Residential Steel Buildings a Growing Share of New Homes

The statistics are in and they show that more and more people are turning to steel buildings when choosing materials and construction methods for their new homes. There are a number of reasons that new homeowners are increasingly turning the steel as their construction material of choice.

According to a recent home builders survey, about 25 percent of people purchasing new homes say that the quality of construction is their primary concern. Another 25 percent were most concerned about the appearance and aesthetic design of their new home. Ten percent cited both concerns. Steel buildings shine in both of those areas.

Quality Steel Buildings

The quality of any product is affected by the quality of the materials used in its construction. When it comes to construction, steel has been the construction material of choice for decades, and with good reason. Today’s steel building materials are created in a quality-controlled environment and meet very strict standards and tolerances. Steel has a better strength-to-weight ratio, which results in lighter, stronger buildings. And because steel buildings are precision-engineered, the connections are stronger and the construction is tighter.

Better Quality Construction Leads to Better Quality Living

Steel buildings don’t warp, twist, shrink or crack like wood can. Those symptoms of houses “settling” cause air leaks, which can seriously affect your energy bills. You can say goodbye to drafts and high energy bills when you choose steel as your home construction material. You can also say goodbye to termites and many other pests that love wood houses but avoid steel like the plague. And as an added bonus, steel doesn’t promote the growth of mold and is non-flammable, giving you added peace of mind when it comes to your family’s safety.

Steel Buildings Can Look Like Anything You Want

People have a preconceived notion that steel buildings and pre-fab homes are unattractive, or at best, unremarkable. In fact, steel offers remarkable flexibility for architects and design professionals. Even if you choose a standard steel building design, you’ll have your choice of a wide range of designs that will fit comfortably into any residential neighborhood.

Metal Buildings Are Eco-Friendly

It may seem counter-intuitive, but steel buildings are among the most eco-friendly structures you can build. They are made with more than 65 percent recycled steel and are 100 percent recyclable. A steel building contains about one-tenth the waste you’ll find in a wood building, and the Healthy House Institute recommends steel framed houses for the best indoor air quality.

Considering all these benefits of steel buildings, is it any wonder that they are becoming very popular as homes?

10 Reasons Steel Buildings Make Great Garages

If you’re planning to replace your garage, a steel building may be your best option, especially if you want to build it yourself. Steel building garage kits are among the most popular steel buildings sold today. Why are so many people turning to steel building kits when they need a new garage? You’ve probably heard some of these reasons before, but they bear repeating.

Steel Buildings Are Durable

Unlike wood garages, a new steel garage will not warp, twist, crack or rot. It is precision-engineered to fit together perfectly and still be standing decades from now.

You Won’t Have  to Worry About Termites

Metal buildings are impervious to insects like termites and carpenter ants. Imagine how much you’ll save over the years if you don’t have to be eternally vigilant against the little wood-munching critters.

Steel Garages Aren’t Susceptible to Mold and Mildew

If you’ve ever had to power-wash a wood garage to remove mildew stains, you’ll appreciate the fact that steel buildings don’t mildew and don’t promote the growth of mold. That’s a nice little health bonus for your family.

Metal Buildings Are Not Combustible

And because it is fire-resistant, your insurance company is very likely to give you lower premiums on your homeowners’ insurance.

A Steel Garage Is Lighter in Weight Than Most Wood or Concrete Block Garages

That means that you generally won’t need a dug foundation under a steel garage.

Steel Building Kits Go Up Faster Than Other Types of Garages

Cut down the amount of time your garage is out of service. When you choose a metal garage building kit, you’ll get your garage built faster and be able to use it.

Steel Buildings Are Eco-Friendly

No trees were harmed for the materials for your new steel garage. In addition, steel garages have smaller carbon footprints because all of your materials are delivered on one truck.

Your Steel Garage Is Recycled

Most metal buildings are manufactured from high quality post-consumer recycled steel. You’re not using any additional nonrenewable resources.

No Trips to the Dump or Landfill

There’s very little waste in a metal building kit. You won’t have tons of waste materials to take to the landfill, reducing the amount of garbage clogging up the planet.

