10 Tips for Choosing Steel Buildings

Shopping for steel buildings can drive you a little crazy, but there are some things that can make it easier to find the right metal buildings for your needs. These ten tips will help you make your choice without tearing out your hair.

Check with your local building authority before you shop. Every city and county has its own rules about where you can put up a steel building and what kind of metal structures you can erect. Before you buy, make sure you have a place to put your building.

Get the building codes that govern steel buildings in your area. The metal buildings supplier will need them to make sure the building they engineer for you will meet all the relevant codes and specifications.

Figure out how much room you have to build on. Measure your space, and make sure that you take into account the amount of clearance you need between your new steel building and property lines, street or sidewalk and your home. Once you’ve subtracted those clearances, you’ll know how big a steel building you can put up.

Decide exactly how you’ll use your metal buildings. Visualizing yourself in the building will help you figure out exactly what you need, including how much interior space you’ll need for all of your “stuff.”

Set your budget. Steel buildings come in at many different price points, from very affordable and bare bones to completely tricked out with every luxury imaginable – which can put quite a dent in your savings account. Don’t forget to include the cost of a slab foundation, shipping and erection costs, if you’re not going to put your metal buildings up yourself.

Ask around for recommendations of a steel building supplier. If you have a neighbor or friend who has erected a metal buildings, ask how his experience was and if he’d recommend the supplier he used. Check around online, looking for the names of reputable steel building manufacturers.

Check out the various styles of steel building available. Keep in mind that pitched roofs are best in climates that get a lot of snow and Quonset buildings are a good choice for areas with high winds. Figure out which type works best for your needs.

Get quotes from several steel building manufacturers and brokers. Supply each of them with the same information about size, style and features so that you get comparable quotes.

Make sure your building is exactly what you want before you sign the contract. Once you’ve signed the papers, any alterations will cost you money.

Prepare the building site well in advance of the arrival of your steel building, and make sure that the truck will have easy access to the staging site where you’ll put your building together before erecting it.

Steel buildings are the ideal choice for most small residential storage needs, including garages, storage sheds and workshop, as well as barns and equipment storage on farms. Making sure you have everything ready to go before you place your order can ensure that you have a good buying experience.