Steel Buildings During the Winter

The end of August may seem like an odd time to be talking about snow, but there’s no better time to discuss the benefits of steel buildings in winter than the season when most people are putting up new garages, barns and storage buildings made of steel. If you’re considering adding storage space or any other type of structure to your property and you live in an area that gets hit with heavy snows, high winds and low temperatures, you really should be considering the many performance benefits of metal buildings during the winter.
The Three Winter Advantages of Steel Buildings
Essentially, steel structures offer three major benefits during winter weather. Those are:

• Ability to stand up to heavy snow loads
• Ease of Insulation
• High Energy Efficiency

Here’s how each of these play into your decision to build with steel rather than other building materials.
Snow Load
Snow load is a fairly self-explanatory term. It refers to the weight of snow that settles onto a building or other structure. In areas where there is significant snowfall, regional building standards call for construction that can withstand heavy snow loads without collapsing. When you order a metal building, you’ll be required to provide a copy of your local building codes and standards. The factory will use those codes to engineer your steel building so that it meets or exceeds those codes. In layman’s language, that means your metal storage building, barn or other structure will incorporate safety features that are designed to prevent collapse during the worst weather your region faces. Those features may include the pitch of the roof or additional strengthening at stress points that are likely to give way under heavy snow.
Ease of Insulation
While steel is not itself a good insulator – in fact, it’s an excellent conductor – the typical construction methods for steel buildings lend themselves very well to insulation. The features that make metal buildings easier to insulate include:

• Weather-tight Construction

All of the joins and angles in your steel building fit together tightly, and most have additional seam coverings to ensure that there is no heat loss or cold seeping in at the seams. That ensures that your insulation doesn’t have to work harder to keep out the cold.

• Ribbed Frames

The outer walls of your metal building are fitted over a skeleton of vertical ribs. These days, most steel buildings are engineered so that the standard width between the ribs is a perfect fit for standard widths of insulation. Insulating them is as easy as fitting a sheet of insulation between each set of ribs and running metal strapping along the length of the wall.
High Energy Efficiency
The weather-tight construction serves another purpose: it makes steel buildings surprisingly energy efficient and affordable to heat. When you add other energy-efficient options, such as reflective roofs, it’s clear that steel buildings are the best choice for nearly any need year-round.

Why Farmers Love Steel Buildings as Barns

You don’t have to go far into farm country to realize that the owners of farms, ranches and stables love steel buildings. You’ll see the evidence everywhere in the shape of steel barns, steel storage buildings, steel stables and steel riding arenas. What makes metal buildings so popular with the very practical American farmer? There are four basic reasons that farmers love steel buildings.
Steel Barns Are Durable
Just like farmers, barns are hard-working structures. They don’t generally have a lot of the frills and furbelows that you’ll find on houses and many commercial buildings. They need to do their job without a lot of protection from the elements. When it comes to practical use, nothing outdoes a steel building. It isn’t susceptible to rot or water damage and it doesn’t attract termites, ants and rodents to nest. A good metal barn with a galvanized or powder coating will never need to be painted, will be less susceptible to rust than wood is to rot, and will stand up to almost any kind of weather Mother Nature sees fit to throw at it.
Steel Barns Are Versatile
Steel buildings have an amazing range of uses. Because it doesn’t need interior framing, a steel barn can be adapted to just about any floor plan you need. Metal buildings can be built as wide as 200 feet without addition supports, and can be extended to any length you want. You can add canopies and overhangs, second stories and even entire wings to the basic structure, even after your building is erected.
Steel Barns Are Easy to Maintain
A farmer or rancher has enough to do without having to mollycoddle his barn. Steel buildings require a minimum of maintenance. They don’t need to be scraped and repainted or treated with insecticide to get rid of vermin infestations. As long as they’re properly built with adequate ventilation, farmers don’t have to worry about mildew and mold, so their grain and other produce keeps well, and their animals stay healthier.
Steel Barns Cost Less
Steel is extremely affordable, and steel building construction costs less than just about any other building method. Dollar for dollar, they know that steel buildings cost far less per square foot than any other type of construction. That being the case, why would any farmer pay more money for a building that offers fewer advantages? He wouldn’t, of course – which is why you’ll see so many steel buildings dotting the landscape in any agricultural region in the country.

