From Quonset Buildings to Today’s Steel Buildings

Steel buildings have taken quite a journey since they first became popular as barns, grain storage and garages in the post-war years. For most people, the introduction to steel buildings – beyond the skyscrapers and huge commercial steel structures built in urban centers around the country – was the ubiquitous Quonset hut – the semi-domed, arch-framed construction originally popularized as a way to house troops and equipment in the European theater of the world wars.

Quonset buildings were easy to set up, easy to break down and easy to transport. The arched construction provided sturdy structures that withstood strong winds and shed heavy rains and snow. Because they had no need for interior support posts, these early portable steel buildings provided a maximum interior area that could be configured to meet many needs in the field. And as the wars ended and the Quonset buildings came home, civilians found the same advantages in the structures, which were widely available as Army surplus purchases.

The only problem with Quonset huts is that, as building go, they were plug-ugly. They were steel gray, squat and unattractive. For decades, this was the image that most people had of steel buildings, and this image prevented many from taking advantage of the many advantages offered by metal structures. Even as the manufacturers of steel buildings came up with innovations to design – innovations that included sloped roofs, straight walls and colored protective coatings – the general public clung to its impression of steel buildings as squat, ugly,  rusting structures sitting in the middle of acres and acres wheat or corn fields.

The costs of new building construction, however, have pushed many homeowners to examine alternatives to traditional structures and led them to consider steel buildings for use as garages, home offices, storage buildings and even residences. What they’ve discovered is that their image of metal buildings is outdated. Today’s modern steel buildings offer all the advantages of the original Quonset buildings – and more. Those advantages include:

-          Flexible floor plans

-          Low purchase cost

-          Affordable construction costs

-          Shorter construction times

-          Sturdy construction

-          Built to local codes and standards

-          Easy to insulate

-          Environmentally friendly

Whether you’re considering a replacement for your garage, a new storage building or place to store your off-season yard and garden equipment, steel buildings are an option to consider. Despite their long-standing reputation, today’s metal buildings are attractive, durable and extremely affordable.