The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Steel Buildings

You’ve heard a lot about steel buildings lately. Chances are that someone in your neighborhood has erected a metal building in their backyard, and it’s almost certain that you’ve seen a variety of metal buildings in use as factories, industrial buildings, garages, workshops and barns somewhere in your town. If you’ve been considering erecting a steel building on your property, whether for storage, a home office or any other reasons, you probably have some questions about the process. These are the questions that manufacturers of steel buildings hear the most often.

Can You Really Build a Steel Building Yourself?

That sort of depends on who you are. Generally, if you know how to use an electric drill, have a few friends to help with heavy lifting and can follow a schematic or diagram, you can probably erect most small steel buildings yourself. Unless you’re a contractor with experience pouring concrete, however, you should probably have a professional pour the foundation for your building if you want to make sure it has a solid base on which to stand.

How Do I Know the Building Will Meet Local Codes?

When you order steel buildings from a reliable, reputable provider, you’ll be asked to provide the engineers with a copy of the building codes from your local code and building office. Your metal building will be designed and engineered specifically to meet those codes and standards. The engineers will provide you with engineer’s renderings to present to your local building authority for approval. If you’re not familiar with the process, a good steel building supplier can walk you through it – or you can hire a general contractor who can handle all the details for you.

Can I Put Up a Metal Building Anywhere?

That depends a lot on your local laws. Some cities and counties only allow steel buildings in certain zones. Others allow them anywhere, and others don’t allow them at all. In many cases, your city zoning authority will decide whether you can erect a metal building on your property based on its size, design and purpose.

What Kind of Design Choices Do I Have?

Once upon a time, smaller steel buildings came in one style – Quonset buildings, the hoop frame structures that became popular after the world wars. These days, there are many different styles, including those with domed roofs, peaked roofs, and semi-peaked rooms, and those with curved walls, half walls and full-height walls. Steel buildings are also available in just about any color you want, so you can match it perfectly to the other buildings on your property.