1. How to Find a Reliable Supplier
2. Three Ways to Purchase a Steel Building
3. Uses for Steel Buildings
4. Frame Types for Steel Building Construction
5. Benefits of Steel Buildings over Traditional Construction
6. What is Included in a Price Quote
7. Features of Steel Buildings You May Want to Consider
8. Building Codes
9. Is a Steel Building an Environmentally Friendly Choice?
10. After Signing the Contract… Then What?

HOW TO FIND A RELIABLE SUPPLIER

A Google search for “steel buildings” will turn up approximately 2,340,000 results! With so many metal building suppliers competing for your business, it falls to you, the consumer, to be able to evaluate what they are actually offering.

First, you must know what you need. A steel building is a complex purchase, with a wide variety of factors involved, such as your budget, the size and the end use of the building.

It is always recommended to do some price shopping. When comparing prices from different suppliers, make sure you are comparing buildings with the exact same specifications! Many steel buildings look alike, but prices vary widely and there is usually good reason for this. Some suppliers use cheaper components, thinner gauge steel, or do not supply as many features as other suppliers.

Click here for features of a high quality steel building.

Here are some ways to make sure you are working with a reputable, experienced supplier:

• Ask for references. Any high quality, experienced supplier should be happy to provide them.
• Are your phone calls returned promptly? This is a hallmark of good service.
• A manufacturer should be AISC certified; this assures that every facet of their production has been audited and is the highest degree of technological efficiency and quality.
• Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints or unresolved disputes: this is an immediate red flag!
• Ask your potential suppliers if there are any of their buildings already erected in your local area, so you can check them out for yourself.
• A reputable steel building supplier will be willing to answer all your questions in as much detail as necessary, to help you educate yourself in making the appropriate purchase. Beware of aggressive, high pressure sales tactics! If you feel uncomfortable, or pressured to buy before you are ready, that is another red flag!

It is possible to get the quality building you need, at a price you can afford if you are willing to do your homework and shop carefully.

THREE WAYS TO PURCHASE A STEEL BUILDING

There are various ways of buying a steel building, depending on your needs. Steel buildings can be purchased as a pre-engineered kit, or custom designed to your exact specifications and needs.

1. If you only need a simple building, for a garage or storage unit, you might consider a prefabricated steel building kit. Kits are specially designed so that even someone without professional construction experience can erect them with the help of some willing friends.

Pre- engineered, pre-designed steel building kits are computer engineered for quick, simple and easy assembly. They are cheaper than custom designed steel buildings because they can be sold directly without commissioned salesman, passing the savings along to you.

Kits are also a money saver for homeowners and small businesses because they can be assembled in a few days. This results in a huge savings on the cost of hiring a contractor to construct your steel building. These prefabricated buildings can be ordered in many different colors and finishes, providing aesthetic appeal. Although a kit can have whatever doors, windows and other accessories you require, they are nowhere near as flexible with design possibilities as a custom building.

These are the basic steps in the construction of a steel building…

1. Before the building is delivered, have the foundation poured and fully cured, the access to the building site cleared, and any building permits in hand. (Even if you are erecting the building yourself, it is strongly advised to have a professional lay the foundation.)
2. Have the proper tools and equipment, professional grade, and know the safety regulations of a construction site. You will probably need a crane or forklift for both the unloading of the building and the erection itself.
3. Unload the building components off the truck, checking that you have all the necessary parts and there are no damages.
4. Lay the building components out as near as possible to where they will be installed, to save the time and effort of moving them twice.
5. Follow the “erection manual” provided by the building manufacturer, it contains step-by-step illustrations and directions.
6. Erect the primary framing, consisting of I-beams. These are the first components that you will bolt together and fasten to the anchor bolts already in your foundation.
7. As soon as some of your primary frames are in place, you can start to bolt the secondary framing, comprised of girts and purlins. Running horizontally the length of the building, they provide support for the wall and roof sheeting.
8. The wall and roof panels attach via the use of self drilling fasteners.
9. Weather stripping is installed with the wall and roof panels to keep the building from leaking.
10. Trim finishes off the building both in appearance and weather proofing.
11. Accessories, such as doors, windows, vents and gutters are the last step!

2. If price is your main consideration, some metal building manufacturers can offer excellent discounts on prefab buildings that were ordered and manufactured but for some reason not delivered to the client. Obviously, they would like to sell these buildings so the potential for a great deal is quite high, sometimes as much as 25% off the original price. These particular metal buildings cannot be changed from the original specs though, so be sure these specifications are suitable to your needs before making a purchase of this type.

3. Custom buildings are designed and engineered to your exact needs. With advances in computer design, and new materials for customizing a project, steel buildings have become popular in almost all sectors of new construction. These include: agricultural, commercial, industrial, and institutional!

You have undoubtedly been in many buildings, such as schools, churches, strip malls or fast food “joints” without ever guessing they were metal based- today’s modern steel buildings can look just about any way imaginable. Metal exteriors can be smooth, curved or combined with EIFS, brick, glass, masonry, natural or faux stone finishes, and even concrete tilt walls to create whatever style is required. Depending on the project, you may need to work with an architect.

