How to Compare Bids on Steel Buildings

The best way to get the best price on a steel building is to get several bids from several different manufacturers. The problem is that those bids can be confusing when they come in. How do you tell if the bids you received on two or more steel buildings are identical? Here are some of the places you should check in the bids for metal buildings to make sure you’re actually comparing oranges with oranges instead of tangerines.

Check the dimensions of each of the steel buildings: width, length and eave height – that is, the height of the exterior walls at the sides, not the height of the building peak.

Check to make sure the roof pitches are the same. The pitch is the ratio of slope to length. It’s expressed as 1:12, 2:12, 3:12, etc. The larger the first number of the roof pitch is, the more expensive the building will be.

Check to see that the bay spacing is the same. The bay spacing is the distance between the supports or columns along the length of the building. More distance between the bays means fewer columns to support your building.

Check to make sure that all of the bids for your steel buildings are using the same building codes. Your state may use one of the international building codes – the most common are IBC 2006 and IBC 2009, or it may have its own building codes. Make sure that the code on each of the bids is the same.

Check the load tolerances on each of the bids. They should include roof and ground snow load, wind speed in mph and the wind exposure. Obviously, higher tolerances will be more expensive than lower tolerances. Make sure when you compare that you’re comparing buildings that are built to the same standards.

Check the stated color for your walls, trim and roof. If the color says “galvalume,” you are not getting a color finish on the trim, roof or walls. If the contract bid specifies Galvalume, you’ll end up paying additional to get the color of your choice on your building. If you haven’t chosen a color, it may read TBD (to be determined) or Standard. Either one means that the bid price includes color for that component.

Compare the accessories listed on each bid. Those will include doors, windows, skylights and vents. Check to make sure that each bid includes the same options for accessories.

Be aware that a “framed opening” doesn’t usually include the door or window which will be an additional cost.

Check to see if the price includes taxes and freight. If it’s not specifically stated in the bid, it’s not included.

In order to properly compare bids on steel buildings, it’s important to know that you’re comparing the same thing. If there are differences between the bids, be sure to make adjustments in your figuring to account for them. That way you’ll know that you’re getting an accurate bid and be able to make an informed choice.