There are many types of steel buildings on the market today, and it’s easy to see how a potential buyer, especially a first time buyer, might be overwhelmed with all the details and choices. Thorough planning is necessary to purchase a steel building that meets your exact needs.

Here are some things to think about before starting to price shop…

Determine the size building you require. Is it a simple storage shed, a barn, a machine shop? Will it be a large automobile dealership showroom, or a small one-car garage? The purpose the building is needed for will determine both the structural requirements and many of the features it needs to have.

Does your building require a roll-up door or a sliding door, which are considered “framed openings”? Does it need a walk through door or windows, which are considered “accessories”? Decide how many doors you need and where you want them placed, on the end of the building or on the sides.

The required height of the building depends on its use as well. If you are moving large equipment in and out of the building, consider that in your computations and allow ample space. The equipment must pass easily through the doorway, and the interior height of the building must be at least two feet higher than the doorway.

Another thing that is dictated by end-use is whether or not to use insulation. Metal buildings tend to get very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The correct type of insulation can correct these problems and save a lot of money on energy bills.

Click here for more info about insulating a steel building.

Also, consider whether you will finish the interior of your building: drywall or leave the metal exposed?

The quote for a steel building usually only includes the building itself. All accessories and special finishes are an extra cost, as is laying the foundation, erection of the structure, and the cost of hiring professional contractors if you need them for the installation of the building.

Before actually purchasing a building, find out the proper building code requirements for your area from your local building code office. The building you buy must comply with local codes for wind, snow, seismic activity, etc.

Click here for more info about building codes.

For the building’s end purpose, do you need column-free interior space? If so, this is called “clear span” construction. This type of construction can be expensive if your building requires a huge interior width, such as an ice arena. If you don’t mind the inclusion of interior support columns, then you can opt for a construction called multi-span, or beam and column, which tends to be a less expensive construction style.

These questions must be considered before trying to get price quotes. Once you are clear about what you need, you will be better able to compare all bids and offers. If you are still unclear about types of steel building construction and which is best for your purposes, an experienced manufacturer or supplier can be a big help.

Ask as many questions as you need, and don’t be pushed into putting down a deposit until you are certain of your specific requirements, and have shopped around!

Types of Steel Building Structures

While steel buildings are of varied sizes, shapes, and types, the basic elements of the metal building system are always the same- rigid frames, wall girts and roof purlins, cladding and bracing.

Click here for more info about what to look for in a quality building.

These are some of the main types of steel building structures that are available:

Beam & Column (BC)
The beam-and-Column system is ideal in situations when a vast area of floor space is necessary. The flexibility of the Beam and Column design allows it to be utilized for any industrial or warehouse purpose.
Straight Column (SC)
Straight Column systems are utilized when a clear interior space up to seventy feet wide is needed. The column-free interior allows the total amount of floor space to be put to use. This design is often in small offices or other commercial applications.
Rigid Frame (RF)
The clear, unobstructed working space that the Rigid Frame system provides makes it ideal for many commercial and recreational applications. The wide, column-free environment permits the complete utilization of the interior floor space. Recreational rooms, aircraft hangers, and warehouse are often designed as rigid frame systems due to the interference or inconvenience of interior columns.
Lean-To (LT)
Selecting a Lean-To system is a quick and economical way to expand to a building. 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 and office buildings.

The Many Uses of the Modern, Pre-Engineered Steel Building

Once thought of mainly for sheds, barns and garages, pre-engineered or prefabricated steel buildings have become the construction method of choice for a myriad of other purposes.

Commercial

The economic advantages of utilizing pre-engineered building systems have revolutionized the commercial building industry. Combining conventional types of wall finishes such as brick, rock-wall panel, and “stucco” panels with standing seam roof systems, attractive and functional buildings are easily created with greatly minimized costs.

Commercial buildings now made of steel include:

• auto dealerships
• strip malls
• fast food franchises
• coffee kiosks
• and many more

Industrial

• Warehouses- Beam and column type construction provides the most economical solution when large open areas of floor space are required. This type of building is ideally suited for warehouses or other industrial applications.
• Manufacturing facilities- Steel buildings can be custom engineered to utilize top-running cranes, underhung cranes, monorails, jib cranes, gantry cranes, etc. These types of facilities must always be custom designed, but can be created exactly to the specifications of your industry.

Innovative Features in the Steel Building Industry

To meet the growing demand, as pre-engineered steel buildings continue to be utilized for more and more purposes, the steel building industry has invested millions in research and development of new and improved construction methods, designs, and products that make steel buildings more durable, more economical, more environmentally friendly, and last but not least, more stylish as well.

Here are some of the latest innovations in steel building construction:

Galvalume Steel

Galvalume is an aluminum-zinc coated steel that provides extra corrosion protection. Galvalume offers the best qualities of aluminum-coated (aluminized) and zinc-coated (galvanized) steels. The many benefits of Galvalume include: >p>

• It has barrier corrosion resistance and heat resistance similar to aluminized steel, as well as good bare edge galvanic protection and forming qualities like galvanized steel.
• Galvalume will resist rust, the elements, and fire while providing a sturdy, long lasting and protective covering.
• Currently, uses for Galvalume include standing seam roofing, tubing for fences, computer cases, greenhouses, steel buildings and much more.
• The cost of Galvalume steel is about the same as that of the older style galvanized steel.

