Choosing Doors for Steel BuildingsBuildings

Among the many options you have when planning steel buildings is the type of door or doors you’ll choose to get in and out of the structure. The style of the door will affect the utility and appearance of building, as well as other factors, such as its ability to withstand weather and how hard or easy it is to manage the humidity and other conditions inside the building. Choosing the right doors for your steel building can make your new structure more flexible, versatile and attractive.

Styles of Steel Buildings and Doors That Suit Them

Steel buildings come in many styles and types, but there are a few common types that may limit your choice of doors.

The most commonly used steel buildings are based on Quonset buildings, with their hoop frame construction and wide-open interior space. Because the sides of these steel buildings curve, fitting doors into the sides can be difficult and, because it requires special fitting, more expensive. Typically, doors for Quonset steel buildings and others with curved walls are fit into the front and/or rear walls, which are flat.

The other most common style of steel building is a modified A-frame with straight sides curving into a rounded, pitched roof. Depending on the height of the walls, you may be able to fit doors into the sides of these steel buildings as a standard option.

Tips for Choosing Doors for Steel Buildings

Talk to an expert before you make a decision. Discuss your door choices with someone skilled in erecting steel buildings, such as a local contractor who works with them frequently. Another option for advice about door choices for steel buildings is a dealer who specializes in them. Discuss how you’ll be using your building, its location and other things that might affect your choice of door, and ask for suggestions and price quotes.

If you choose to purchase a door separately from your building, you’ll have to measure the door opening carefully to be sure you get the precise size door to fit it. In most cases, manufacturers of steel buildings will cut door and window openings to standard sizes so that you can easily find a door to fit. If your door openings are odd sizes because of the design needs for your steel building, your best option may be to have the door fabricated by the same manufacturer to be sure that it fits.

Consider a walk-through door and an overhead door for versatility. It’s always easier to build in options than it is to retrofit later. If your budget allows, opt to have a small door for entry and exit and an overhead or sliding door to allow for easy drive-in or backup access to your building.

The easiest way to eliminate the whole conundrum of choosing doors for your building is to choose your door from the steel buildings manufacturer or dealer who supplies your building. That way, you can be assured of having a door that fits both your building and your purposes perfectly.