Increase Your Property Value with Steel Buildings

Are you looking for a quick way to enhance your property and its value? Steel buildings, far from being the unattractive eyesores that many people think they are, offer many advantages for homeowners and can be a great way to add value to your property. Consider adding a metal building to your property if you’re considering putting it on the market or want to increase its value.

Steel Buildings Make Great Garages

One of the most common uses for a steel building on a residential property is to store a vehicle. Many older properties were built without attached garages, and many modern homeowners prefer to renovate the attached garage for added living space. If your property has the room for them, one and two-car garages are among the most-wanted features for new homeowners.

A Metal Building in Good Repair Adds Valuable Storage Space

A second feature that ranks high on the most-wanted list of features with home buyers is storage space. Building a storage shed in the back yard can increase your property value by adding valuable storage space and making your property more attractive. Steel buildings are higher in value than wooden storage sheds. They’re rot-resistant, attractive and very low maintenance. You can buy steel buildings in complementary colors and styles to your house and other buildings in the neighborhood, making them a stylish, attractive addition to your property.

Add the Potential for Dreams

Outbuildings and carriage houses are major selling points for older properties for one big reason. They promise the fulfillment of a dream. An unfinished steel building can offer the same promise to prospective buyers. Nearly every buyer has some secret dream – an artist studio in the backyard, perhaps or a greenhouse to indulge a green thumb. A well-maintained, empty metal building, just waiting to be customized, will be a yoga studio to one prospective buyer and the perfect spot for a man room for another. You don’t have to finish the building – just provide the shell. The imaginations of your prospective buyers will fill in the rest.

Show How Well You Care for Your Property

Steel buildings may have low maintenance needs, but that doesn’t mean they’re low-rent. A powder-coated steel building will maintain its attractive exterior for decades – far longer than a wooden storage building or fiberglass shed.

Real estate agents say that lack of storage space is one of the biggest reasons that buyers walk away from a property they otherwise love. Steel buildings are among the easiest ways to add attractive, durable and efficient storage space – and thousands of dollars in value – to your property.

Finding Steel Buildings to Suit Your Needs

So you’ve decided that a steel building is the perfect solution to your storage or space needs. Congratulations! You’ve chosen one of the most affordable, customizable and durable structures on the market today. Steel buildings make great garages, storage buildings, home offices, workshops, horse barns and so much more. Once you’ve made the basic decision to opt for a metal building, you’re faced with a much harder decision to make – where to buy your steel building.

The obvious choice is to look online for businesses that sell steel buildings. Online shopping is convenient, easy and often gives you a much wider selection of merchandise than you’ll find in your local market. It can also make it more difficult to evaluate the merchandise being offered and be certain that the website from which you’re planning to buy is on the up and up. These tips and warning signs can help you find a reputable, legitimate supplier of steel buildings who will work with you and make sure you get exactly the building you need.

Watch Out for the Big Come-Ons

Nearly every supplier touts low prices for quality steel buildings, but watch out for those that have offers that seem too good to be true. If a website always seems to be advertising 50% Off and other big blowout sales, be suspicious. While there’s certainly a wide variation of prices for steel buildings, someone that’s consistently offering buildings at half-price is building the discount into his pricing structure.

Shop around. Get a base price for the type and style of steel building you want to buy from several different manufacturers and brokers to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay and use that as a base comparison to decide whether someone’s prices are really too good to be true.

Check the Materials Used

Some “discount” steel building suppliers offer very low prices because they’re using lower quality steel. Look for a supplier who uses at least 26 gauge steel for the structural parts of your building – and keep in mind that when it comes to steel, higher numbers mean lower quality. That means that a building made with 28 gauge steel is made with thinner and cheaper steel.

Read Testimonials and Reviews

Manufacturers of steel buildings aren’t shy about sharing their successes. Many of them post photos and testimonials from their customers on their websites. For most merchandise, experts recommend that you take testimonials posted on site with a grain of salt, but many of the photo and video testimonials posted online are far too genuine to be faked.

Don’t let that stop you from asking for referrals, though. Most reputable brokers and metal building suppliers will be happy to supply you with contact information for a few former customers.

Shop around for the best price and make sure that you get a detailed quote before making a final decision on a supplier for your steel building. Steel buildings are an ideal solution for many different housing and storage needs. It only makes sense to make sure you get the best value and quality for your money.

How Steel Buildings Work For Small Business Needs

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more people have left the “labor force” to start their own small businesses in the last decade than at any other time since they began keeping records. Many small business owners start working out of their own homes, but eventually, they need to expand into a building dedicated strictly to their business needs. If you’re one of those new small business owners who needs to expand into a dedicated structure, steel buildings may be the most affordable solution, no matter what your business is. Here’s how steel buildings can work for nearly any type of small business building.

