There are a couple of choices when you are considering a new building project. Most people choose between traditional conventional construction or a Turn-key pre-engineered steel building provided by a dealer.
            Option number one is traditional conventional construction which is also known as design/build. This is also the “old school” method of getting a new building completed. Structural steel is utilized. First, you would hire an architect to design your new structure, paying them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to come up with an acceptable building design. Then you would need to find a General Contractor who will bid your total project and possibly guarantee the price for a period of time. You and your General Contractor would agree on a tentative completion schedule that will include cost overruns and potential time delays. This has been the traditional process in building structures. It is also the most expensive choice. Compare this with the assembly of the first automobiles. Cars were originally designed one at a time and were extremely costly to produce. Henry Ford created the assembly line and cut car production costs in half.
            You have an alternative to traditional conventional construction by considering pre-engineered all-steel construction. This process accomplishes the same cost-saving objective for buildings that Henry Ford provided for automobiles. Building dimensions in this choice are standardized and structural designs and calculations are pre-determined and formulated. This eliminates the need for expensive individual building engineering costs. You will save money and time with this option. Building assembly and finish is quicker and easier with pre-engineered components that are pre-punched, pre-drilled, and pre-welded at a factory prior to shipment to your job site. You get a solid, long-lasting facility for a fraction of the cost of traditional construction methods and a building that will be assembled quickly.
            The other option available to purchase a steel building is by ordering that building as a full service, turn-key project from a steel building dealer. A building dealer is usually a General Contractor who can complete your entire project, much like the agreements with traditional building construction. In this instance, you pay for services that you may be able to handle by yourself or with the help of other qualified individuals. A General Contractor will charge you fees for initial design discussions, managing any of his selected sub-contractors, and, as needed, for engaging the services of a supplemental architect (especially for interior layouts such as plumbing, electric, lighting, etc.). They get paid to manage your project. Often they will specify and obtain the materials required for the project (including the base building packages) marking them up significantly for additional profit. You have little control other than agreeing to a finished price with this arrangement as it is with traditional conventional construction. The advantage is the lower per square foot cost of the all-steel finished project versus traditional conventional construction. 

            There art many factors to consider when trying to find out what steel building company is the right choice for your next building project. Whether you are “surfing the net” or considering a building company within your own hometown there are many items to review that will, hopefully, lead you to the right decision.
            You may want to consider steel building manufacturers that are rated consistently high when you place the words “steel building” in your search. While it is not necessarily true that the best companies rank highest, it is a good indicator that the activity on their website and the updated information that they are providing online is vibrant and informative. Look for steel building companies that show how they can save you money versus conventional construction methods. Find out what strength of steel and what type of warranty is provided. Remember , the lower the number of gauge of steel the thicker it is. Twenty six gauge steel is an excellent thickness for practically any building application.
            Most quality steel buildings are going to be virtually maintenance-free because of the inherent strength and durability of premium quality steel. Make sure that the steel building company you are considering will be pre-engineered at the factory to meet or exceed the local building codes and be very resistant to the weather and elements in your area. Buildings “on sale” or “on the dock” are generally not equal to the proper coding your community requires.
            Be sure that an experienced engineering design team is employed by any steel building company you are considering and that the company can fabricate to your requirements regardless of how elaborate your design specifications are. Check to see how many years of design experience that the company has.
            All steel building companies will claim they have the  best price. Make sure to make “apple to apple” comparisons with other companies to ensure that you are in fact getting the best price for the features offered. Any pre-fabricated steel building should come with galvanized girts and purlins in addition to extended weather-tight PBR (purlin bearing rib) roof panels. Make sure that you know the freight costs for your building and that it is not “hidden” in a total price package.
            Truss less design is a key feature to look for in order to maximize the amount of clear span (interior column free) interior space. This is critical if your building is to be used for a riding arena, large equipment storage, or a church among other applications that require interior obstacle-free environments.
            These are just a few of the factors to consider when determining what steel building company is the best choice for your next project.  

