Five Things to Consider When Looking at Steel Buildings

It’s clear that steel buildings offer many benefits for both homeowners and small business owners, but choosing the right metal building for your needs can be tricky. If you’re shopping on the Internet for a steel building, you should be considering these Five factors to help you narrow down your choices to the best steel buildings for your new structure.

What Building Restrictions Will You Face?

Before getting your heart set on a steel building, check to be sure that you’ll be allowed to build it. Your local building codes and zoning offices can tell you what restrictions and standards you’ll have to meet when erecting metal garages, barns, storage buildings and home additions. You’ll also need a copy of the local building codes for the steel buildings manufacturer you choose so that the engineers can ensure that your new building will meet all the applicable codes.

What Style of Steel Building Is Best for Your Needs?

There are a number of different basic metal building styles, especially when you’re looking for a building for your residential property. The biggest differences among the styles are in the shape of the roof and the walls, and each building style is best suited for particular uses. A-frame steel buildings, for example, are the most similar to traditional residential buildings. If you’re looking for a building that will coordinate best with the existing house and garage on your property, an A-frame building might be your best choice. Quonset buildings, on the other hand, have the semi-dome shape of old military steel huts. They’re exceptionally strong and durable, and are an excellent choice for regions that have high winds and weather extremes.

How Much Building Space Do You Have?

Before you measure your property to figure out the largest size steel building you can erect, check the zoning regulations for your area. You’ll need to take easements and clearances into considerations when choosing the right size for your metal building.

What Will You Need for Finishing?

That great picture of a steel building on the website probably includes a lot of components and accessories that don’t come standard with your order. Among the components you’ll probably have to order separately are doors, windows and insulation. Those will all add to the cost of your building.

Will You Erect the Building Yourself?

Many homeowners choose to erect their smaller steel buildings with the help of friends. It’s very possible to erect your own metal building. Most of them require no special tools and can be managed with just basic power tools. There are, however, many contractors who specialize in erecting residential steel buildings, storage buildings, steel garages and sheds. If you’re not an experienced builder or dedicated DIYer, you might find it easier to choose a qualified erector to do the heavy lifting for you.

Whether you choose to build them yourself, have them built, deck them out with all the accessories or build a bare-bones structure strictly for storage, steel buildings are flexible enough to suit all of your needs.

Steel Buildings Are the Green Choice

When you think of environmentally friendly buildings, chances are that your first thought is not of steel buildings. In fact, though, metal buildings, and in particular steel buildings, are more environmentally friendly than most other types of construction. Here’s why a steel building is your best option if you want to build earth friendly garages, barns, storage buildings or building additions.

 Steel Is Recyclable

Not only is steel recyclable, but most of today’s small steel buildings are made with recycled steel. That means that when you choose a metal building, you’re re-using something that’s already been used, keeping it out of the waste stream and reducing the strain on the planet. At the same time, by NOT choosing wood, you’re reducing the demand for earth resources that only renew themselves slowly and reducing the number of trees removed from the important job of cleaning the atmosphere of carbon.

Transporting Your Materials Uses Fewer Resources

When you build a traditional building, the materials you need will be delivered to many different points (the store, the lumber yard, your building site, etc.) requiring lots of gas and energy use. Steel buildings, on the other hand, are delivered all at once on one or two trucks, using far less energy and gas in transportation.

Steel Buildings Are Energy Efficient

Today’s steel buildings are built to be energy efficient. They use the latest technologies to reduce heat transfer and energy use. Since you use less energy to heat your new building, you use less non-renewable resources. In addition, steel buildings are the ideal shell for energy-efficient building and modifications. You can reduce energy use even further by choosing such systems as high-efficiency roofs, high quality insulation and solar roofing or skylights for natural light use.

Metal Buildings Require Very Little Maintenance

One additional way that metal buildings are earth-friendly is in their maintenance needs. Steel buildings generally are powder-coated with a protective, colored coating that will last for decades. That reduces the need for scraping off old paint and repainting, reducing more hazardous chemicals into the air.

Not the Scrap Heap!

When you no longer need your steel building, you don’t have to demolish it. In fact, many owners of small metal buildings, such as garages, storage sheds and home workshops, simply dismantle the structure and sell it to another user who can erect it on his own property. When the building reaches the end of its useful life, most of the components can be recycled and reused. The typical steel building takes up about one-tenth the square footage in a landfill as the typical wood-frame building of the same size.