Professional Offices

Accountants, architects, lawyers, business coaches and other professionals often start out with an in-home office but quickly find that sharing a building with the family is not exactly conducive to their professional image. Renting an office presents an ongoing expense, especially if your intent is to present an upscale image. A professionally engineered and designed steel building located on your own property can be the perfect compromise between expense and convenience. The upfront cost is slightly greater than coming up with the first, last and security deposit often required to secure office space, but within a few months you’ll have recouped the cost of your investment through savings on rent. From that point on, you’ll continue saving every month. You’re still working from home, but your separate office is more professional and limits interruptions. And because your new building is strictly for business, you’ll find it much easier to deduct business expenses on your taxes.

Workshops

Steel buildings are ideal for auto body, metal working and woodworking workshops. You can customize the layout of your building to make it most efficient for your needs, and locate it on your own property, reducing your rental expenses. A steel building also provides the advantage of a completely obstruction free interior space, making it easy to maneuver and move things around inside. It’s a particular advantage for workshops where unobstructed floor space is a necessity.

Retail

Retail buildings require flexibility to allow you to design a good marketing space. Steel buildings offer the maximum flexibility you can get in architectural design because they require no interior support beams or posts. That allows you to customize the interior to meet your needs exactly. As with any business use of steel buildings, you save on rent and lease fees, and have the independence to design and decorate to your liking.

No matter what business use you have in mind, steel buildings offer many advantages that no other type of arrangement provides. If you’re considering building new digs for your small business use, be sure to consider a steel building as one of your top solutions.

Steel Buildings Provide Function, Design and Space for Workshops

Whether you’re planning a commercial or personal workshop, you’ll find that the advantages offered by steel buildings make them a compelling choice. Consider your requirements in a workshop building and compare them to the benefits of a steel building and chances are that you’ll find a perfect fit.

Affordable Construction

Prefabrication makes steel buildings an economical alternative to traditional stick-built construction or concrete structures. The typical metal building kit includes everything you need to erect your workshop at one low price. When you order a steel building to use as a workshop, your quote will include everything but the foundation and the finishing touches, such as doors and windows. Some manufacturers will even supply those as part of the package, though they will generally add to the overall price. When you take into account the construction time and other costs that come with other types of construction, you’ll find the cost of your steel workshop is considerably lower than any other option.

Flexible Floor Plans

The typical steel building features an entirely open interior. Whether you choose arch construction or clear span construction, your steel building needs no internal support posts or beams and doesn’t rely on load bearing walls to support the structure. That means that the interior space is completely open, leaving plenty of room to arrange your equipment and accommodate your projects, even projects as large as an airplane.

Customized Design

Since every steel building is custom-designed to meet regional building codes, you have a great deal of input into the actual design of the structure. The building components, including wall panels, roof and arches, are pre-drilled and ready to assemble. It’s easy to include a wiring or plumbing plan so that the engineering architect can build channels for wiring and openings for plumbing pipes at the appropriate locations in your steel building. You won’t find that level of customization and design involvement with any other type of building.

Easily Expandable

There’s no other type of construction that’s as easy to expand as steel buildings. In most cases, expansion is as easy as pulling off the front or rear wall, adding more hoops and wall panels and replacing the wall. You can build the workshop you can afford now and expand it to the workshop you want later at a far lower cost than constructing an addition on a concrete or wood workshop.

Whether you’re planning an auto body shop, a woodworking shop or a metal workshop, talk about your needs with a manufacturer of steel buildings to find out how a metal building can meet your needs.

Steel Buildings Are a Cost-Effective Solution for Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably had a lot of practice in finding economical solutions that fill your most important needs. After all, your bottom line depends on providing what your customers need as inexpensively as possible. If you’re considering expanding, steel buildings are among the most cost-effective and flexible options for storage, offices, gymnasiums, workshops, auto body shops and even retail stores. In fact, no matter what your business is, a steel building is likely to be the best choice for your needs.

Why Steel Buildings Are Good for Business

Start with price. Steel is still one of the most economical building materials available. The components of a steel building are fabricated off-site and delivered ready to erect. On-site construction can take as little as a few days if the building is a small one. The short time for construction means that you can occupy your new building and get to work much sooner than you can with other types of construction.

The benefits don’t end with the construction of your metal building. Steel buildings require very little maintenance so your cost of ownership is low. They don’t require repainting, and most are corrosion and rust-resistant. You won’t have to worry about insect pests – they prefer wood to metal and won’t bother with your store or office building. Upkeep of the building exterior will mostly consist of a good power-washing once or twice a year.

Steel buildings are also energy efficient. They’re easy to insulate, especially if you plan for it at the outset. Because the joints are designed to fit tightly, they feature weather-tight construction, and most steel buildings manufacturers offer the option of energy-efficient roofs. Good insulation, a reflective roof and carefully planned windows and skylights will keep heating, cooling and lighting costs low.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of steel buildings for the small business owner, though, is the enormous flexibility he has in creating a floor plan that works for his business. The construction methods used for metal buildings require no interior posts or support beams and leave the entire interior open and available. Since there’s no need to work around load-bearing walls or support posts, the business owner can easily create exactly the work space he needs. If his needs change in the future, he can adjust as needed without having to worry about compromising the structural integrity of the building.

