You’ve probably heard that steel buildings
are sustainable construction. Chances are that you’ve seen lists of
factors that make metal buildings the green choice for new construction.
It’s easy to dismiss those contentions as marketing hype. After all,
Steel buildings don’t FEEL natural and sustainable. But they are. Here’s
some background on sustainable construction to help you understand why.
The Construction Cycle Of Use
Everything
built on the Earth goes through seven phases in the cycle of use. At
each of these stages, energy is used and emissions are created. Steel
buildings use less energy and create fewer emissions at most of these
stages.
Materials Are Mined or Harvested from the Earth
Steel
is recycled and recyclable. While the steel used in today’s Steel
buildings was mined from the Earth at some point – and some percentage
of it will be new metals mined from the Earth – most of the metal used
in building steel garages, storage buildings and other metal buildings
has been used before and will be used again. The more use gained from
construction materials, the more sustainable they are.
Steel Is Durable
A
steel building is strong enough to withstand most weather extremes and
stand up to normal wear and tear. It offers many decades of use, giving
it a long sustainable life in comparison to many other types of
construction. The long service life makes good use of the energy
embodied in the house.
Metal Buildings Use Less Energy During Construction
Because
metal buildings are pre-engineered and pre-fabricated, they use far
less energy during the construction phase. Smaller Steel buildings don’t
even require the use of power tools or heavy equipment for assembly and
erection. The less energy used during construction, the smaller the
carbon footprint is.
Steel Works Well with Solar Panels and Skylights
Steel framing supports a lot of weight. The steel frame construction and roofing systems of most metal buildings are well-suited to support solar panels
or solar shingles, and it’s very easy for engineers to design around
skylights. The use of natural lights and renewable energy further
reduces the energy required to run a steel house or shop.
Steel Buildings Require Fewer Chemicals for Maintenance
The
color on metal siding and roofs can last up to 20 years before it needs
to be refinished. By contrast, wood buildings need to be repainted or
treated every few years to remain water-tight and weather-tight. The
owners of steel buildings release fewer toxic chemicals into the
atmosphere, and at the end of the building’s useful life, put far fewer
chemicals back into the landfull.
In addition, steel buildings are
easier to insulate and use far fewer materials than wood or concrete
construction. Overall, people who are concerned about the environment
are more likely to choose steel buildings than other types of
construction.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Types of Steel Buildings
Steel buildings are among the most popular choice for homeowners and small business owners who want to add storage, garages,
barns and retail space. They range in size from small garden shed size
storage buildings to metal buildings large enough to house airplanes.
They can be used as office space, storage space, retail space and even
residential space. Whatever your needs, you can find a steel building
style and plan that will fit them perfectly. These are just some of the
most popular applications for steel buildings.
Garages
Why leave your most valuable possession out where the rain, snow and thieves can get to it? Steel garages can be designed to meet your needs, for a single car, two cars or more. You can build in additional storage space, or even add an entire workshop if you have the space. Many manufacturers offer protective coatings in the most common residential colors so that your new steel building will fit right in with other buildings on your property.
Barns
Farmers were among the first to recognize the benefits of steel buildings, and they continue to adopt steel barns, storage silos and other agricultural buildings at a high rate. That’s because steel buildings are nearly always the most affordable construction option. They’re easy to erect, easy enough for many farmers to do the erection themselves. It’s easy to customize metal buildings for your use, adding stalls, tack rooms, feed storage and anything else you need to make your life easier.
Home Offices
As more and more professionals choose to work from home, they’re finding that traditional steel buildings are the ideal option for separate home offices. A metal building is easy to outfit with electricity and insulation, and allows accountants, therapists, real estate agents and other mobile professionals to easily separate their family and work lives without incurring monthly rents and long commute times.
Custom Home Workshops
Whether it’s for a hobby or a business, a metal building is an ideal structure to house a home workshop. Metal buildings are perfect for woodworking shops, metal shops and auto shops, as well as pottery and ceramic works, sewing workshops and other handcrafts.