Steel Buildings as Storage Sheds

One of the most common uses for steel buildings is as a garden shed or back yard storage shed. Choosing the right structure means thinking through a number of considerations to make sure you’ve chosen the metal building that will most suit your needs. These five considerations all should play a part in your final decision.
What Will You Use It For?
When planning your steel building, be sure to think ahead into the future. Most experts suggest, for example, that you automatically add 20 percent to the amount of square footage you think you need to allow for the inevitable expansion. But there’s even more to thinking ahead than anticipating the need for more storage. Is there a chance that you’ll want to convert your storage shed to a home office or workshop in the future? Some types of steel buildings are extremely easy to expand if you need more space. Others will require you to start from scratch.
How Soon Do You Need It?
Steel buildings may go up more quickly than other structures, but you’ll still need to block out time for putting in a foundation, doing the construction and completing the finish work. The amount of time you’ll need will be influenced by the size and complexity of the project, as well as the number of people you’ll have working with you. Before you commit yourself to doing the project yourself, make a point of talking with others who have done so in the past to get their insights and advice. You may decide that it makes more sense to hire a contractor to do the actual erection.
What Kind of Foundation Will You Need?
When ordering a steel building, be sure to find out from the manufacturer what sort of foundation is needed. Steel buildings are much lighter per square foot than similarly sized wood or concrete structures, but they’ll still need some sort of foundations to hold them up. At the very least, you’ll need to sink concrete posts and set anchor bolts to hold your metal building in place. Because the foundation is so vital to your building’s structural integrity, most manufacturers recommend that you hire a contractor to lay the foundation.
What Kind of Permits Do You Need?
Before you order a metal building, check with your local zoning and codes office to find out what kind of permits you’ll need to erect it. In addition to permits, you should also get a copy of the local building codes. The manufacturer will need them to design a building that’s safe for your region.
What Is Your Budget?
Your final consideration is budget. While steel buildings are extremely affordable, it’s important to remember that there will be a few expenses that aren’t included in the price of your building, such as permit fees, construction costs and the cost of a foundation. Take the time to figure out what you can afford, and let the sales person know your general budget range so he can make appropriate suggestions for your needs.

Tips for Maintaining Steel Buildings After Construction

Steel buildings need very little maintenance to keep them in top shape, but they do require some preventative care. If you keep up with routine inspections and make small repairs when needed, you’ll extend the life of your metal building further and avoid the need for major repairs further down the line.
Do Regular Maintenance Checks
Establish a maintenance schedule that includes regular inspection tours to look for scratches, worn spots, dents or any other small damages that compromise the protective coating on your metal building. You should perform these checks twice a year, as well as after extreme weather, renovations and any incident that might compromise the building’s structure. It’s a good idea to keep records of your inspections and any maintenance done for your own records and insurance records. If your building is a commercial one, you may need to keep the information for government safety regulations.
Make Minor Repairs Immediately
Quality steel buildings are usually powder-coated with an anti-corrosive coating that protects the metal from rust and other types of corrosion. Even the smallest holes, scratches or dents offer a way in for damaging moisture. Fill any holes or dents you find. Light sanding, primer and paint will repair scratches and prevent moisture from causing further damage.
Protect Your Building from the Weather
The biggest danger to steel buildings is the weather, particularly rain and snow. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause corrosion and rust. Excess weight can damage building panels and even cause shifts in the foundation. Certain shapes, such as the Quonset buildings and arch frame buildings that are popular as garages, storage buildings and barns, naturally shed snow and heavy rain from the top of your building, but the sides and the foundation of your building are still exposed, especially if snow builds up or rain puddles around the base. Gutters and downspouts will direct water away from the walls and foundation. Awnings or overhangs can help keep snow away from the foundation.
Wash Steel Buildings Every Year
While the anti-corrosive coating on steel buildings will prevent rust and most chemical corrosion, the metal is still prone to biological contaminants – which is a fancy way of saying that fungus and mildew can take root on dirt and debris left on your building. Once a year, give your metal building a good bath with a gentle household cleaner and soft-bristled brush or low-powered pressure washer. It will keep your building looking clean and new for years.

Six Ways Steel Buildings Save You Money After You Buy Them

It’s pretty commonly known that steel buildings are an extremely affordable choice. Steel is nearly always the most affordable building material, making steel buildings and steel-framed buildings extremely attractive to cost-conscious buyers. But did you know that a metal building continues to save you money even after you sign on the dotted line to accept delivery? Here are six ways that metal buildings save you money after you’ve already paid for them.
Save on the Foundation
Foot for foot, steel structures are lighter in weight than buildings made of other materials. That generally means that, no matter how big your building is, you’ll need less of a foundation than you would for a similarly sized building of concrete or wood. Some smaller buildings may need no more than a cement slab foundation or even a pier foundation.
Save on Construction Labor Costs
Steel buildings go up faster because half the work is done before your building components are delivered to your work site. All the pieces are pre-cut, pre-drilled and pre-engineered to fit together perfectly. Your crew only has to bolt the major components together and do the finishing work.  That means you’re paying for fewer hours of construction – and a much less complicated build. That translates to considerably lower labor costs.
Save on Waste
Your steel building will be delivered pre-cut and pre-drilled with all the fasteners and essentials needed to erect it. There’s no extra wood left after cutting or materials ruined by mistakes in cutting or drilling. You’ll never pay for materials you don’t use or other waste.
Save on Waiting Time
Even better than the cost savings for metal building construction is the fact that you’ll get to occupy and start doing business in your new structure sooner. If you’re currently renting your space, you’ll get to add the rent to your savings. If you’re opening a business, you’ll get to start making money – and that’s even better than saving.
Save on Insurance
Because steel buildings are so well-constructed and have so many safety features, most insurance companies will offer far lower premiums for a steel building than for other types of buildings.
Save on Maintenance
The savings will continue over the years. Steel buildings need far less exterior and structural maintenance than wooden or concrete buildings. Many manufacturers guarantee paint jobs on steel buildings for up to 20 years, so you won’t have to repaint or refinish the exterior. In most cases, the only exterior upkeep required is a pressure wash once or twice a year.
Steel buildings aren’t just affordable up front. You’ll end up with a far lower lifetime cost because the savings keep piling up.

