning to purchase a steel building or one of the many steel building kits on the market, the Better Business Bureau offers some buying tips to make the process more transparent and prevent unpleasant surprises after the contract has been signed.

Before you make a decision, check with your local code authorities about zoning and building codes to make sure that any building you order will comply with the relevant codes. Most reputable vendors and manufacturers of steel buildings will make sure that consumers are aware that they have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the building they order complies. Those details, along with the items that are included in the sale, expected delivery dates and whether or not deposits are refundable will be in the contract. Be certain to read it carefully before signing the agreement.

Be aware that many of the items required for the construction of steel buildings will often require additional expense. According to the BBB, your finished steel building may incur several different types of additional costs.

Permits

In many counties, you’ll have to pay for the appropriate permits to erect your building. Other administrative type costs may include inspections, especially if you’re adding electricity and plumbing to your building, and taxes.

Additional Openings

If you want additional doors, windows or skylights in your building, you’ll usually pay an extra cost for them.

Land and Land Preparation Costs

Before your building is delivered, you’ll need to prepare the land for it. That may include providing access for delivery vehicles, clearing the land, grading it and providing a concrete foundation.

Delivery and Construction

You’ll often have to pay separately for delivery of your steel building, as well as erection costs if you engage a contractor to put the building up. You can avoid those additional costs by doing the construction yourself, but before you do, be sure to check the building codes in your location. Some towns and counties require that construction of steel buildings above a certain size be done by a licensed, experienced contractor.

Steel Buildings from Decision to Construction

So you’ve decided that the best option for that workshop or storage shed you want is a steel building. Congratulations – you’ve made a great choice.Steel buildings offer many advantages over just about any other kind of construction, so you can be assured that you’ve made the best decision possible. But where do you go from here? Here’s a quick run-through of the steps you should take to get your steel building project on the way to completion.

Local Codes

Before you do anything else, check with your county or city government to learn about any requirements regarding steel buildings. You local code authority will have guidelines for you to follow. You should also check with your neighborhood association or HOA to find out if they have any restrictions about what and how you can build on your property.

Designing

The amount of actual design work you can do will depend in large part on the manufacturer or dealer with whom you choose to work. In some cases, you’ll be picking from a variety of pre-designed options. In others, you’ll have input into many different aspects of building design, right up to creating an entirely customized design for your steel building. Be sure to work with a company that can provide you with everything you need to know in order to make informed decisions.

Engineering

Steel buildings are not one-size-fits-all. Each one should be engineered based on location, use and size. For that reason, thecompany from which you buy your steel building will have a lot of questions about where your building will be located and how you’ll use it. That will help the engineers determine how to account for the various types of load that your building will need to bear.

Ordering

Every company has a slightly different order process you’ll need to follow. Once you’ve determined the design and confirmed the engineering plans, you’ll have to sign a contract for manufacture and delivery of the building. You can expect to pay a deposit of 25 to 50 percent of the final price when you place your order, with the remainder due upon delivery of your building components.

Choosing an Erector

If you’re planning to have your building erected by a contractor, you should schedule with the contractor several weeks before you expect delivery of your building. This is especially important if you’re building during the busy seasons – spring and autumn.

Site Preparation

Make any preparations needed on site before your building is due to arrive, and make sure that you have an area for offloading the steel building components and cleared access to allow a truck to reach it.

When your building arrives, you’ll be responsible for checking each piece and determining that you’ve got everything you need. Once you’ve got everything offloaded and set up, you can start construction. Whether you’ve hired an erector or are doing it yourself, you’ll find that most small steel buildings are up and ready for occupation within a couple of days.

Accessories for Steel Buildings

Typically, when you order a steel building, you’ll have the option to choose various accessories that complete your build. In most cases, steel buildings include the walls and frame, as well as all the fasteners you’ll need to put it all together. What you’ll end up with if you don’t pick out important accessories is a steel box – it might be a pretty steel box if you picked one in a nice color and shape, but it’s the accessories you choose that turn the basic metal boxes into functional, fashionable and utilitarian steel buildings. These are among the most important accessories you should consider when you’re shopping forsteel buildings.

Doors

Access is a vital part of any building, and choosing the right kind of doors can make your steel building much more functional and easier to use. The door styles available for steel buildings include those for vehicle and equipment access as well as walk doors. Overhead roll-up doors, such as those commonly used for garages, are common for utility sheds,garages, storage sheds and steel buildings used as hangars or boathouses. Rolling doors can offer as much access as overhead doors but are generally less expensive than overhead doors. For smaller steel buildings meant to be used as workshops, offices or for basic storage, a walk door may be all you need. Walk doors – a typical hinged door – are also useful additions to larger buildings that have vehicle access or loading dock doors.