Storage Buildings
Of course, steel buildings are and always have been an ideal solution to limited storage space at home. From Quonset buildings to metal buildings with pitched roofs and straight walls, there’s a style to suit every neighborhood and property.
Whatever your needs are for space and utility, steel buildings have you covered. Check with a manufacturer to learn more about how a metal building can be adapted for your use.
Garages
Why leave your most valuable possession out where the rain, snow and thieves can get to it? Steel garages can be designed to meet your needs, for a single car, two cars or more. You can build in additional storage space, or even add an entire workshop if you have the space. Many manufacturers offer protective coatings in the most common residential colors so that your new steel building will fit right in with other buildings on your property.
Barns
Farmers were among the first to recognize the benefits of steel buildings, and they continue to adopt steel barns, storage silos and other agricultural buildings at a high rate. That’s because steel buildings are nearly always the most affordable construction option. They’re easy to erect, easy enough for many farmers to do the erection themselves. It’s easy to customize metal buildings for your use, adding stalls, tack rooms, feed storage and anything else you need to make your life easier.
Home Offices
As more and more professionals choose to work from home, they’re finding that traditional steel buildings are the ideal option for separate home offices. A metal building is easy to outfit with electricity and insulation, and allows accountants, therapists, real estate agents and other mobile professionals to easily separate their family and work lives without incurring monthly rents and long commute times.
Custom Home Workshops
Whether it’s for a hobby or a business, a metal building is an ideal structure to house a home workshop. Metal buildings are perfect for woodworking shops, metal shops and auto shops, as well as pottery and ceramic works, sewing workshops and other handcrafts.
Storage Buildings
Of course, steel buildings are and always have been an ideal solution to limited storage space at home. From Quonset buildings to metal buildings with pitched roofs and straight walls, there’s a style to suit every neighborhood and property.
Whatever your needs are for space and utility, steel buildings have you covered. Check with a manufacturer to learn more about how a metal building can be adapted for your use.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tips for Maintaining Steel Buildings from the Start
One of the major benefits of owning steel buildings
is that they require so little maintenance. That keeps your costs down –
and saves you a lot of time and effort. That doesn’t mean they don’t
need any maintenance, though. These steel building maintenance tips can
help you avoid problems and keep your building looking fresh and new
from the very start.
From the Start
While most metal building kits are relatively easy to put together, the construction process can take several days. It’s important to follow best practices from the moment your steel building components are delivered to make sure that your building parts are protected, your structure is erected properly and the builders take the proper preventative steps to make ongoing upkeep easy.
Hire a Contractor or Laborers If Necessary
Even if you’re planning to erect your steel building yourself – as many buyers of garages and small barns do – you may want to hire a few laborers or a contractor to help with unloading and securing the building components. Most manufacturers do not supply the equipment or manpower to unpack the truck for your metal building kit. It’s up to you to make sure that all the pieces are accounted for, unloaded safely and moved to the work site without any damage.
Check All the Pieces for Damage
As you unload the building components, check them over carefully to make sure that every piece on the inventory list is there and undamaged. Every piece is required for the assembly of your building and its long term structural stability. If you discover any pieces missing or damaged, notify the manufacturer immediately. Most manufacturers will replace any damaged or missing pieces if you report them immediately. If you wait, you may incur shipping costs or other penalties.
Check the Insulation
If your building includes insulation, check it over carefully. Any damage to the insulation can let moisture build up, which could eventually cause rust or other problems.
Store the Materials Properly
If you live in an area that’s prone to rain or extreme heat, make sure that all of the building components and equipment are properly covered and secured.
Paying attention and taking proper care of your building materials from the moment they’re delivered can help you avoid problems after construction is finished. It only takes a little extra time to start the construction process for steel buildings the right way, and it can save you thousands of dollars and lots of time down the road.