Garages Made of Steel Are Very Affordable

Steel buildings are among the most affordable construction available today. If you build it yourself from a metal building kit, you’ll save even more.

Steel buildings are the wave of the future for the home DIY maven, ideal for use as garages, home workshops and small storage buildings – and that’s just a start. Contact a metal building manufacturer to learn more about the benefits of building with steel.

Choosing Wall Accessories for Steel Buildings

When erecting steel buildings, the accessories you choose can make the difference between the steel building of your dreams and a nightmare that is barely livable. This is especially true of roof accessories, which can seriously compromise the integrity of your metal building if you choose the wrong ones. Wall accessories are a little more forgiving. If you pick out the wrong ones, it will be mostly aesthetics that are affected. The differences the right wall accessories can make to your steel building, however, can’t be understated. Depending on the ones you choose, wall accessories for steel buildings can increase the natural light inside, make your building more accessible and improve ventilation. Here’s a quick look at some popular wall accessories for steel buildings.

Translucent panels can replace some of the metal panels in your walls, providing natural light for the interior. They are designed specifically to allow the light in without compromising your privacy. When you place translucent panels high on the walls, they can significantly change the ambient light in your entire building.

The big difference between translucent panels and actual windows is that windows can generally be opened while wall panels are fixed in place. In some cases, you can buy windows for your steel building from the manufacturer, though some don’t offer windows and doors for sale. If you buy the windows separately, it’s important that you choose them before the plans for your building are finalized. This will allow the engineers to include the appropriately sized openings in your walls for each door and window you choose.

The same holds true of the doors you choose for your building. There’s a wide variety of door choices available for steel buildings. Many people opt to have both man doors and service doors for their structures so that people can walk in and out of the building without having to roll up an overhead door or other garage type doors. Just like windows, it’s important that the manufacturer know the styles, brands and specific measurements of all doors and windows as well as the locations where you want them in the building.

Do you need to provide easy access to the interior for heavy equipment? Overhead garage doors are only one of your options. One of the most popular options for large door in steel buildings is the rolling or sliding barn door. They’re widely used on barns and sheds in agricultural uses and on aircraft hangars and other buildings where access for large equipment is important.

It’s also possible to designate an area of the exterior walls that you want left open, where perhaps you want to use a different exterior finishing system for design or architectural reasons. You just have to let the engineers know so that they can calculate the tolerances and ensure that the building is structurally sound.

There are many ways to personalize and customize steel buildings, and various types of wall accessories are only a few of them. Just keep in mind that you need to make most of these decisions before the architectural and engineering plans are finalized so they can be taken into account in the finished building and fabrication plans.

Tips for Buying Steel Buildings

Steel buildings have become extremely popular with industrial, manufacturing, agricultural and residential customers over the past several years. They offer a number of excellent features that make them a great choice for just about any use. Buildings made of steel make great garages, barns and storage buildings. They also are an excellent choice for other uses, such as community centers, churches, factory buildings and warehouses. The best steel buildings offer affordability, durability, strength and curb appeal all rolled into one.

The very popularity of steel buildings, though, has brought unscrupulous suppliers and brokers out of the woodwork. That means that buying a metal building can be a bit tricky. These tips can help you navigate the purchase of your steel building more easily and surely.

Consider Your Needs Before You Start Looking

Before you start shopping around on websites that sell steel buildings, take the time to figure out exactly what you need and how you’ll use it. It’s much easier to find the right metal building if you know exactly what you’re looking for.

Comparison Shop for the Best Prices

…but don’t overlook quality. Often, the cheapest steel buildings are made of low quality materials. Comparison shop for good prices, but don’t sacrifice quality to get a cheaper deal. Be suspicious of any building with a price that’s far higher or far lower than the rest.

Check Your Local Code

Your city or county will have specific codes and standards that any building you erect on your property will have to meet. Before you order your building, visit your local code department to find out whether you’re allowed to erect a metal building on your site. Get a copy of the building codes and standards for a steel building in your city so that you can share it with your steel buildings broker. Your building will be built to code, but it’s up to you to make sure they know what those code standards are.