Windows

Not every steel building needs windows, but they make a nice addition, especially in structures that will be used as offices or for other human occupation. Nearly any window that you could choose for a house can be fit into the plans for steel buildings, so you can easily match the style of your main house or main building. You typically have a great deal of liberty in choosing the location and configuration of windows in steel buildings because, unlike wood frame buildings, you don’t have to worry about positioning them between studs, or be careful to avoid structural support posts. That’s not an issue with steel buildings.

Skylights

In addition to standard windows, you can also choose to have skylights in many styles of steel buildings. Skylights are a great option for bringing in natural light and reducing energy consumption – and of course, they look great.

In addition to doors and windows, a gutter system is a must for any steel building. The gutter system is often included as part of the “trim” package, while other things you think of as trim, such as wainscoting and cupolas, are separate items entirely.

Whatever trim and accessory options you choose, steel buildings offer the best value for your money, even if you’re on a tight budget. Their versatility, cost and ease of construction make them a great option for nearly any use.

Popular Designs for Steel Buildings

When many people hear the words steel buildings, their first thought is “ugly” – but it’s been a long time since that was true. While you can still find cheap steel buildings that look like metal boxes, most metal buildings today are attractive as well as functional. If you haven’t considered steel for your building project because of the looks factor, take a look at the many attractive design options available for steel buildings today.

Architectural Design

Many of the most popular designs for buildings made of steel are based on steel Quonset buildings, the ubiquitous hoop construction that you’ll see all over the place in agricultural areas. Quonset buildings are still available, and often the least expensive design available, but modified Quonset designs are growing in popularity. These hoop construction buildings feature the stability and strength that made Quonset construction the choice for the U.S. Army with the design aesthetic required by today’s more discerning consumer. Designs that combine rounded slope roofs with straight sides are among the most popular of all because they look good and provide more interior space.

Doors and Windows

The most basic steel buildings have a back wall, an outer sheath that combines roof and walls, and a front wall with a door in it. The door is often an overhead garage style door – but there are many options that feature standard doors and windows as well. Depending on the style of building you choose, you can add skylights which provide natural light as well as aesthetic flair, and windows in the front, back or side walls. You’ve also got a variety of choices for doors in addition to the classic overhead garage door – sliding doors that give you full width access as well as pedestrian doors in the same styles you’ll find in your house. For garages and large storage buildings, many people choose a sliding or overhead garage door for easy access with a car or loading equipment, alongside a people-size door so people can easily enter and leave without opening the entire front of the building.

Exteriors

Forget about the corrugated iron look that’s so associated with Quonset huts from the World War II era. Even budget steel buildings today feature powder-coatings in many colors. White and buff are the most popular, but barn red and pale blue are also readily available through most manufacturers. Many owners choose to sheath their steel buildings in other materials, including brick face, stone cladding and vinyl siding, so that they blend perfectly with their homes or other buildings.

Everyone knows about the economical and ecological advantages of choosing steel buildings over wood frame or other construction, but few realize the many attractive options available to make your steel building look great, too.

If you’ve been researching steel buildings, you’ve probably heard it all – steel buildings are less expensive to build and maintain, they’re kinder to the environment and they’re available in a wide variety of styles to suit your building aesthetic. But there are other reasons to love steel buildings for just about any use as well. Here are five lesser-known reasons that metal buildings are among the most popular small building projects in the country.

It Takes Less Time to Go from Plan to Occupation

Businesses often choose steel buildings over other types of construction because they can get up and running faster – in a matter of weeks rather than months. The difference is even more pronounced when you’re planning a small building project for your residential use – a garden or storage shed, a greenhouse or garages. An experienced contractor can often have your building up and ready to use within a day or two. Even DIY homeowners can put up a steel building in a weekend with the help of a friend or two.

You Don’t Need Any Special Tools

You don’t have to be an experienced builder or woodworker to build a metal shed, and you don’t need a full workshop of construction tools to get it right. Most small-scale steel buildings can be erected by anyone who can follow the directions to assemble the typical build-it-yourself furniture from the department store. In most cases, all you really need is a tape measure, a carpenter’s level and a power drill.