From the Start
While most metal building kits are relatively easy to put together, the construction process can take several days. It’s important to follow best practices from the moment your steel building components are delivered to make sure that your building parts are protected, your structure is erected properly and the builders take the proper preventative steps to make ongoing upkeep easy.
Hire a Contractor or Laborers If Necessary
Even if you’re planning to erect your steel building yourself – as many buyers of garages and small barns do – you may want to hire a few laborers or a contractor to help with unloading and securing the building components. Most manufacturers do not supply the equipment or manpower to unpack the truck for your metal building kit. It’s up to you to make sure that all the pieces are accounted for, unloaded safely and moved to the work site without any damage.
Check All the Pieces for Damage
As you unload the building components, check them over carefully to make sure that every piece on the inventory list is there and undamaged. Every piece is required for the assembly of your building and its long term structural stability. If you discover any pieces missing or damaged, notify the manufacturer immediately. Most manufacturers will replace any damaged or missing pieces if you report them immediately. If you wait, you may incur shipping costs or other penalties.
Check the Insulation
If your building includes insulation, check it over carefully. Any damage to the insulation can let moisture build up, which could eventually cause rust or other problems.
Store the Materials Properly
If you live in an area that’s prone to rain or extreme heat, make sure that all of the building components and equipment are properly covered and secured.
Paying attention and taking proper care of your building materials from the moment they’re delivered can help you avoid problems after construction is finished. It only takes a little extra time to start the construction process for steel buildings the right way, and it can save you thousands of dollars and lots of time down the road.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Steel Buildings on eBay
You can buy just about anything on eBay, but as the old saying goes,
just because you can doesn’t mean you should. There are some things you
just shouldn’t buy on the world’s biggest auction website, steel buildings
among them. And yes, yes, there are certainly metal and steel buildings
available for sale on eBay – but there are some very good reasons why
you should resist the temptation to go for that bargain.
You Don’t Know How Well It Was Maintained
Many of the metal buildings available for sale on the auction site are used. They’ve been erected and in use, and you’ll probably end up footing the bill for disassembly and packing as well as the cost of shipping and erection at your own site. Mind you, steel buildings are recyclable, and they can be disassembled and erected again – but you have no idea how the building has been treated, or how well it has been maintained.
You Don’t Know Where It’s Been
Or, more importantly, you don’t know the building standards where it’s been. Steel buildings, like any building, must meet all local building codes and standards. That means the steel building that looks like such a good deal has been custom engineered for erection in another location, not yours. The chances that it will meet all of the required codes for a building in your area are pretty slim.
It Was Customized for Someone Else’s Needs
One of the best features of high quality new steel buildings is that each one is custom-engineered and fabricated to meet the needs of the buyer. When you buy new, an experienced seller will lead you through the process of ordering to make sure that your new building will be exactly what you need. You won’t get that benefit if you buy a metal building that was custom engineered to meet the needs of the original buyer.
You Miss Out on Guarantees
New steel buildings generally come with some pretty hefty guarantees: up to 10 years for the roof, 20 years for the paint job and 20+ to life for the structural components of the building itself. Dismantling, shipping and re-erecting a metal building will nearly always void all of those guarantees.
The best way to buy a new metal building is to talk to a reputable dealer of steel buildings. You’ll get the service and custom engineering and design that ensures your new building will be exactly what you need.
You Don’t Know How Well It Was Maintained
Many of the metal buildings available for sale on the auction site are used. They’ve been erected and in use, and you’ll probably end up footing the bill for disassembly and packing as well as the cost of shipping and erection at your own site. Mind you, steel buildings are recyclable, and they can be disassembled and erected again – but you have no idea how the building has been treated, or how well it has been maintained.
You Don’t Know Where It’s Been
Or, more importantly, you don’t know the building standards where it’s been. Steel buildings, like any building, must meet all local building codes and standards. That means the steel building that looks like such a good deal has been custom engineered for erection in another location, not yours. The chances that it will meet all of the required codes for a building in your area are pretty slim.