It is easy to put in windows, change the coating color, raise the roof pitch, or change the design of a building to fit a community’s zoning codes. One of the attributes of metal is the ease with which the material is designed to fit the needs of the owner and the community, especially with a custom designed building.

USES FOR STEEL BUILDINGS

Steel buildings today have a myriad of different uses and applications. Here is only a partial list of what can be done with prefabricated steel structures:

Commercial- The economic advantages of pre-engineered building systems have revolutionized the commercial building industry. By combining conventional wall finishes such as brick, dryvit and stone panels with steel construction, attractive and functional buildings are created with greatly minimized project costs. Second floor framing can also be integrated into the design if additional space is needed.

Steel buildings are now being used for strip malls, outlet malls, kiosks, fast food franchises, auto dealerships and many more commercial uses.

Agricultural- This is the traditional area where steel buildings have been used for many decades. Horse barns, storage barns, grain silos, sheds: these are some of the uses for steel buildings in agriculture. If you pass through an agricultural area, you will probably notice the difference between the modern steel buildings and the older wooden or concrete buildings. The steel buildings show no wear, the colors don’t fade or look shabby, they do not sag or look like the next gust of wind will blow them over and their roofs remain intact. It’s easy to see why steel has become the construction material of choice for the agricultural sector.

Industrial- The flexibility and durability of steel structures make them ideal in the industrial sector. Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, generator buildings, and factories: these are some of the industrial applications for steel construction. Industrial structures often utilize top-running cranes, underhung cranes, monorails, jib cranes, and gantry cranes. Steel buildings can be designed to accommodate any of these needs.

Institutional- Pre-engineered building systems are an environmentally friendly, economical form of construction for churches, schools, hospitals, fire stations, and recreational facilities of all types. The large clear-span area that pre-engineered structures supply makes these buildings suitable for any institutional application.

Garages and Sheds- These are the perfect type of building to be purchased as a kit, for do-it-yourself erection.

Mini Storage/self storage units - This is a rapidly growing sector of the pre-engineered steel construction industry. Self storage has evolved from single story mini-storage warehouses into two and three-story climate controlled facilities, open and enclosed boat and RV storage, and into small office warehouse facilities.

FRAME TYPES FOR STEEL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

During the “gold rush” in the late nineteenth century, a “portable iron house” was developed, and hundreds were sold to the men who were seeking to strike it rich with gold.

Before World War II, large steel buildings were used as storage by the oil industry. They looked like huge oil drums that had been sliced in half, and laid on their side. This was the forerunner of the arch shaped building now known as the Quonset Hut.

Metal building construction has come a long way since its humble (and undoubtedly uncomfortable) beginnings.

There are now several types of steel buildings available, depending on your needs.

• Arch Style/Quonset huts- this is the style popularized by the army for barracks in World War II. It is difficult to insulate effectively, and doesn’t provide the design flexibility of the other frame types. Windows or doors can only be installed in the ends, not the sides of the building. This style building is nowhere as popular now as the rigid frame constructions described next.

• Clear Span- these frames use no interior supports or columns. This design is ideal when large areas of unbroken floor space are required. It is often used for warehouses, athletic facilities, airplane hangers, or storage. The clear span design does have limits though. As the width of the building increases, the frames must become heavier to bear the greater load of the roof, and the cost per square foot will rise as well. Clear span frames are usually not used for buildings over 150 feet wide.

• Multi Span, or Modular- these frames do use interior columns. The weight of the roof is more evenly distributed to both walls and column supports; this reduces the cost of the frame and the foundation for wide buildings. This type of framing design is more cost effective after approx. 80 feet wide. The wider the building, the greater the savings of using multi span construction. Most buildings beyond 150 feet in width will utilize interior columns.
• Single Slope- this type of construction uses a different eave height on each sidewall. This causes the roof of the building to slope up from front to back. A number of single sloped roofs use a ½ :12 pitch but they can be higher pitched. The single slope design is frequently used for strip malls, office space, and mini-storage facilities.

• Lean-To- a quick and economical way to expand to a building. The lean-to attaches to the exterior of an already existing wall. More space can be added to the building without interrupting the internal operations. This easy method of expansion makes the Lean-To system ideal for additional storage.

BENEFITS OF STEEL BUILDINGS OVER TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION

• Pre fabricated steel buildings are priced more economically than traditional construction.
• Metal buildings are faster and more efficient to design, using sophisticated computer programs.
• All the components are made to fit together exactly requiring much less work at the building site
• Steel buildings are suitable for any zoning district and can be engineered to meet or exceed any building codes
• ease and speed of construction- they are erected dramatically faster than traditional forms of construction
• lower insurance costs, up to 40% lower than for a wooden building
• efficiency in heating and cooling
• extremely low maintenance requirements, paint finishes can be guaranteed for 20 years
• high durability and reliability in any weather condition, including earthquakes and hurricanes

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A PRICE QUOTE

The quote you receive from a metal building manufacturer is for the basic building and delivery, only. Note that the price of a steel building will change as the price of steel fluctuates. To insure purchasing the building you have chosen at the price you were quoted initially, you must secure it with a deposit. This amount varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Sometimes, without realizing it, a customer will blow their whole budget on the building, not realizing how many other costs need to be factored in, and are unable to complete their building project.

