Frequently Asked Questions About Consumer Steel Buildings

Consumer steel buildings are metal buildings designed for use on residential properties as garages, home workshops, storage buildings and other uses. Companies that sell steel buildings to consumers are used to getting questions about shipping, ordering and other parts of the process of buying a metal building. These are some of the most commonly asked questions fielded by the customer service department of a company that sells steel buildings to the consumer market.

Why Is a Steel Building Better than a Traditional Wooden Structure?

Metal buildings offer many advantages over wood frame buildings. They require little maintenance, are fire resistant and won’t rot. They are designed to deal with all types of weather and natural events, including heavy snow, high winds and even earthquakes. They’re easy to expand and provide maximum usable interior space because they don’t require any interior support beams. Those are just a few of the major benefits of choosing steel buildings.

What Type of Steel Is Used in a Steel Building?

Steel buildings are made of high grade commercial steel. Look for steel buildings that are at least 26-gauge steel. Keep in mind that where steel is concerned, the lower the gauge is, the thicker and stronger is the steel. That is, 28-gauge steel is lower quality than 26-gauge. In most cases, steel buildings have corrosion and rust resistant paint coating that is available in a wide variety of colors. Depending on where you buy your metal buildings, you may even be able to request a custom paint color to match your main buildings.

Where Do I Find Building Codes for My Building?

Always check with your local building officials in the code office to find out what building standards your steel building must meet. While most states use one or another variation of the International Building Code, there are always local variances that you must follow. Before you order a metal building, be sure to check with your local code office and get the building codes so that you can supply the steel buildings supplier with the appropriate building code.

Can I install electrical lighting, sprinkler systems, ceilings and other accessories on a steel building?

If you let the steel building company know in advance what accoutrements you want to add to your steel building, your building can be designed to accommodate them. You can add skylights, windows, multiple doors, HVAC systems and nearly any other addition you want to your steel building.

How hard is it to add on to a metal building?

One of the biggest advantages of steel buildings is that they’re easily expandable. If you choose a Quonset steel building, expanding can be as simple as removing one of the end walls, adding more panels and replacing the end panel. As long as you have the land to expand, it’s easy to add on to a steel building.

For more information about steel buildings, contact a company that designs and sells metal buildings to consumers for a quote and all the info you need to place your order.