Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Frequently Asked Questions About Steel Buildings

Tuesday, October 25th, 2005

            The popularity of steel building construction continues to increase nationally. But for many people unfamiliar with steel construction there are usually a number of questions about steel; buildings and their construction .

            A key question that is often asked is about the construction of a steel building and if it is “customer friendly”. Most steel buildings come with easy to understand and detailed assembly constructions. These normally include an Engineer Certified Erection Drawing and an Anchor Bolt Plan for the foundation. Consumers with construction experience and needing a smaller steel building may want to consider constructing the building themselves. Consumers without construction experience and in need of a larger steel building should definitely use the services of a qualified erector. Additionally, most professional steel building manufacturers and suppliers

The Use of Reflective Foil in Steel Buildings

Saturday, September 17th, 2005

            Since World War II reflective insulation has become more and more popular for a variety of applications, most notably in steel buildings. Recently, the use of reflective materials has rapidly gained acceptance in a broad variety of construction applications. Reflective foil works on a very simple principle of being able to reflect radiant energy back from the foil and diffuse it through the building.

            The control of heat transfer is the key to temperature management in any building. There is a difference, usually, in temperature inside and outside of a steel building. Heat typically moves from hotter areas to cooler region until the temperature is levelized across a given area. Insulation’s purpose is to impede this process in hot weather, to keep heat from being transferred into the building. Conversely, you want the insulation to stop the transfer of heat out of a steel building in cold weather.

            There are three ways in which heat transfer occurs in a steel building. The first is radiation, which is the transfer of heat by infrared radiation across an open field of air space. The second is convection. This is the transfer of heat by the flow of air or by

The Expanding Applications of Steel Buildings

Saturday, September 3rd, 2005

            The traditional categories of steel building types involving agriculture, commercial, and manufacturing applications are familiar to most consumers. There have been design innovations in recent years, however, that have broadened the categories in which steel buildings are being used for.

            Automobile and truck dealerships nationwide are looking more and more to steel when considering expansion or brand new buildings. One of the advantages that a steel building offers a vehicle dealership is the ability to add a mezzanine to afford the capability of vertical parts inventory storage in lieu of the more expensive horizontal schematic. This precludes the need for a bigger and costlier building as previously unused overhead space is being utilized.

            Another portion of our society that is favoring building with steel is churches. Most churches have limited funding available for any new construction. They quickly find out that traditional materials such as wood, brick, or stone can be as much as twice that of steel. As most rigid frame steel buildings simply bolt together on assembly, some congregations can find within their membership the personnel

Basic Considerations on The Right Steel Building to Purchase

Monday, August 22nd, 2005

When considering the purchase of a steel building there are a number of factors that need to be included in your decision. The fundamental question is how you will use the building once it is completed. The determination of the steel building’s use can best be answered by answering some basic questions for yourself.

The first determination is to decide what the building will do for you. This question is best answered by how you see the building being beneficial to your lifestyle five, ten, even twenty years down the road. The size of the building is also an important consideration. When deciding on a size think in terms of at least 20% more space than you think you will need. A lot of people make the mistake of buying too small a building and then having to expand at more expense in a short period of time. Entrances to the structure need to be addressed. You need to determine if regular walk doors are sufficient, or if overhead doors are needed. If overhead doors are

All Steel Buildings Are Not Equal

Tuesday, July 12th, 2005

            If you have just recently been interested in the purchase of a new steel building for your business or organization you may have been looking at or hearing a lot of building advertising lately. You have seen the ads on the television or the internet or heard them on the radio. Some of the advertisements go along the lines of - “The cheapest steel buildings available on the market today - take advantage of these hot deals - today only.” But upon investigation are you finding the companies offering quality steel buildings or cheaper economy models?