Steel Buildings Are Almost Idiot-Proof

There’s always a chance that something can go wrong with any construction, but when you choose a steel shed construction kit, you eliminate the one place where most people go wrong – the cutting and measuring. Since your steel building kit comes with all of the pieces cut and drilled, you never have to worry about your measurement skills or that you’ll waste wood and materials by cutting them unevenly or to the wrong length.

You Spend More Time Enjoying and Less Time Repairing

Because metal buildings don’t require ongoing maintenance and care, you get more time to use your building and spend less time fixing it up, repainting it and defending it from the elements. Just be sure to choose a high-quality building with a powder-coated finish, and you’ll save weeks of repainting over the next twenty years or more.

Steel Buildings Are Safer

A well-built steel building is much safer than nearly any other type of construction. Steel construction is more tolerant of earthquake and earth shifting, and most steel buildings are constructed to withstand hurricane-force winds. The roofs are designed to shed snow that can be a major danger in northern states, and of course, steel is naturally fire-resistant. When you add in the fire retardant finishes and corrosion proofing that are standard with most steel in the construction industry, the sum total is a much safer building.

Whether you need a new storage shed or a whole factory building, steel buildings are the best option. Learn more about the advantages of steel buildings from a manufacturer before you make your final decision.

Questions You Should Answer Before You Buy Steel Buildings

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they buy a steel building is buying a building that doesn’t suit their needs. While steel buildings are among the most cost-effective types of construction you can buy, it doesn’t make sense to save money on something that doesn’t do what you need it to do. You can avoid making a costly mistake if you sit down and ask yourself some basic questions about the way you intend to use your new building before you start shopping.

What Will This Building Do For You?

This is not the same as “what is this building for?” Think about how having this new steel building will change your life, because it will help you visualize the building itself and what you need in it.

What Size Building do you Need? What Size Building Will Fit on Your Property?

Most steel buildings suppliers will tell you to estimate the amount of square footage you need, then add at least ten percent. It’s a standard rule – you always need more space than you thought you needed.  Of course, you’ll have to consider how much space you have on your property for the building you want. Don’t panic if you think you need more actual space than you have available to build. A good steel building supplier will have suggestions for maximizing your available property to get the most square footage possible.

What Kind of Doors Will You Need? How Many? Where Will They be?

Steel buildings are a popular choice for garages and for garden storage, and many are designed for garage style doors. Consider the size of the door, as well as how hard or easy it will be to maneuver things in and out of the building. Depending on the style of building you choose, you may have the option to put doors at either end, or even in the side. Many people choose a garage door for equipment and vehicles and a regular door for people to enter and exit without having to open the big door.

Do You Need to Insulate the Building?

If you’re planning to use your new steel building as an office, workshop or extra room, you may need to insulate it, especially in colder areas of the country. Some styles of metal buildings are much easier – and less expensive – to insulate than others, so it can be an important factor in your decision.

Will you Want to Add on to the Building in the Future?

Most metal building styles are easy to expand, but it’s important for you to plan ahead if you think that may be an option in the future. Some styles are expandable width-wise. Nearly all are expandable length-wise. It’s important for you to position your building for easy expansion if you’re planning to add on to it in the future.

What Kind of Structures Does Your Town or County Allow?

Always check with your code and zoning office before choosing a steel building. There may be restrictions about the type, style, color, size – or even whether the town allows steel buildings on your property at all.

Steel buildings offer many advantages for nearly any use, but some metal buildings are better suited for your needs than others. Make sure that you’ve considered all the possibilities before you buy one.

Look Beyond Price When Buying Steel Buildings

If you’ve been considering steel buildings as an option for your residential storage needs or business needs, you’ve probably seen a lot of ads on the Internet that talk about the price. Many manufacturers and distributers of steel buildings tout low prices as the major advantage of choosing a metal building for your needs. If you investigate beyond the price, though, you’ll find that many of these economy-priced structures aren’t so much budget-friendly as they are simply cheap.

Before you make a decision about the steel building you’re going to buy, you need to look beyond the attractive price to see what you’ll actually be getting for the money. Chances are you’ll find that those great bargains aren’t quite the deals they’re made out to be. It’s important to compare quality, materials and service when you’re choosing among the many steel buildings on the market. If you choose simply based on the lowest price, you’re likely to find yourself with a sub-par steel building that costs far more to maintain than you expected.

What to Look for In a Quality Steel Building

The steel used in construction is obviously one of the most important factors in the quality of steel buildings. Premium steel buildings are made of heavy-duty 26 gauge steel. Many economy metal buildings are made using much thinner 29-gauge steel, which is considerably weaker and may not even meet the building codes in some areas. Because they’re thinner and of lesser quality, you’re also more likely to run into maintenance problems than you’ll have with a high-quality steel building.