Read Your Purchase Agreement Carefully

Once you’ve found a steel buildings supplier that you trust, you’ll have to sign a purchase agreement with your broker or supplier. Make sure that you read the agreement carefully so that you know exactly what you’re agreeing to do, and what you can expect from the steel building supplier.

Steel buildings are the answer to many problems. Understanding the ins and outs of purchasing a steel building can make it easier for you to find the best metal building for your needs.

When You Choose Steel Buildings

When you choose a steel building for your space, storage or other needs, you’re choosing a structure that provides a number of unexpected advantages and benefits. Widely used as garages, storage buildings, factories, barns and workshops, steel buildings are affordable, versatile, attractive and sturdy. They’re also environmentally friendly in a number of surprising ways. Here’s a quick listing of what you choose when you choose steel buildings for your needs.

You Choose to Save Money

A steel building will save you money throughout its entire life cycle. Steel is more affordable than other building materials. A metal building costs less the erect because you save money on the foundation and on labor. Most steel buildings are cheaper to heat and cool than traditional structures. Since they require very little maintenance, you’ll save on repainting and repair costs, and you won’t be risking infestation by pests like termites and woodpeckers. Finally, you’ll often get far cheaper insurance premiums on a steel building than you will on a metal building.

You Choose to Preserve the Earth’s Resources

Steel buildings are sourced almost entirely from post-consumer recycled steel, so you won’t be stripping the Earth of its limited resources. Because most steel buildings are delivered on one truck – complete with everything you need to build it except the foundation – you’ll be leaving a smaller carbon footprint. And when you’re done with your metal building, you can disassemble it and sell it to someone else, or sell it to be melted down and recycled, saving space in our already overcrowded landfills.

You Choose Versatility

Because metal buildings don’t require interior support beams and posts, you get a totally customizable interior space. That allows you to build and divide your interior in whatever way works for you. You can put in a loft, divide the space into two or three or four rooms, build animal stalls or create an entirely open floor plan. And when the layout no longer suits your needs, you don’t have to worry about affecting load-bearing walls or support posts. You can simply rearrange the interior walls.

You Choose Longevity

While most metal buildings only warrant their paint jobs and roofs for about 20 years, you can expect to get a much longer stretch of usable life when you choose to build a metal building. Steel buildings that were erected in the 1950s and 1960s are still standing strong, even after surviving hurricanes, earthquakes and other severe natural events.

When you choose a steel building you’re making one of the smartest, most affordable choices available. Why would you even consider anything else?

Steel Buildings for Fun and Profit

What’s the most versatile type of building construction available today to both home and business owners? Steel buildings are affordable, versatile, environmentally friendly and easily available across the country. From small 8 x 10 storage sheds and one-car garages to retail stores, factories and warehouses, steel buildings offer the ideal solution to nearly any housing or storage problem. What can you do with a metal building? Here are a few favorite uses for steel buildings that encompass the fun and profit aspect.

Hobby Workshops

Hobbies can be both fun and profitable, but they don’t always fit comfortably into your home. Whether you want a photographic studio and darkroom, a pottery workshop, a wood shop or an auto shop, a steel building provides the perfect frame that you can outfit any way you want. Far more affordable than building an addition or other type of separate structure, a steel building may even be more affordable than renovating your basement or garage to suit your needs.

Home Offices

For the small business professional – real estate agent, doctor, counselor or massage therapist, to name just a few – a home office means independence from high office rents and fees. An office in your living room or off your kitchen can feel unprofessional, and building a separate entrance can involve far more expense than you expected. A small steel building outfitted as an office provides you a place to work undisturbed and gives you the professional image you need to project.

Inventory Storage

Big stores and factories aren’t the only ones who can use inventory storage. Many small independent sales consultants maintain a fairly large inventory of samples and items for sale so that they can fill orders quickly. Storing them in your home can be tricky – among other things, insurance may not cover your business inventory in case of fire, theft or other damage. A small, 8 x 10 steel building can provide plenty of room for storage out of harm’s way, and can be separately insured to cover all of your inventory and business supplies. As an added advantage, as long as you only use your shed to store business-related items, you can deduct the insurance, taxes and related expenses as a business expense.

