Things You Should Know Before Shopping for Steel Buildings

Steel buildings make great garages, home workshops, storage sheds and garden sheds, among other things. Over the past decade, they’ve become very popular with the home do-it-yourself crowd, who like the idea of saving money on a quality-engineered steel building and enjoying the pride that goes along with saying “I built it myself.” Before you start shopping for steel buildings, though, there are a number of things you should know.

Your first stop should be your local building code office so that you can find out the code requirements for steel buildings where you want to build. Buying a metal building that complies with the code is, in the end, your responsibility, not the manufacturers, so it’s important that you know the requirements you’ll have to meet with regard to live load, wind load and snow load, at the very least.

Before you sign a contract read it through carefully and be sure that it includes everything that you and the manufacturer have discussed and agreed upon. Your contract should list the items you’ll receive, the price you’ll pay for each item, the total price for all of the components and a time frame for delivery of your steel building. If your code office requires stamped engineering blueprints and architect drawings, make sure that they’re included in the contract listing. Make sure that you understand the terms of payment, as well as whether or not your deposit is refundable.

Expect to pay at least 25 percent as a deposit when you sign your contract. Manufacturers of steel buildings don’t generally sell off the lot. Instead, they order the manufacture of the building when they receive an order for it. That ensures that each metal building they ship meets the code requirements and customizations desired by the customer. Since the start of manufacturing requires a significant investment, they generally require a non-refundable deposit before they start work.

Understand that any changes you make after you sign the contract will have an effect on the price you’re paying. If you do make a change to the building after you sign the contract, make sure you do it through the appropriate channels, usually as a work order. Never accept a verbal assurance over the telephone that the change will be made – insist on getting it in writing.

Follow the directions. Even if you’ve erected dozens of other steel buildings, every metal building is unique and is designed to go together a certain way. The erection drawings are produced for your building only. Use them, and it will be far easier and more enjoyable to put up your new steel building.