The coating on the steel will also have a major effect on your maintenance costs and the durability of the building. Look for buildings that have a rust and corrosion-resistant powder coating rather than cheaper metal paint or dip coating. This is especially important if you’re choosing a color for your building – powder coating won’t flake off or rust away, while other types of paint and coatings might flake off and leave your building prone to rust and corrosion.

Look for a building dealer or manufacturer who asks for a copy of your local building codes. You may read advertisements for steel buildings that promise your new structure “complies with all local codes.” Since building codes vary from one county to the next, there is no such thing as a universally code-compliant building kit. Be leery of any steel buildings dealer who doesn’t ask about your local building codes.

Consider any additional expenses you’ll incur in building, insulating and making your new steel building habitable. Often, cheap steel buildings are nothing more than metal shells. You’ll end up paying extra for doors, windows and trim. Make sure that you get a complete quote that includes everything you need for your steel building.

Steel buildings are a phenomenal bargain, but it’s important to make sure that you’re buying a quality structure that will last you for decades.

What You Need to Know About Steel Buildings from Kits

Garages, storage sheds, carports, workshops, barns and home offices – what do all of these things have in common? Steel buildings are the ideal solution for the person who needs any of them. A steel building put together from a kit can be a cost-effective and time-saving way of putting up the perfect structure for your needs.

What Are Steel Building Kits?

Steel buildings are popular as DIY projects for homeowners who want to add a storage shed, greenhouse, home office or some other expansion to their properties. A steel building kit comes with all the parts and pieces you need to construct a steel building yourself – or have a contractor put it up for you. Unlike wood or vinyl garden shed kits, which usually only provide the brackets and fasteners for your building and leave you to buy the actual construction materials on your own, steel building kits come complete with the framework, walls, roof, bolts and trim that you need to put up a usable metal building. A basic steel building kit might be bare bones – for example, you’ll still need to finish the interior yourself – but you’ll have a fully usable structure without supplying anything outside the materials supplied in the kit.

What’s In a Steel Buildings Kit?

A basic steel building kit will contain everything you need for easy construction, from the arches and panels that form the framework to the nuts and bolts required to fasten it all together. Your kit will also include a base connector so that you can fasten your newly constructed building to a foundations and end walls to finish off the front and back of your garage, shed or office. Every piece will be pre-drilled so that all you have to do is put the pieces into place and tighten down the bolts to hold them together.

In addition, many steel building kits include doors, windows and other ventilation options to provide natural light and air in your new building. Many manufacturers of steel buildings will work with you to modify the design to incorporate the windows and doors of your choice.

Your building kit should also include blueprints and a construction diagram that gives you step by step instructions for assembling your building onsite. Those blueprints and diagrams will usually be delivered to you well in advance so that you can have them approved by your city’s code department and provide them to your contractor, if you’re engaging one to do the work.

Steel buildings built from kits are a practical, low-labor and low-cost solution to many of your storage and space needs. Check out information about the many options for steel building kits and pre-fabricated steel buildings to help you decide if they’re the right solution for you.

Steel Buildings Save Time and Money

Storage and extra space – nearly every home or business can use more of both, but adding them can be an expensive and time-consuming proposition. When you choose steel buildings to expand your home or business, however, you’ll cut costs and decrease the amount of time it takes to get your new building up and in use.

Save Money Four Ways with Steel Buildings

When you choose a metal building for your storage or additional space needs, you’ll save money at least four ways.

Lower Purchase Cost

Because steel is a lower-cost material, your up-front purchase cost will be lower than if you purchased lumber and all the fittings needed to construct a wood-frame building. While a wood shed kit may seem to cost less, they usually only include the trusses, brackets and hardware for your building. Kits for steel buildings, by contrast, come complete with everything you need to put up your structure.

Lower Construction Cost

Your steel building will arrive ready to assemble. In most cases, you won’t need a dug

foundation, and in some areas with smaller buildings, the only foundation you’ll need is a pier foundation for the anchor bolts. Check with your local code office for specifics. Since the components of your building are pre-cut and pre-drilled, an experienced contractor can usually get the framework up and ready for occupancy in a day or two. Compare that to the weeks of work often required to build a wooden building.