If you need more room on your property, a steel building could provide the perfect solution. For more information about the advantages of choosing steel buildings for your business and fun uses, contact a manufacturer of metal buildings and discuss your needs.

Commercial Steel Buildings Save Money

Steel buildings have been used in commerce for decades now, but they’re just coming into their own as attractive, affordable structures for small business owners. A steel building is often the perfect choice for just about any type of commercial concern, and often provides more benefits and advantages than a similarly sized masonry or stick-built structure. They make ideal garages, warehouses and factories, but can easily be fitted out to serve as restaurants, churches, community centers, pet shelters and retail stores. Why would a small business owner choose a steel building over another type of structure? Here are just five reasons.

Initial Affordability

Steel is one of the most affordable building materials currently available, but that’s just the start of savings with steel buildings. In addition to the cost savings on materials, metal buildings are more affordable in a number of other ways. Most steel buildings don’t require a full dug foundation, which cuts costs considerably right up front. They go up far more quickly, so you pay construction crews for less time. Overall, it’s cheaper to build a metal building than it is to put up any other type of structure.

Energy Savings

Precision-engineered steel buildings are designed to be energy efficient. They usually include high-efficiency roofs, and can be fitted with low-e windows and doors. The precision fit makes those accessories even more efficient by preventing heat transfer between the inside and outside.

Maintenance Savings

Steel buildings don’t ever have a problem with termites, and that’s just the beginning of the maintenance savings the owner of a metal building gains. The paint job on most steel buildings is guaranteed for up to 20 years. The finish is commonly fade resistant, rust resistant and resistant to most types of corrosion.

Insurance Savings

Because steel buildings are inherently safer than most other types of structures, insurance companies commonly provide insurance for them at far lower premiums. Metal buildings are fire resistant and, if built to meet local codes, will stand up to heavy snowfall, strong winds and even earthquakes.

Expansion Savings

Most styles of steel buildings are built for expansion. As long as you have the land to build out, expanding steel garages or warehouses, for example, is often as simple as removing the end wall, adding on to the length and replacing the end wall. That’s considerably less expensive than what it would cost to add on to a wood or masonry building.

If you’re considering a commercial building of any kind, take a look at the advantages and cost benefits offered by steel buildings. Chances are you’ll find the perfect option for your needs.

The Many Faces of Steel Buildings

Choosing the right steel building for your residential property used to be fairly simple. There were only so many types of steel buildings on the market. Your choices were generally confined to the size and, if you were lucky, the color. How things have changed over the past 10 years or so. These days, you can purchase a metal building in many different shapes, choose a number of different siding options, pick out trims that match or contrast with your existing buildings and add features that range from skylights to energy-efficient roofs. If you’re thinking about purchasing a steel building – they make great garages, workshops, storage sheds and home offices – these are just a few of the many options you can choose.

Quonset Buildings

The best known style of steel buildings across the U.S. and Europe, Quonset buildings are the traditional hoop-framed buildings originally made popular by the military during the world wars. They’re easy to erect, easy to transport and easy to tear down, and because they require no internal support posts, they provide a maximum of usable interior space. Quonset buildings are also among the most stable types of construction in harsh environments, and can withstand high winds, heavy snow loads and even earthquakes.

Straight-Sided Steel Buildings

The biggest drawback to Quonset buildings is that sloped sides limit the usability of the floor space closest to the walls. A simple modification to the Quonset design retains the rounded roof but places it on top of straight sides that generally extend at least six feet above the ground. This design strikes the balance between stability in extreme weather conditions and interior usability.

Steel Buildings with Sloped Roofs

Straight-sided steel buildings have their advantages, but their rounded roofs still mark them as utility buildings, and can make them unwelcome in communities where appearance is important. Another popular style of metal building extends the modification further by adding a sloped roof. The angle of slope can vary greatly and may be determined by local building codes. One of the biggest advantages of these – often called A-frame steel buildings – is that they look the most like traditional house construction, making them more attractive to homeowners and more acceptable to homeowner associations and zoning departments.

Your city or county’s zoning and code requirements may dictate the types of steel buildings you can choose, but even within the basic styles, you’ll find a wide variety of metal building styles that will suit your purpose and your aesthetic sense.