It Was Customized for Someone Else’s Needs
One of the best features of high quality new steel buildings is that each one is custom-engineered and fabricated to meet the needs of the buyer. When you buy new, an experienced seller will lead you through the process of ordering to make sure that your new building will be exactly what you need. You won’t get that benefit if you buy a metal building that was custom engineered to meet the needs of the original buyer.
You Miss Out on Guarantees
New steel buildings generally come with some pretty hefty guarantees: up to 10 years for the roof, 20 years for the paint job and 20+ to life for the structural components of the building itself. Dismantling, shipping and re-erecting a metal building will nearly always void all of those guarantees.
The best way to buy a new metal building is to talk to a reputable dealer of steel buildings. You’ll get the service and custom engineering and design that ensures your new building will be exactly what you need.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
8 Reasons to Choose Steel Buildings
Steel buildings
have been the frontrunners in the construction industry for decades,
and they’re only likely to get more popular. The more metal buildings
that are erected, the more the industry understands about their benefits
and characteristics. If you’re considering a new garage, storage
building, warehouse or just about any other structure for any use,
consider these reasons to build with metal.
New Designs
Today, you have more choice than ever in the design and appearance of your steel building. The design options run the gamut from Quonset buildings to A-frames to buildings that are practically indistinguishable from a traditional ranch house.
Fast Construction Times
Because the components are fabricated at the factory and preassembled, erecting a steel building is a fast process. Typically, you can occupy your metal building before a wood-frame building is two-thirds constructed.
Save Money
Steel buildings are among the most cost-effective of all construction choices. The price of steel has stayed consistently low for many years. Add to that the savings you realize through the reduced need for construction labor and the lower insurance and maintenance costs, and you’ll realize just how much more cost-effective.
Durability
Steel is impervious to rotting, shrinking and mold damage. It isn’t affected by termites or ants, and is fire resistant. Because all the parts are manufactured, you don’t have to worry about the knots, splits or other defects found in wood. A properly constructed metal building will withstand forces that will tear a wooden building apart.
Single Sourcing
All the parts and components for your steel building come from one source, which provides a number of important benefits. If there’s a problem, you know exactly who will fix it – there’s no one else for the manufacturer to point a finger at. And because all of your materials come from one source, you’ll benefit from their logistics --- less hassle for you.
Guarantees
While every manufacturer has its own parameters, most steel buildings come with a 20 year to lifetime warranty.
Expandable
Steel buildings are very easy to modify. If you decide you need more room in the future, you’re looking at minimal costs and time. In most cases, you just have to remove an end panel, add side panels and put the end panel back on.
Eco-friendly
Steel buildings are a surprisingly green choice. Prefabricated steel buildings are thermal and energy efficient, and use far less nonrenewable resources than other types of construction. In fact, a new metal building uses the equivalent of six scrapped cars, keeping them out of the waste stream.
New Designs
Today, you have more choice than ever in the design and appearance of your steel building. The design options run the gamut from Quonset buildings to A-frames to buildings that are practically indistinguishable from a traditional ranch house.
Fast Construction Times
Because the components are fabricated at the factory and preassembled, erecting a steel building is a fast process. Typically, you can occupy your metal building before a wood-frame building is two-thirds constructed.
Save Money
Steel buildings are among the most cost-effective of all construction choices. The price of steel has stayed consistently low for many years. Add to that the savings you realize through the reduced need for construction labor and the lower insurance and maintenance costs, and you’ll realize just how much more cost-effective.
Durability
Steel is impervious to rotting, shrinking and mold damage. It isn’t affected by termites or ants, and is fire resistant. Because all the parts are manufactured, you don’t have to worry about the knots, splits or other defects found in wood. A properly constructed metal building will withstand forces that will tear a wooden building apart.
Single Sourcing
All the parts and components for your steel building come from one source, which provides a number of important benefits. If there’s a problem, you know exactly who will fix it – there’s no one else for the manufacturer to point a finger at. And because all of your materials come from one source, you’ll benefit from their logistics --- less hassle for you.