Lower Maintenance Cost

Steel buildings require very little in the way of maintenance over the years. Most galvanized steel building components are powder-coated with weather and corrosion-resistant coatings, often in the color of your choice. The coating is often guaranteed for up to 20 years – that’s 20 years without having to sand, repaint or touch up. You’d repaint a wood shed or garage four or five times in that period, costing you thousands of dollars. In addition, you don’t have to worry about termites or other pest infestations – steel buildings aren’t terribly attractive to those.

Lower Disposal Cost

You can expect to get decades of use from your new steel building, but when and if you’re ready to move on to something different, you won’t have to pay a fortune to have it demolished. In fact, steel buildings can be disassembled as easily as they are assembled. The component parts can be sold for scrap or recycling, or you can sell the entire building to someone else who can reassemble it on his own property.

From start to finish, metal buildings save you both time and money. If you’re considering adding storage to your property or expanding the space available for your home, check out the many advantages offered by steel buildings.

Need a Greenhouse? Check Out Steel Buildings!

Every avid gardener hates to see the growing season end, and many of those in northern states wish it would start a little sooner each year. If you live north of, say, Washington D.C., your gardening months can get squeezed into the weeks between the middle of May and the beginning of October – not much time if you’re longing to grow watermelons and other slow-to-ripen produce. Steel buildings may just offer the solution that will extend your northern growing season by a month or more on either end. If you haven’t considered the advantages of a greenhouse built from a steel building kit, you may be missing out on some of the best growing months of the year.

Why Steel Buildings?

Many pre-engineered greenhouse kits are made of lightweight aluminum and plastic sheeting. They may work out well in warmer states, but they provide little protection from the cold – and are prone to collapse under the weight of winter snow. If you’re looking for a permanent solution – a building that will allow you to enjoy growing things for three of the four seasons – and possibly even year round – steel buildings offer strength, durability and flexibility that aluminum and vinyl structures lack.

Cost Considerations

You’ll pay a little more for a greenhouse built in a steel building than you would for lightweight aluminum frame, but when you spread that cost over twenty or more years of use, the difference doesn’t mean much. Most vinyl and aluminum greenhouses won’t last through a second season. While the cost will vary depending on the accessories and size you choose, you can conceivably build your own steel greenhouse for less than $1,000.

DIY Greenhouse from Steel Buildings

One of the most attractive aspects of using a metal building as the base for your greenhouse is that you can build it yourself. In most cases, you won’t need a foundation at all for a steel greenhouse – just sunken steel footings to secure the frame to the ground. Steel building kits come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and come with all the parts you need to assemble the building yourself on your property.

If you’re interested in learning more about building a greenhouse, a manufacturer who deals in steel buildings can answer any questions you have, including ways to modify the standard plans for a metal building to allow for greenhouse panels or skylights to let the sun in. Why confine yourself to a four-month growing season when you can build a greenhouse to indulge your hobby for months longer?

Steel Buildings Suit Your Need for Storage

If you asked a dozen property owners what they’d change about the home they own and love, chances are good that the majority of them would have the same answer – they’d add more storage. Steel buildings and sheds offer a permanent solution to the need for storage in your home and garden – and they do so with style, durability and budget prices. Are you looking for a storage solution for your property? Take a look at the different types and uses for steel buildings as storage solutions for your home.

Build-It-Yourself Utility Buildings

Steel buildings are a popular choice for utility buildings, such as storage sheds and garden sheds, especially among DIY homeowners. All the pieces are precut and ready to assemble. You don’t even have to drill holes – the pre-cut steel panels are all drilled with the holes for fasteners in all the right places. All you need is a slab foundation, some basic power tools, and a friend or two to help you muscle the pieces into place and hold them there while you screw them all together.

Durable Steel Buildings for Extreme Weather Conditions

Heavy duty steel sheds are the perfect solution for homeowners who need yard storage but live in areas that are subject to extreme weather conditions. There are many sheds and storage buildings that are designed specifically to meet the toughest building codes in states and geographical areas that see blizzards, hurricanes and other severe weather. When you order a steel building, the manufacturer will ask about the building code in your area and work with you to ensure that the design of your structure is compliant with the local codes. In short, it’s possible to buy steel buildings that will withstand hurricane force winds and stand up to heavy loads of snow without crumpling under the strain.

Stylish and Subtle Steel Buildings Fit Your Style

Despite their outdated reputation, today’s steel buildings are attractive and stylish. They come in many styles and an array of colors that match the most common colors for homes. Whether you live in a split-level ranch, a Colonial style home or a gambrel-roofed farmhouse style building, you’ll find steel buildings made in the same style, with a wide choice of trim and colors.