            You have to ask yourself if you are really making the right decision on the purchase of a steel building relying so heavily on price as the deciding factor. Thomas Jefferson said “Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap, it will be dear to you.” If Mr. Jefferson were alive today he would see his words reflected in the “cheap”

Rigid Frame vs. Arch Style Steel Buildings

Wednesday, June 1st, 2005

            Steel building frame styles are not all alike and you should familiarize yourself with the styles available on the market today before choosing a particular type. Agricultural and commercial grade buildings are available in two main designs. The two styles of steel buildings to consider are arch and rigid frame.

            Quonset huts are now more commonly known as arch style steel buildings. The roof and sides of the structure are created by the use of a series of interlocking metal ribs to make it take on its distinctive form. Arch buildings are utilized for a vast array of applications to include commodity storage buildings, single and multi-vehicle garages, and storage sheds. These structures are also popular among consumers who have the ability to assemble their own structure. This is because the assembly methods for this structure are relatively simple and they have a less expensive final square footage cost when compared with more conventional methods. They can be difficult, however, when exterior options are required. Arch steel buildings only allows for doors and windows in the end walls and not the sides. Additionally, the overhead clearance in the interior of an arch style building drops quickly as you move further away from the center of the building to the sides.  The rigid frame style of building is a more popular form of building style because it can be used for a vast array of applications. The use of steel skeleton framing and flat steel panels for both the roof and walls makes it a preferred style for construction. Windows and doors can be added to the end and/or sidewalls. The use of a sturdy steel frame building allows for east expansion of the building in the future. There is second story capacity or implementation of a mezzanine with a rigid frame building that has the proper height. Rigid frame buildings are much easier to

Steel Building Economics

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005

            The unsightly metal boxes that used to blemish the landscape of the United States in previous years are not the steel buildings of today. In fact, one of the top choices in the building of larger and more complex structures over the past forty years is with steel, largely due to the innovations and design enhancements that have developed. Steel is now the preferred building material of choice for new warehouses, sports complexes, churches, and many other applications.

            Steel buildings started to see use a the dawn of the 20th century. Steel car garages were one of the first widely embraced uses. One hundred years ago and today steel has been found to be durable and a low cost material. Small businesses and storage structures soon began to use steel and the acceptance grew.

            The 1920’s saw the widespread use for many agricultural structures. Cost

Safety and Steel Building Construction

Friday, April 15th, 2005

            Before beginning any steel building construction project a number of points need to be made about the importance of safe steel building erection and construction practices and requirements. These suggestions are merely guidelines and the safety features required by OSHA and familiarity with local codes and regulations should be closely studied before the project begins and adhered to during all construction phases.

            Safety is the top priority for any steel building project. All workers at a jobsite should be thoroughly advised of all safety procedures including all applicable OSHA

Steel Buildings Have Their Differences

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

            Once any business, consumer, or organization begins designs for a new construction project involving steel, the choices can seem complex and confusing. Advertising on the radio, television or the Internet shows it to be a very marketable product. A number of these advertisements speak to the low cost, “hot” deals, and/or the need to buy soon before the prices go up. Investigating these companies’ claims can help you in determining if you are getting a cheap metal box or a premium quality steel building.

            Heavily relying on the cheapest priced steel building can be detrimental to your project. Cheap steel buildings at the outset can turn into quality and maintenance nightmares in a short period of time. Many can quickly become expensive structures to maintain at the back end of the project, when the building is put to full use.

            So as not to dissuade the reader there are many premium quality steel

How to Save Money With Steel Buildings

Tuesday, February 15th, 2005

            You can save time and money on using a steel building for your next building project. Consumers, owners, and investors alike have found that building with steel is at a fraction of the time and money invested in a conventional building system.

            The selection of the proper parcel of land is instrumental in beginning the cost savings process. The selection and preparation of the land can be done for less money. Steel buildings can be adapted to land choices that may not allow for more traditional building methods and materials. The site preparation for a steel building can be minimal when compared to the expensive excavations sometimes required with conventional building processes. Sturdy I-Beam steel buildings have not “set”