If saving the environment is important to you, then steel buildings are a natural choice for your storage needs.

The Versatility of Steel Buildings

Steel is one of the most commonly used building materials in the world today, and with excellent reason. Steel buildings are among the most versatile of structures, and are as small building projects as they are for huge skyscrapers. Steel first became popular as a building material during the world wars, when the military found that steel construction offered advantages for a mobile army that wood structures couldn’t provide. The original Quonset buildings were used in the field as everything from equipment storage to military barracks, mess halls and hospitals.

After the wars ended, with the steel industry booming and steel widely available, steel continued to grow in popularity as a construction material. The relatively light weight of steel, at least in comparison to traditional wood and concrete structures, made steel buildings a very desirable option for skyscrapers and multi-story office buildings, as well as for warehouses, factories and retail stores. And as the Quonset buildings that had been used in the war theater began to hit the military surplus market, veterans who were familiar with them began to choose steel buildings for agricultural uses in large numbers. For decades, the semi-domed shape of the steel Quonset buildings was ubiquitous across the Midwest and agricultural South.

Today, new technologies in computer generated steel engineering have brought the cost of erecting a metal building within the reach of many homeowners and have made the use of steel buildings as garages, storage sheds, house additions, home offices and home workshops more and more popular. Steel offers the same advantages as a building material for small buildings as it does for large-scale commercial projects. Pre-engineered and prefabricated steel buildings is more durable than wood, requires less maintenance and is not prone to rotting or susceptible to termites and insect infestation.

In addition to those advantages, steel construction methods are efficient. When you choose a steel building for your project, you’ll benefit from having most of the work done for you in advance. You won’t have to cut or measure, or risk making costly errors. Your metal building components will arrive all at once, ready to be constructed on your prepared slab foundation.

Whether you need a new garage or a greenhouse, an office or an all-season storage unit on your property, steel buildings offer you all the options you need or want. Whatever it is you need, steel buildings are versatile enough to supply it.

Basic Benefits of Steel Buildings

There are a lot of benefits and advantages to buying prefabricated steel buildings instead of choosing other traditional construction methods and materials. These are just a few of the basic benefits that make steel buildings such a popular choice for garages, barns, storage sheds and other residential additions.

Selection

There’s an enormous selection of metal building kits available on the market in dimensions, sizes and styles to suit nearly any use. While the basic designs are “standard,” every steel building is custom-engineered to meet the needs and requirements of the region in which the building will be placed.

Affordability

Pre-engineered steel buildings are extremely affordable, even in contrast to other types of steel structures. The total cost of a metal building kit is often about half the cost you’d typically pay for a wood-frame or post-frame building. You’ll save in other ways as well, including in reduced labor, preparation and construction costs.

Time Considerations

Because the steel building components arrive on site ready to construct, the actual construction time is far less than other methods of construction. Depending on the size, you can get a metal building up and in use in just a few days to a few weeks. In contrast, traditional construction methods can take months of work, which adds to the overall cost of your building project.

Ease of Construction

The walls and supports for your metal building are pre-cut, pre-fitted and even pre-drilled so all you have to do is bolt the whole thing together. Not only does that cut down on the time needed for construction, it also reduces the likelihood of construction errors, which can lead to cost overruns on both materials and labor. You’ll never have to worry about drilling a hole in the wrong place or cutting a support beam too short because it’s all done for you at the factory.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Once your steel building is standing, you’ll benefit from lower maintenance costs throughout the life of your new structure. Most steel buildings are delivered with a powder-coated paint job that may be guaranteed for as many as 20 years. The paint is fade-resistant and weather resistant, reducing the need for scraping, repainting and re-applying protective sealants. In addition, steel doesn’t attract termites and other pests that can damage your building and lead to higher maintenance and repair costs. Maintenance and upkeep consists of periodic examination and a good scrub with a pressure washer once or twice a year.

Durability

Steel is both weather resistant and durable, and steel buildings are engineered to exacting standards to meet all the requirements of your region. They’ll stand up to high winds, hard rainfall and heavy snow loads, and have even survived earthquakes because of their construction and design.