When you choose a steel building as a garage, storage shed, utility building or outbuilding, you’ll be getting a high-quality, attractive structure that fits your home’s design aesthetic and will stand up to the abuse of the elements for decades to come.

10 Uses for Steel Buildings and DIY Metal Building Kits

In an age where there’s never enough storage and seldom enough privacy, steel buildings can be the ultimate solution to nearly any home storage or expansion need. If you’re looking to add onto your home or business and haven’t considered the possibilities that steel buildings open for you, you might find a source of inspiration in this list of 10 actual steel building projects undertaken by our customers.

Steel buildings make great garages. Many 1940s and 1950s era tract homes were built without a garage, and many people find that metal building kits are an easy and quick way to put up a one or two car garage.

For many people, a garage is overkill. Steel buildings are among the most popular options for carports because they need minimal foundational support, are inexpensive and quick to build.

As more and more people choose to work from home in their own professional offices, many are finding that a pre-engineered steel building makes a great home office. A separate home office makes it easy to focus on work without distraction without cutting down on available living space.

Hobbyists who need space and specialized equipment use buildings made from steel building kits as workshops. A home workshop gets your woodworking equipment, pottery wheel and kiln or auto workshop equipment out of your basement and gives it a space of its own. It’s safer and helps you be more productive.

Fed up with having to jockey around your lawnmower, rakes and bags of fertilizer when you park your car in the garage? Steel storage sheds are among the most common uses for steel buildings. Because they’re small and need little in the way of electricity, plumbing or insulation, steel storage sheds make a great do-it-yourself project for a weekend or two.

Gardeners who want to extend the growing season find that a well-insulated steel building with skylights is an excellent alternative to a full-on greenhouse. A small metal storage shed can easily be turned into a grow room to force vegetable harvests year round.

The tight fit and perfect seams you can achieve with a steel building kit make metal buildings an ideal choice for use as a photographer’s darkroom and photo studio. It’s easy to rig most kits for electrical power and plumbing so that you have all of your equipment at the ready.

Boat owners can solve the problem of wintering their small boats with a metal boat barn. A steel building is a much more attractive option than a blue tarp lashed over the boat to keep it dry.

It doesn’t take much to turn a steel building into an in-law apartment – just add insulation, plumbing, electricity and some home décor skills. It’s a great option for kids returning home after college, too.

Steel buildings also make great housing for pets and animals. From dog kennels to hen houses, the right steel building can be adapted to house nearly any animal.

Those ten possibilities barely scratch the surface of the many options that steel buildings offer for the home owner. If you’re planning any sort of home addition or expansion, take the time to research steel buildings – chances are you’ll find the perfect solution to your needs.

Steel Buildings Offer Workshop Options for DIY Enthusiasts

Are you a DIY enthusiast in need of a home workshop in which you can follow your crafting dreams? Whether you weld metal, throw pottery, build engines or craft artisanal cheeses, there’s a selection of steel buildings that would make the perfect workshop for your hobby and all the equipment you’ve accumulated to pursue it. If you need some reasons to convince your partner of the need for your own workshop space, try a few of these reasons for using steel buildings as a workshop to buttress your arguments.

A Separate Workshop Is a Safe Bet

If your hobby involves hazardous materials – especially flammable ones – an unattached workshop is a safety measure that you really should consider. Steel buildings are an especially good choice to house flammable materials like paint thinners, turpentine and photo developing chemicals because steel is naturally fire retardant. When you separate your workshop from your home, you may even save money on your insurance since you’re reducing the risk of fire and other mishaps related to your hobby.

Steel Buildings are an Affordable Alternative to Wood Frame Construction

Steel is a very affordable construction material, and buildings made of steel are among the most affordable small structures for storage and hobby use. Because you probably won’t need to involve a contractor, you can put a little extra money into the “luxuries” you’d like to have but thought you couldn’t afford.

Building a Separate Workshop Frees up That Extra Room in Your House

A separate workshop gets all your hobby equipment and supplies out from underfoot and frees up the space they’ve been taking up in your house. That means that you can use that extra room as a guest room, a media room, a home office or a nursery – and your roommate doesn’t have to stumble over your hobby supplies ever again.

You Can Put up a Metal Building Yourself in Just a Weekend or Two

Many steel buildings come as kits that you can assemble on site with the help of a friend or two. That can make them even more attractive to confirmed do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Imagine the pride you can take in pointing to your new hobby workshop and proclaiming, “I built it myself!”