If you’re considering expanding your small business or moving it into its own building, consider the many advantages of steel buildings for small business use. Whether your business is a service one, a manufacturing concern or a retail outlet, you’re likely to find that a steel building is the ideal solution to your needs.

Garages and Storage and Workshops: Residential Steel Buildings for Many Uses

For homeowners whose garages are overflowing with gardening tools, lawn mowers and the overflow of years of living in a house, steel buildings offer a solution that frees up garage space with an attractive, easy-to-maintain storage or work space. While storage sheds are still among the most popular uses for small residential steel buildings, DIY metal buildings are becoming more and more popular for a number of different uses.

Garages

If you’re replacing an existing garage or adding one to a property that never had one, a steel building is the ideal solution for many reasons. The clear span construction provides the most usable interior space of any other type of construction. Steel buildings go up quickly and easily, and provide superior protection for expensive automobiles. Today’s options in steel building finishes allows you to match the style and color of your home exactly, adding value to your property rather than detracting from its style.

Off Season Recreational Storage

Campers, boats, ATVs and jet skis can take up a lot of storage room in the typical garage, or run up considerable expense if you store them offsite. A steel building for storing boats, ATVs and other recreational equipment during the off season can quickly pay for itself in decreased maintenance costs, security for your expensive toys and eliminated storage fees. In addition, recreational vehicle owners can easily perform their own maintenance and repairs in their back yard steel buildings.

Workshops

Homeowners and hobbyists find that steel buildings are an excellent choice for stand-alone workshops and hobby areas. They provide storage for woodworking and craft equipment and provide a place to indulge in woodworking, car restoration, model trains, pottery and ceramics and just about any other hobby without interruption. Moving a workshop into a free-standing metal building can also relieve stress in the household by reducing noise and dust levels inside the house.

Home Offices

As the trend of working from home continues to grow, more and more work-from-home workers are finding that steel buildings are an affordable, attractive and practical alternative to other home office options. A free-standing home office can be especially attractive for those who see clients in their home offices. An attractive, free-standing steel building allows a home business operator to completely separate his business from his residence, which can increase productivity and make the entire operation more professional.

Steel buildings offer many advantages when used in residential settings as home offices, garages, workshops and additional storage. They are weather-resistant and low maintenance, and often can decrease home insurance costs because of their inherent safety and durability. If you’re in need of more space for your home, consider the many advantages and benefits of steel buildings for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Steel Buildings as Garages

Garages are among the most popular uses for steel buildings, especially steel building kits. Metal buildings offer many advantages for the homeowner who wants to add a garage or improve his existing car storage options. Steel garages are economical, easy to build and can be built to meet the building code standards in nearly any community. Learn more about using steel buildings as garages in the answers to these frequently asked questions.

Can I Build My Garage Myself?

If you have basic DIY skills, there’s a good chance you can erect a steel building yourself. Most require nothing more than basic home power tools to tighten the nuts and bolts fasteners. Your metal building will arrive with all of the components pre-cut and pre-drilled, ready to assemble, and will include detailed instructions and assembly diagrams.

Do I Need a Foundation for Pre-engineered Steel Buildings Used as Garages?

The type of foundation you’ll need will be determined by the size and style of the steel building you choose and by your local building code. Most people place their garages on a concrete slab or footer. If you’re experienced at pouring concrete, you can do it yourself, but many people engage a contractor to pour the foundation for their garage.

Will My Steel Building Require a Lot of Maintenance?

Most metal buildings require almost nothing in the way of ongoing maintenance. Their powder-coat paint doesn’t have to be treated, painted or maintained for up to twenty years. At most, your garage will require a good hose-down once a season to remove surface dirt that can contribute to corrosion.

What About Insulation for Steel Buildings?

Most steel buildings allow you to use just about any type of insulation, including roll-out insulation and spray-on foam insulation. Insulation can be important in climates where moisture is a problem and can reduce heat transfer between the outside and the interior of your metal building. It will prevent your garage from becoming an oven in hot weather and a freezer when it’s cold.

Can I Include Skylights and Windows in My Garage?

Of course! Because the buildings are pre-engineered, it’s important that you decide on the number and placement of windows, doors and skylights before the building is designed. That will ensure that the building has complete structural integrity.

Will My Steel Garage Meet Local Building Codes?

The best manufacturers and steel buildings brokers only design a steel building after you provide them with the building codes that it must meet. In most cases, it’s up to you to obtain your local zoning and building codes and supply them to the manufacturer. Always check with your county or municipal zoning office before signing a contract for a steel building, though. Some areas don’t allow steel buildings at all.