Best of all, many steel buildings are made of 100 percent recycled steel and are recyclable, making them environmentally friendly. With all of those advantages, how could you possibly go wrong with a steel building?

The Planning Process for Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are an affordable, earth-friendly choice for garages, barns, workshops and other small structures you may want to add to your property. Larger steel buildings make great factories, office buildings, warehouses and commercial buildings. No matter the size of your steel building project, however, the planning process is similar.

Budget

Your first consideration is your budget. Figure out how much money you have available for your project before you start shopping. Because steel buildings are easy to expand, it may make sense to start with a smaller metal building and expand when you can afford to do it.

When planning your budget, keep in mind that accessories, such as insulation, doors and windows, are seldom included in the basic price of your steel building. In addition, you may have to pay a contractor to lay a proper foundation and a landscaping company to prepare the land for you before you can build. Finally, count in the costs of any licenses, inspections or permits your city may require you to pay.

Local Building Codes and Ordinances

Before you even start shopping, check with your local code and zoning offices to find out what standards your steel building will need to meet. You may find that local ordinances limit your choices in size, style or placement of your building project. Despite the old saying that it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission, when it comes to erecting steel buildings, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Size

Deciding on the size of your new steel building has two parts – figuring out how much space you have on which to build and deciding how much interior space your plans require. Obviously, the first is the more important one to get right – and it may be partially determined by your local building codes, which may require easements and specific amounts of clearance around your building and between your building and abutting properties.

Once you know how much room you have to build, you can determine the interior footage you require. If possible, most experts recommend that you add about 20 percent to your size estimate to allow for unexpected needs.

Site Preparation

Before your steel building arrives, you’ll need to have the site prepared. Site preparation includes clearing the site and a pathway from the road to the building site, as well as leveling the building site. This is typically done by a landscaping business. In addition, most experts recommend that you have the concrete slab foundation be poured professionally. If the slab is properly poured, the rest of the building construction will be easy to do. If it is uneven, however, it will be difficult to get your building erected properly.

Steel buildings are an excellent choice for most of your storage and expansion needs. If you plan properly, you’ll find that they’re among the easiest types of structures to erect.

Steel Buildings Offer Great Benefits for Any Use

Whether you’re looking at steel buildings for use as garages or barns, for a home workshop or a sports arena, you’ll find that the typical metal building offers many benefits for the builder and prospective owner. From economic benefits to environmental advantages, these are some of the advantages and benefits you’ll get when you choose a steel building for your next project.

Appearance

Surprise! Ugly duckling steel buildings have grown into the unexpected swans of architecture. Engineering and design innovations have produced new styles of steel buildings that are appealing and attractive. When you add in the many options for frontage and coverings for metal buildings, you’ve got a wide range of attractive and highly functional buildings that can fit into nearly any setting.

Economics

One of the biggest benefits of steel buildings is monetary. Steel is generally less expensive than other conventional building materials like stone, brick and wood. Pre-engineered and prefabricated steel buildings also save you on construction costs because they arrive on site ready to assemble. There’s no need for cutting, drilling or welding. It’s like assembling a giant erector set. That saves you time, and when you’re paying a construction crew, time is money.

Environmental Benefits

Steel buildings are environmentally friendly. Most metal buildings sold today are made of 100 percent recycled steel, and are almost completely recyclable. If you find you no longer have a use for your steel building, you can even disassemble it and sell it to someone else who’ll get more use from it. Overall, a the waste from a steel building takes up less than one-tenth the room in a landfill than the waste from a conventional building.

Safety Benefits

Every steel building is custom engineered to meet the safety standards of the region in which it will be erected. A properly constructed metal building will withstand the worst weather and environmental hazards in the region, including high winds, heavy snow loads and even earthquakes.

Durability

Steel buildings are built to last. Quonset buildings erected in the post-War era are still standing and in use, and you can expect the same longevity from a steel building erected today. Steel doesn’t rot, shrink, warp or rust. It also isn’t the least bit attractive to insect pests, such as termites.

Expansion

Finally, steel buildings are designed to be easily expandable. When you find you need more room, you can generally easily add on to your existing building without making any major modification to the structure. In many cases, all you need to do is remove the rear wall and add more length to the building.