Finally, the many options for different styles and types of steel buildings nearly guarantee that you’d find one that looks great on your property. In fact, an attractive, a well-made steel building can add considerably to the curb appeal and value of your property.

Save Money with Steel Buildings

A new storage shed, barn or home office doesn’t have to wipe out your bank account. Steel buildings made from prefabricated kits are an affordable alternative to traditional construction, saving you time and money and keeping your construction project on budget and on time.

Steel buildings, once used mostly for agricultural storage, have become a fixture on the residential market. Easy to assemble and affordable, steel buildings are often the best choice for use as garages, garden sheds, barns, home offices and even small to mid-sized homes. The advantages and benefits of steel building construction make them especially popular for homeowners on a budget.

One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of steel buildings in the residential market is the straightforward and easy construction. The pieces of steel building kits are pre-cut and pre-drilled for easy assembly. Even an inexperienced homeowner can usually follow the instructions and diagrams to assemble the building on his own or with the help of friends and family. In most cases, the only professional assistance needed is in pouring a cement slab foundations, and even that may not be necessary for structures that have an earthen floor.

Despite the ease of construction, prefabricated steel buildings are sturdy and durable, and can resist even extreme weather conditions. The precision measurements and structural details are designed to withstand high winds, heavy snow loads and even earthquakes. The quality of the construction materials – high grade steel – and the precision fit make steel buildings weather tight and very stable. Any steel building you buy will be engineered to meet the specifications and building codes for your area.

One of the major advantages of choosing metal buildings for storage sheds, garages and other residential purposes is the low cost. In addition to the initial lower price for the building kit, engineered steel buildings save you money in construction costs and time spent. Your metal building kit arrives all together, with everything you need to erect it. You’ll know the exact date your building will arrive, so you can schedule with a contractor if you plan to use one. Since everything arrives at once, there’s no down time while you wait for additional components, and because all of the pieces are pre-drilled and ready to assemble, the work goes quickly and easily. An experienced contractor with a small crew can usually erect smaller steel buildings in as little as a day.

From start to finish, steel buildings are an attractive, affordable alternative to traditional wood construction. For more information about how a steel building can suit your needs for storage or space, contact a supplier of engineered steel buildings with your questions.

Steel Buildings for Nearly Any Need

Are you in need of more storage? Thinking of building a home office? Want a new space for your hobby or workshop? If you’re in need of more space for just about any reason at all, steel buildings can be designed or adapted to fill your need. These are just a few of the ways we’ve seen arch-frame steel buildings used by homeowners for residential, agricultural or commercial use.

Garages

When you need a place to store your car, steel garages are the ideal solution. Metal buildings are available in an enormous variety of sizes to fit one, two or more vehicles. They’re easy to erect, and can be designed to fit the style of your home. A steel garage can free up your attached garage to use for other things – like the man cave or the home theater room you’ve been wanting.

Garden Storage

One of the most common uses for steel buildings is for storage, particularly garden and yard storage. A metal garden shed can protect your lawnmower, lawn tractor and other lawn equipment, as well as hold all of your gardening equipment and supplies, safely and without tying up your garage space.

Pool House

A metal building by the pool can do double duty, storing your pool supplies and providing a handy place where your family and guests can change, shower and use the toilet. It’s not difficult to add plumbing to a steel building. Turning a metal bulding into a pool house keeps the kids from running in and out of the house when they’re dripping wet.

Home Office

Professionals such as accountants, real estate agents and counselors often set up an office to work from their homes rather than renting office space in another location. Working at home has its own disadvantages, though – among other things, it ties up a room in your house. A well-constructed steel building is the perfect solution for professionals who want a separate office without leaving home.

Animal Shelter

Steel buildings make excellent shelter for animals. From dog kennels to full-size barns, metal buldings are easier and less expensive to erect than traditional wood frame buildings, as well as being easier to maintain. Because engineered steel buildings are designed to fit together perfectly, it’s also easier to maintain a comfortable temperature at a lower cost than traditional structures.

Steel buildings can be custom-designed to suit nearly any purpose you need. Contact a dealer or vendor of steel structures to discuss your needs and how a steel building can meet them.

