The Best Usability Tips for Steel Buildings

Steel buildings offer so many benefits for use as garages, barns, storage sheds, home offices and just about any other type of structure you can imagine that it’s hard to imagine you can make them even more useful. If you’re just starting to plan your steel building project, though, you’ll find that these tips for choosing, building and locating your metal building will make sure you get the most value and use from your new steel building.

Make It Bigger
No matter how big you’re planning on making your storage building or garage, most steel buildings experts recommend that you make it bigger – about 20 percent bigger. That’s how much most people underestimate the amount of space they’ll actually need, the experts say. Figure out how much floor space and storage space you think you’ll need, then add an additional 20 percent to the size before you order your steel building. That ensures that you’ll have the space you need now, and a bit more to expand in the future.

Put It in the Right Place
It may seem like a no-brainer, but putting steel buildings where they’ll be most convenient for their purpose makes a huge difference. If you’re going to use your new metal building for storage, put it as close to the main hose as you can. If you’re planning to store gardening equipment in it, put it close to the garden. While you’re at it, consider the placement of the entrance, too. Believe it or not, you’ll find that having to walk around the building to get into it will get very inconvenient very quickly.

Speaking of Convenient Entryways
There are dozens of options for doors for steel buildings and the doors you choose can make a huge difference in the usability of your new building. In most cases, you’ll want to install more than one door – one full-width door for easy loading and unloading, and one pedestrian, or walk, door, so people can go in and out without opening a huge garage or barn door. These considerations are especially important for garages and for equipment storage sheds and barns.

Leave Room for Expansion
If you have the land to expand later – and you think you might want to do that – choose a steel building style that expands easily. Quonset steel buildings and other hoop frame or arch frame construction are designed to be easy to expand. All you have to do is remove an end wall, add more hoops and metal walls, and replace the end wall.

Pretty It Up
It’s always easier to use something that’s attractive, and you have many stylish options for steel buildings these days. Pick a metal building that fits the style of the other buildings on your property or nearby buildings so that it enhances your property rather than detracting from it.