Galvalume sheet steel continues to gain approval by engineers, architects, building owners and many others due to its versatility, ease of use, aesthetics and long-term performance. Make sure the building you purchase is made from Galvalume steel.

Standing Seam Roofs

The standing seam metal roof is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in roofing technology in the last 25 years. Advantages of standing seam roofs:

• Durable, puncture-resistant protection against the weather. They can withstand extreme winds, and most standing seam metal roofs exceed new building code requirements.
• Because of the high strength of the steel, as well as the design of the roof itself, they are perfect for areas prone to heavy snow.
• Pre-painted standing seam roofs reflect much of the sun’s energy, with the result of keeping the roof and interior of the structure cooler.
• Unlike flat built -up roofs or standard overlapping roof systems, which can sometimes require frequent maintenance, the standing seam metal roof will offer 20 plus years of trouble-free performance with little or no maintenance.
• The design of the standing seam metal roof assures adequate drainage from rain and snow, effectively eliminating problems such as leaking.
• This system can be used on homes, churches, metal barns, metal storage systems, offices or any type of custom projects.

Reflective Insulation

Reflective insulation is ideal for steel buildings, which tend to get very warm and humid in the summer and cold in the winter. Condensation inside the building is another issue. Radiant barrier insulation offers a permanent way to solve these problems and reduce energy costs as well. A radiant barrier insulation system is a layer of foil facing an airspace and is installed in the envelope of a building.

Here are the advantages to this type of insulation:

• Radiant barrier insulation systems work by reflecting radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it.
• A pure aluminum radiant barrier reflective insulation is unaffected by humidity and will continue to perform at a consistent level no matter how humid it may be.
• The reduction in energy usage and costs provided by radiant barrier insulation make it a “green” choice for construction.
• It is easy to install, does not promote nesting of rodents or birds, and it looks great!

Click here for more info about insulating a steel building.

Architectural Finishes

You can give your steel building the attractive, polished look of stucco, for half the price, with a product such as StuccoLite, also known as pre- stucco panels. These panels have many advantages for the steel building owner:

• StuccoLite panels are ideally suited for all types of commercial construction projects as well as residential homes and apartments.
• The panels are manufactured with the other components of the building, to fit the size of each particular building exactly, virtually eliminating both waste of materials and the time needed to cut panels to size at the jobsite.
• Many standard colors are available, as well as custom colors- all guaranteed colorfast.
• Adding an additional layer of insulation before these panels’ installation has resulted in significant savings in heating and cooling costs.
• Panels can be installed in any climate throughout the year.
• All components are manufactured using the latest in paint application technology.
• The wall panels are roll formed from 20 gauge hot dipped galvanized steel coil.
• This system of exterior finishing does not require maintenance. If cleaning is desired, the use of a pressure sprayer is suggested.
• If a change in panel color is needed, this can be done easily by using a high quality acrylic paint applied to the surface.

NOTE: This product is STEEL. It is not synthetic stucco, also known as EIFS (exterior insulation finishing system). EIFS generally refers to a synthetic coating over a Styrofoam backing. Some of these products have been found to create mold and other problems, although recent advances in EIFS technology have hopefully eliminated this problem. Investigate thoroughly before using this product.

Synthetic Stone Exteriors

Decorative “stone” products made of lightweight synthetic materials now look so authentic, even the stone mason is fooled! You have probably seen these structural stone finishes many times without realizing it at theme parks and zoos. Here are the main advantages of these finishes:

• The polyurethanes used in the manufacture of synthetic stone finishes have “closed cell properties” which make them waterproof and resistant to harsh weather, solvents, pests and fungus.
• Synthetic stone weighs about one pound per square foot, making it easy to handle.
• These products provide higher impact resistance than most other siding products and will resist cracking better than real stone and cast stone products!
• Synthetic stone finishes can be applied directly over plywood or metal panels.
• The products are cut on the jobsite with standard woodworking tools and attach easily with adhesive and screws.
• There is no need to hire a mason, resulting in a huge savings in both labor and material costs – the product can easily be applied by your metal building erector.

Many major manufacturers now produce a product like this; ask your supplier for more info.

The Erection of a Steel Building

For many simple single story buildings such as garages, small barns, and sheds, the buyer chooses to erect the building themselves. This saves substantial amounts of money over the cost of hiring a professional erector.

Here is a highly condensed version of the basic steps in erecting a steel building…

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The wall and roof panels attach via the use of self drilling fasteners.
4. Weather stripping is installed with the wall and roof panels to keep the building from leaking.
5. Trim finishes off the building both in appearance and weather proofing.
6. Accessories, such as doors, windows, vents and gutters are the last step!

Click here for more detailed info about erecting a steel building

References:

BIEC International, Inc., http://www.galvalume.com/index.htm

Think Glink, by Ilyce R. Glink www.thinkglink.com/Synthetic_Stucco_Homes.htm

Rigid Building Systems, http://www.rigidbuilding.com/productguide/

Metal Construction Association, http://www.metalconstruction.org/pubs/pdf/03-0001%20Eco_RoofBlltn.pdf

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