Steel buildings are becoming a more and more popular option for residential use. People are choosing steel buildings for use as garages, storage sheds, home offices, garden buildings and even for extra living space. Choosing metal for your residential building needs makes sense for many reasons, but choosing the right one from all the steel buildings on the market requires some understanding of the basics of building with steel and the buying process.
Price Is Not the Be-All and End-All
Price is obviously an important consideration, but it shouldn’t be your single deciding factor. Everyone loves to save money, but not at the expense of safety or long-range stability. Many cheap steel building kits are only cheap because they cut corners that could have implications on safety and usability. A price difference of several hundred dollars may seem huge, but when you spread out the cost difference over the decades of use you’ll get from a steel building, the difference is actually rather small. Lower prices may also be a consequence of what’s left out of your building quote. Always make sure that you’re comparing equivalent packages when doing price comparisons. If you’re only getting a lower price because you’re only paying for a steel shell, you could end up spending far more than the price difference to finish it the way you want.
Pricing on Residential Steel Buildings
Basic pricing for a steel building usually includes all the metal parts you’ll need to erect your building. When you purchase a steel building kit, it will come with the interior structure, the walls and all the fasteners you need to put it together. It will also usually include the roof, but you’ll often get to choose the roof option that you want for your structure, which will make a difference in the final price.
Many things you think of as part of your building may be optional extras. Those things include trim, gutters, windows and doors. Most dealers and manufacturers will allow you to choose your options and will include them in the price quote they give you.
Contract Details
Always go over your buyer’s contract carefully so that you know exactly what’s included in the price you’re paying. If you’ve discussed specifications, such as a certain door or window model or insulation options, be certain that those things are in the order contract. Generally, the contract you’re sent will have the entire building priced out piece by piece. Make sure that you’re getting everything you think you’re paying for before you sign the contract.
Steel Buildings and Local Codes
Always check with your local zoning office and building code office to get all the details and specifications you’ll need to follow when erecting your structure. Many communities have specific codes for steel buildings, and most manufacturers will work with you to create a design that conforms to your local building codes.
The price will make you say, "Oops, think again." But after some years of use, you'll say, "It's worth it." Although price is a factor, it should not be the major factor. People engaged in construction and architecture are spending money the big way to ensure the building's quality. Why shouldn't we? Think again because it's worth the investment.
ReplyDeleteCarl Patten