Whatever your need, you’ll find that steel buildings probably provide all the most important benefits. Before you make a final decision, contact a dealer of quality steel buildings to find out how a metal building can meet your needs.

Steel Buildings: The Perfect Housing for Your Car, Your Horses and Your Mother-in-Law

Whatever you need to house, steel buildings can be the ideal solution to your need for more space. All over the country, homeowners are finding that well-made, high-quality metal buildings meet their needs for garages, barns, storage buildings and even additional living space. If you’ve been considering building an addition to your house or property, consider the way that steel buildings can fill these various needs.

Garages

Many houses built in the latter century lack garages. If you need a place to park your car out of the weather, a steel building could be the ideal solution. While there is no such thing as a “standard steel building there are a number of standard sizes for metal buildings, including those that are perfectly proportioned for use as 1- and 2-car garages. Because steel buildings don’t require interior posts and supports, they provide additional square footage and easy maneuvering space for parking one or more cars. Since every steel building is custom-engineered, you can easily build in additional storage space or room for a workshop, if that’s your desire.

Barns and Kennels

Farmers have been choosing steel buildings as replacement barns for decades. The weather-tight construction and ease of construction make them both easy to construct and cost-effective to maintain. The unobstructed interior footage allows metal buildings to be configured to meet many different needs, from equipment storage to medical facilities for animals. Domed steel buildings, such as Quonset buildings, are ideal for grain storage because they allow full maneuverability for tractors and other equipment, while straight-sided steel buildings can easily be subdivided for use as stables, equipment storage, feed area and tack storage.

In-Law Apartments

The typical solution to needing extra space for returning children, in-laws or an income-earning apartment is to build on an addition to your home. Steel buildings offer a different solution at a more affordable cost and with additional benefits. Attractive and serviceable metal buildings are being used more and more often as homes, and are the perfect alternative to building on to your home. An apartment in a separate building provides privacy and autonomy for both you and your tenant. A steel building can be outfitted with its own kitchen, plumbing and electricity, and can be finished in the same color and style as the main house on your property, increasing the value of your home while adding valuable living space.

Steel buildings have many uses in addition to those listed here. If you’re looking for a way to add space to your property, be sure to consider all the benefits and advantages of a metal building for your needs.

Steel Buildings Bring a Lot to the Table for Animal Shelters

For decades, farmers, vets and others who work with animals have chosen steel buildings when they’re ready to build, expand or replace animal shelters. From barns and kennels to riding rings, steel buildings offer many advantages for sheltering and housing animals. Consider these factors if you’re in the market for a new barn, kennel or other type of structure for animal housing.

Affordability

Farmers have long known how to make their budgets stretch to increase yields and profits, so it’s no surprise that they choose steel buildings as barns more often than they choose any other type of building material. Steel is generally the most affordable building material available, but the cost of steel is only one factor in the affordability of a metal building. Because metal buildings are engineered for structural integrity, they require far less of a foundation than traditional brick and mortar or wood buildings, saving money on the cost of laying a foundation. In addition, because steel buildings are delivered ready to assemble, they can be erected more quickly and require far less labor than constructing traditional barns. Finally, the savings continue over the lifetime of the building because a metal building requires far less ongoing maintenance than other structures.

Durability

Considering the cost of erecting a new barn, kennel or riding arena, it makes sense to purchase a structure that will last for a lifetime. Steel buildingss are engineered to exacting standards and designed to meet or exceed all local building standards. When properly erected, your new metal building will withstand the most extreme weather incidents typical for your region. Steel barns will stand for decades with very little maintenance, and remain looking fresh and new throughout their lives.

Versatility

Steel buildingss come in two basic types – clear span and arch construction. Neither type of metal building requires interior structural supports, which provides completely unobstructed interior floor space. That allows the builder to determine the precise configuration that works best for his structure, and provides plenty of maneuvering room for vehicles, tools and animals.

Sanitary

Steel is completely non-porous, making it one of the easiest materials to keep clean and sanitary. When you’re housing animals, you want a building that will be easy to hose down and keep clean to promote their health and reduce the chances of infections.

Steel buildingss are among the most commonly chosen types of structures for barns, veterinarian’s kennels and animal shelters and with good reason. If you’re looking to replace or build a new barn or kennel on your property, take a look at the advantages provided by a high quality metal building.