Guarantees
While every manufacturer has its own parameters, most steel buildings come with a 20 year to lifetime warranty.
Expandable
Steel buildings are very easy to modify. If you decide you need more room in the future, you’re looking at minimal costs and time. In most cases, you just have to remove an end panel, add side panels and put the end panel back on.
Eco-friendly
Steel buildings are a surprisingly green choice. Prefabricated steel buildings are thermal and energy efficient, and use far less nonrenewable resources than other types of construction. In fact, a new metal building uses the equivalent of six scrapped cars, keeping them out of the waste stream.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Five Things You Probably Don’t Know About Steel Buildings
Steel buildings
have become very popular options for people who want to add storage
buildings, garages, barns, home offices and other enclosed spaces to
their property. They’re affordable, easy to build and very versatile. A
metal building can be the ideal solution to many different needs. They
make great home workshops, can be insulated for use as animal shelters
or outfitted to garage anything from an ATV to an airplane. Despite
their popularity, many people believe a lot of myths and misinformation
about metal buildings. Some of them have some basis in fact. Others are
completely out of left field. Here are five things you probably don’t
know about steel buildings.
Steel Buildings Are the Green Choice
The one fact that is most likely to surprise people about metal buildings is that they are an eco-friendly choice for new construction. Most people find it hard to reconcile nature and buildings made of steel, but it’s a fact that steel buildings are generally considered a green choice for a number of reasons.
Forget the ugly steel gray and dull blue or green steel buildings you’ve seen on the side of the road. Today’s steel buildings come in a wide range of colors. Most manufacturers offer standard colors that match the most common house colors on the market and many will customize a color for you.
A Steel Building Can Stand Up to a Hurricane
Or a blizzard or even an earthquake. Steel buildings are engineered to meet all the safety codes and standards of the region where they’ll be built, and those standards are designed to make buildings safe in the most common extreme weather and environmental conditions of that region.
People Live in Steel Buildings
The newest metal buildings are practically indistinguishable from other types of construction, but they’re much quicker and cheaper to build. Many people are opting to base their homes on standard metal buildings.
The Interior is Unobstructed
Perhaps the best part of choosing a steel building for just about any purpose is their versatility. The biggest factor in that versatility is the fact that most steel buildings require no interior support columns or posts, leaving the interior space wide open and completely unobstructed. That allows the builders to customize the interior to their own liking without restrictions.
If you still think of steel buildings as hulking, ugly behemoths cluttering up the landscape, it’s time you took another look. You just might be surprised at what you see.
Steel Buildings Are the Green Choice
The one fact that is most likely to surprise people about metal buildings is that they are an eco-friendly choice for new construction. Most people find it hard to reconcile nature and buildings made of steel, but it’s a fact that steel buildings are generally considered a green choice for a number of reasons.
- Most metal buildings contain a high percentage of recycled steel so they’re using a minimum of non-renewable resources.
- Because steel building components are fabricated at the factory, they’re generally delivered all at once to the building site. That greatly reduces the carbon footprint required to transport materials for a new building.
- They’re very easy to insulate, which makes the exceptionally energy efficient.
- They can be outfitted with green roofs and skylights to make them even more energy efficient.
Forget the ugly steel gray and dull blue or green steel buildings you’ve seen on the side of the road. Today’s steel buildings come in a wide range of colors. Most manufacturers offer standard colors that match the most common house colors on the market and many will customize a color for you.
A Steel Building Can Stand Up to a Hurricane
Or a blizzard or even an earthquake. Steel buildings are engineered to meet all the safety codes and standards of the region where they’ll be built, and those standards are designed to make buildings safe in the most common extreme weather and environmental conditions of that region.
People Live in Steel Buildings
The newest metal buildings are practically indistinguishable from other types of construction, but they’re much quicker and cheaper to build. Many people are opting to base their homes on standard metal buildings.