Assembly Tips for Steel Buildings

If you’ve never erected a metal building before, these assembly tips will come in handy for your steel building project. Keep in mind that, while steel buildings are a relatively straightforward construction project, the size, weight and scope may make it difficult for an inexperienced builder. Hiring a contractor to erect a steel building is far less expensive than you might think. If you have any doubts about your capabilities, your metal building supplier can put you in touch with an experienced local contractor.
Get a Preview
Before you decide to DIY your metal building, visit another steel building project in your area to see the work in progress. Chances are that your steel buildings representative can put you in touch with a project close by. You’ll get a better idea of exactly what’s involved in erecting your metal building.
If you do decide to go ahead and build your project yourself, these assembly tips will save you time and money, and result in a safer building.
Use Trained Workers
If possible, work with people who understand how construction works and have done assembly before. They’ll need less instruction, take safety seriously and work much faster.
Provide the Proper Tools
The work will go much more smoothly if you provide the tools and equipment needed to do the job efficiently and safely. That’s another reason to visit another job site before starting on the construction of your own steel building. You’ll see what’s working and what’s not.
Divide Up the Work
Plan before you dig into the job. Divide the work up into smaller tasks and assign each task to teams of workers. It provides accountability and ensures that everything gets done in the right order.
Bolt Items Together First
You’ll save time by assembling components on the ground and then raising them in one piece. Be reasonable, though – don’t put together more than you can safely raise at one time.
Build in Sections
Assemble the steel framework one section at a time, starting at one end and working your way to the other.
Complete the Heavy Work First
Complete the heaviest work first and put off finish work until after you’ve completed anything that requires the use of expensive lifting equipment. There’s no sense paying for it longer than you need it.
Keep the Site Safe at Night
Construction sites are tempting playgrounds for kids after working hours. Make sure you keep your site secure to avoid vandalism, or worse, a serious injury.
Steel buildings are a popular DIY construction project, especially basic steel buildings like garages and barns. If you decide to erect your own metal building, be sure you understand what you’re getting into before you start. It’s always much easier to hire someone from the start than it is to have someone come in to clean up after you.

Steel Buildings: Reputable Dealers Don’t Use Deceptive Practices

One of the biggest frustrations in the fabricated steel building industry is dealing with the few unprincipled sellers of steel buildings. These metal building brokers give the entire industry a bad name and leave customers confused and uncertain – and, far too often, owning steel buildings that don’t really suit their needs. Reputable sellers know that the more you understand about the product you’re buying, the more likely it is that you’ll end up with exactly the metal building you need.
How do you know you’re dealing with a reputable dealer and not a high-pressure salesman who is more interested in increasing his commission than serving your needs? First, familiarize yourself with these deceptive practices that some sellers use.
It’s Ready to Ship
Any time a salesman tells you that they have an inventory of buildings ready to ship, be very skeptical. Even garden sheds and garages, which come in standard sizes, are nearly always manufactured to order. That’s because all buildings must meet the building codes and standards of the site where they’ll be erected, and of course, your needs. As a general rule, the engineers will not even begin the design process until they have an order in hand. If a dealer makes it sound like he has a warehouse full of metal buildings that can go out on the next truck, chances are he’s pressuring you to buy something that doesn’t yet exist.
Canceled Sales
People do put down deposits on buildings and then cancel the sale or fail to take delivery on the building they’ve ordered. It would be a lie to say it’s never happened. It is, however, awfully unlikely that it happens as often as some sellers would have you believe. Keep in mind that even if the salesman does have a canceled order that has been partially paid with a non-refundable deposit – a common explanation for a LOW, LOW SLASHED PRICE – that building will still have to meet the codes and standards for your building site.
High Pressure Sales Tactics
Just like any other business, the steel building industry has its share of high-pressure salespeople who will tell you anything to make the sale. They may bully, cajole or demand. They may ask you for a credit card number as a “good faith” gesture, or imply that you’re wasting their time if you don’t put down a deposit to show you’re “serious” about buying. They may tell you that the price is only good until closing today, or that they only have one building left in the model you want and – well, you read the cautions above, right?
When confronted with a seller of steel buildings who engages in any of these tactics or deceptions, just walk away. There are plenty of reputable dealers and manufacturers who will treat you with the care and honesty you deserve as a valued customer.