Here are some potential additional expenses to be considered:

• Accessories such as windows, doors, insulation, gutters, vents, skylights.
• Outer architectural finishes such as stucco, brick, etc.
• Most parts of the country require building permits for any new construction. The costs of obtaining these permits vary. Be sure the building will be approved for your site before purchasing it.
• A concrete foundation costs from $6 to $10 per square foot (as of May, 2006). It is highly recommended to have the concrete poured by a professional; it must be exact, square, and level, with the anchor bolts in precisely the positions shown in the erection manual provided by the building supplier.
• Hiring a professional to erect the building is a substantial expense, versus doing the job yourself.

FEATURES OF STEEL BUILDINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER

Aside from the appropriate size and amount of doors and windows, there are many other features you can add to a basic steel building to customize it to your needs.

Exterior finishes such as “stucco panels” or brick and stone facades
Skylights- save on lighting costs by allowing natural light to enter the building
Vents- Types for metal buildings include wall louvers, ridge vents, cupolas (a small vented tower atop the building- adds great style as well as ventilation)
Canopies or overhangs- provide protection from rain and snow, important for commercial buildings especially
Wainscoting- 3-4 ft. high panels in a different color to the rest of the wall. An inexpensive way of adding visual appeal to a building
Gutters and downspouts- needed for the same reasons as in traditional construction
Colored Roof- another inexpensive way to add style and visual appeal to a building, especially one with a high roof pitch.
Insulation – The proper insulation can create substantial savings on heating and/or cooling costs, as well as help with any condensation problems.
Click here for more info about insulating a steel building.

BUILDING CODES

You must work with your local building authority and know what code/loads and what type of documentation are required from the supplier, before signing a contract to purchase. There will be live load, wind load, exposure, seismic and design code requirements. Many of the larger steel building manufacturers keep databases of the building codes for different areas of the country, but ultimately it is the customer’s responsibility to make sure that the building they are purchasing is in compliance with local code.

IS A STEEL BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CHOICE?

Did you know that steel is the most recycled material on the planet? It is a terrific choice for sustainable and green construction, a benefit that is becoming more and more important to people as the natural resources of our planet are increasingly depleted. Take a look at these impressive facts:

• Steel is 100% recyclable
• All new North American steel currently being forged contains recycled steel.
• 2 out of 3 pounds of new steel today are made out of old steel.
• Every ton of steel that is recycled saves approx. 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.
• New steel made with recycled steel is vastly energy efficient, needing only ¼- 1/3 (approx) of the energy required to make steel from raw materials!
• Almost all the hazardous waste once generated by the steel industry is now being recycled for beneficial use.

This highly efficient use of materials results in a lower “carbon footprint.” Just as steel itself is environmentally friendly, there are also many benefits to the environment and to the purchaser from building with steel…

• Steel buildings are energy efficient to operate and maintain.
• Research on “cool metal roofing” proves that the reflective properties of steel roofs provide significant savings in energy consumption.
• Heat and cooling loss, especially around doors, windows, foundation, and roofing, are significantly lower than other types of construction.
• The insulation used in steel structures also makes a huge difference to the energy efficiency of the building.

AFTER SIGNING THE CONTRACT…THEN WHAT?

If you are hiring an erector/contractor to install your new steel building, it is a good idea to get recommendations from your supplier, and secure the erector’s services as soon as possible once you know your delivery date. Qualified erectors are in high demand, during the busiest seasons they may be booked weeks or even months in advance.

There are some other things that must be done prior to the delivery of the building. The foundation must be laid, and cured (dry) before the erection can begin. Do not attempt to begin construction on green concrete. This is a safety hazard and may lead to damage to the foundation and the building itself.

Access to the site from the road must also be prepared in advance of the arrival of the truck. Boulders, trees, etc, must be cleared to allow an 18 wheeler to deliver the building to the site.

You are now ready for the installation of your new steel building!

References:

SteelBuilding.com, http://www.steelbuilding.com/buildings/frame_types.htm

About Steel Buildings, http://www.aboutsteelbuildings.com/frame-types-for-steel-buildings/

Steel Buildings Guide, http://www.buildingsguide.com/buyers-guide/steel-buildings-buyers-guide.htm

Rigid Building Systems

Giveawaybuildings.com

The Steel Recycling Institute, http://www.sustainable-steel.org/, http://www.recycle-steel.org/buyrecycled.html

The Metal Initiative, http://www.themetalinitiative.com/content/building_with_metal/benefits/sustainability/s_sustainability.cfm