Pre-Building Considerations for Steel Buildings

Today’s homeowner finds many uses for steel buildings. They’re being pressed into service as garden and storage sheds, garages, hobby workshops, home offices, greenhouses, pet kennels, boat houses and plane hangars. If you have a need for a building on your property, there’s a good chance that a steel building is the perfect solution for your need. Part of the reason for the new popularity of steel buildings is the ease with which anyone can order one online and the ease with which you can erect your new steel building yourself on your property. Between ordering your building and erecting it, however, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

Know all of your shipping details. Before you actually place your steel buildings order, make sure that you understand all the details of the shipping and delivery. Discuss it thoroughly with your dealer so that you know who will be responsible for the shipping, how it will be delivered and when you can expect delivery. While there are some steel building manufacturers who maintain their own shipping fleets, most dealers work with a third-party carrier to deliver your building to your worksite. Generally, the shipping arrangements will be made by the dealer or manufacturer, who will inform you of the arrangements as they are made. If you need to make changes to those arrangements – because your site isn’t ready, for example, be sure to notify your steel buildings dealer with as much notice as possible.

When you receive your contract and shipping details, look it over carefully to make sure that all of the details are correct. Generally, your building will be delivered to the address on the invoice. If that’s not your worksite, it’s your responsibility to make sure the company knows the correct address for shipping. The last thing you want is all the makings of your new metal building sitting on your front lawn when your building site is three miles down the road at your retail garden site.

If you have your new steel building delivered before the actual construction start date, you’ll need to make arrangements to protect all the parts from dust and weather. While all the metal components have a protective coating, you don’t want them getting mud-splattered, covered with dust or soaked through. Make sure you have heavy-duty waterproof sheeting on hand to cover all the pieces until you’re actually ready to begin construction of your building.

If you’re not planning to put up your new steel building yourself, make sure you book your contractor well in advance of the delivery date. Be aware that there are certain times of the year when your local contractors will be booked weeks, if not months, in advance for jobs. Give them plenty of notice so that your contracting company is ready to go when your building is delivered.

Planning ahead can help you eliminate many of the challenges that come along with putting up steel buildings. Take an active role in the planning and be sure that you understand all of the details and preparations you’ll have to make in advance.

Steel Buildings Sales Tactics To Make You Wary

When you first start shopping for steel buildings and sheds, you’ll notice one thing above everything else – there are almost as many surplus sales and going-out-of-business sales and everything-must-go sales as there are in the carpet and furniture industry. If you’re looking for a bargain price on steel buildings, all the savings hype can be confusing. Are you really getting a great deal on “unclaimed” steel buildings? Here are four of the most common sales tactics used by unscrupulous sellers of steel buildings to convince you you’re getting a great deal.

50% OFF All Our Steel Buildings This Week Only!

It’s a typical ploy that you’ll see in any industry. You’re almost never actually getting 50% off – or 40% off or whatever. The company jacks up their resale price and lists it as their “regular” price so that your sale price looks much lower. That’s not to say that some companies don’t run legitimate sales on their steel buildings. If the website is offering 50% off their steel buildings every time you visit, though, you can bet that you’ll find their 50% off price on the metal building you’re buying is the regular price at many other websites.

Free Freight If You Order Within 48 Hours

Free shipping is a common sales gimmick, and it’s often used to pressure a customer into making a quick decision rather than shopping around and comparing prices. Freight costs can be a considerable chunk of change, so it feels as if you’re getting a great bargain. The truth is that those companies don’t eat the cost of shipping your metal building to you – they just front-load the cost by adding it onto the price of the building. The addition of a time factor is an attempt to get you to make an on-the-spot decision instead of shopping around. Take the time to shop around, though. There’s a wide range of prices for most steel buildings, and many other manufacturers will offer you the same or similar deals.

Special Deals on Unclaimed Steel Buildings

You’ve seen the sales that claim “We ordered too many and our loss is your gain!” Some steel buildings manufacturers run their own version of this deceptive sales practice that goes like this. You tell the salesperson what you’re looking for and he responds that they actually have a building on the lot that’s almost exactly that size that will meet your local building codes. According to the salesperson, someone else ordered the building, put down a deposit, then never finished paying for it. It’s a top quality steel building, but you can get it for 25% off the asking price because they’ve already got a deposit on it. Of course, there is no such customer and you’re paying the actual price – the salesperson just told you a great big whopper to convince you you’re getting a great deal.

Prices Are Going Up So Buy Now

This high-pressure sales tactic may not always be a gimmick. In fact, the cost of steel buildings can vary considerably because the price of steel fluctuates so much. The solution is to do your own research and find out what the price of steel is doing on the commodities market. Sometimes it really is the best time to buy before the prices go up.

Do you research when you’re shopping for steel buildings. Comparison shopping is your best friend, so do yours and choose wisely to get the best deal.