The Interior is Unobstructed
Perhaps the best part of choosing a steel building for just about any purpose is their versatility. The biggest factor in that versatility is the fact that most steel buildings require no interior support columns or posts, leaving the interior space wide open and completely unobstructed. That allows the builders to customize the interior to their own liking without restrictions.
If you still think of steel buildings as hulking, ugly behemoths cluttering up the landscape, it’s time you took another look. You just might be surprised at what you see.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
The Kids Are All Right in Steel Buildings
Back in the 1970s, a whole new genre of rock groups emerged from the
garages of suburban homes and blasted their way into bars and house
parties. Before they got their first gigs playing at local high school
dances and live music bars, musical groups like Aerosmith and Boston
rocked it out in their parent’s garages – and probably drove the
neighbors nuts. These days, your kids don’t have to take over your
garage to practice their licks if you have a steel building on the
premises. In fact, steel buildings are the ideal solution to a many more problems than your kids practicing their beats too close to the kitchen.
Music Studios in Steel Buildings
Putting up a metal building to support your kids’ musical ambitions isn’t as extreme as it may seem. In fact, small steel buildings – about the size of one or two-car garages – are quite affordable, even when you add soundproofing and/or acoustical tiles into the mix. In fact, the design of steel buildings provides a great deal of flexibility and interior room. You can even build in a stage and lighting so everyone on the crew can practice their part. Add a garage door and the band can easily back a van up to load it for gigs. Best of all, if – or when – the kids run out of enthusiasm for their rock careers or move out of the house to go to college, you’ll have an awesome steel building that you can turn into a media room, man cave or hobby shop.
Speaking of Hobby Shops
Rock band isn’t the only hobby that’s best practiced at a distance from the house. Metal buildings are also the ideal home for all your woodworking tools. You can finally get the table saw out of the basement and leave it set up, and you won’t have to listen to complaints about the whine of the drill and the banging of the hammer. There are even better reasons for moving your auto or machine workshop out of the house, not the least of which is safety. And if you want a lovely studio for pottery, yoga or photography, you can’t beat a steel building.
Beyond the Empty Nest
Of course, you may find yourself with kids returning to the nest. It’s not easy having an adult kid move back home, but a steel building can be retrofitted yet again to create an awesome little studio apartment that will allow both of you your privacy.
Steel buildings are among the most versatile types of structures on the market. Whether you’re looking for a new workshop for yourself or something a little more esoteric, talk to a professional steel building supplier to find out how perfect a metal building would be for your needs.
Music Studios in Steel Buildings
Putting up a metal building to support your kids’ musical ambitions isn’t as extreme as it may seem. In fact, small steel buildings – about the size of one or two-car garages – are quite affordable, even when you add soundproofing and/or acoustical tiles into the mix. In fact, the design of steel buildings provides a great deal of flexibility and interior room. You can even build in a stage and lighting so everyone on the crew can practice their part. Add a garage door and the band can easily back a van up to load it for gigs. Best of all, if – or when – the kids run out of enthusiasm for their rock careers or move out of the house to go to college, you’ll have an awesome steel building that you can turn into a media room, man cave or hobby shop.
Speaking of Hobby Shops
Rock band isn’t the only hobby that’s best practiced at a distance from the house. Metal buildings are also the ideal home for all your woodworking tools. You can finally get the table saw out of the basement and leave it set up, and you won’t have to listen to complaints about the whine of the drill and the banging of the hammer. There are even better reasons for moving your auto or machine workshop out of the house, not the least of which is safety. And if you want a lovely studio for pottery, yoga or photography, you can’t beat a steel building.
Beyond the Empty Nest
Of course, you may find yourself with kids returning to the nest. It’s not easy having an adult kid move back home, but a steel building can be retrofitted yet again to create an awesome little studio apartment that will allow both of you your privacy.
Steel buildings are among the most versatile types of structures on the market. Whether you’re looking for a new workshop for yourself or something a little more esoteric, talk to a professional steel building supplier to find out how perfect a metal building would be for your needs.
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