            There are a number of factors to keep in mind when considering the purchase of a new steel building. Whatever steel building manufacturer or supplier you choose remember to keep in mind some very important considerations.
            Don’t buy a steel building “on the cheap” and pinch pennies on your structure. If your building is going to cost thousands of dollars, the savings of a hundred dollars here or there is not going to be significant in the long run. Your are investing in a steel building that is going to be used for 30 to 50 years, so get the quality features that you want.
            Pay close attention to supposedly “can’t miss” buying deals. If you have two companies supposedly representing the same building to you that turn out to be thousands of dollars apart, investigate the fine print on why that situation exists. The likelihood is that one company is not fully revealing the true story on the quality of their building.
            Building codes are another very important factor. This is probably one of the most important issues to consider. It is your responsibility, not the building manufacturer or supplier, to make sure that you get in touch with your local building code office to see if approval can be obtained. Go over the building specifications, with the code office, that you have received from the company you are considering dealing with. Do not sign a contract or send in any deposit until you have verified the proper coding that is necessary to achieve approval. Changes in the contract to meet a proper code will always drive the price up. In order to avoid surcharges ensure that the contract reflects the proper specifications and coding before you sign.
            Make sure you get any agreement with a manufacturer or supplier in writing. Some companies may ask for a verbal approval in order to get the factory working or to “lock-in” the quoted price. This is never the way to go about a purchase. Getting all of the details in writing will ensure that you know exactly what you are buying.
            Today, modern building materials, insulation, and finishing options all figure in to the final cost of your steel building. The cost savings of a steel building over conventional construction can be formidable. Because the labor to assemble your structure is drastically reduced you can save up to 30% to 50% over the use of more traditional construction methods and materials.
            A steel building can be erected very quickly. A completely finished steel building, depending on size and complexity, can be operating in 60 to 90 days instead of the 6 months or more that conventional construction may take.
            Steel buildings are extremely durable. They do not normally require painting or maintenance. The final point to make is that they can last from 20 to 50 years, depending on the manufacturer.

            Metal building manufacturers and suppliers feature numerous metal framing types for their buildings. When purchasing from a manufacturer or supplier you want to select the metal building framing system that is most applicable to the use your metal building will have.
            If your plans are for a large manufacturing facility and interior columns are not obstructive, consider the option of a multi-span rigid frame metal building system. The use of interior support columns in lieu of clear-span construction will significantly reduce the cost of your building. Consider the multi-span frame option also if you are subdividing partitions into specific sections -a strip mall, for example. Clear-span construction should only be used when wide open spaces are required for your metal building’s interior. If you are needing a minimal square footage structure for storage you might want to consider tapered beams or a lean-to style to meet your building requirements.
            Give careful thought and consideration to the end-use of your metal building. You may be able to use a multi-span system for a warehouse or a retail store but a new church sanctuary or sports arena may require a clear span application.
            When selecting the proper frame for your metal building system you may want to consider this example. You are building a new gymnasium for your school. The gymnasium is to be 60 feet wide by 200 feet long. The roof pitch needs to be 3:12 and requires a 30 lb. per square foot snow load. You need the sidewalls to be at least 20 feet high for sporting activities. The solution for this example would be a clear-span metal building system because interior columns are not acceptable for a gym, clear-span can be up to 300 feet wide, the eave height is between 10 and 24 feet, and the metal frame system is expandable for additional square footage in the future.
            A single-span or multi-span configuration works for the vast majority of metal building projects. Storage and ancillary or add-on structures to your main building will save you money if you choose alternate metal framing systems for these structures.
            You may want to select a smaller clear-span building for you initial requirements if your budget is tight. As your space requirements enlarge in the future, and as your available building monies will allow, the end walls are easily removed and additional square footage applied in 20 to 25 foot bay increments usually. In most instances the original end walls can be re-used.
            The clear-span metal framing system is your obvious choice if an obstacle-free interior environment is required. Consider the multi-span metal framing system for your next metal building project if monies are limited and interior support columns are not an issue.      

The argument over what material to use in new building construction usually centers around the choice of either concrete or steel. Which is the better material? The answer is usually dependant on the type of building and its intended use. Both provide for many advantages and benefits.
            The first consideration is one of safety. The building core of a concrete building is very safe. Cast-in-place concrete offers outstanding protection against any impact. It can also endure fire for a long time without any loss to its structural integrity. There is no need for additional fireproofing of concrete to meet fire codes. The mass and strength of concrete also provides for high wind protection, The proper design of a concrete building can also help with any seismic concerns. Steel design and construction now can include spray-on fireproofing which enhances the natural non-combustibility of steel. Steel’s strength, along with professional engineering and design, also make it a material of choice for active seismic zones. Steel framed buildings also perform well under high wind conditions. Steel can bend without breaking in the most adverse of wind conditions and absorb the energy without any negative effects.
            The second consideration in the choice of materials is the cost. The price of ready-mix concrete remains relatively stable. However, the cost of cast-in-place concrete construction can be pricey on the front end. This is offset by possible reduced building insurance premiums because of concrete’s increased safety and structural integrity. Although steel, in recent years, has seen increased prices, structural steel still only represents only 20 percent of all of the steel used in building construction. Project costs in the most recent years have gone up about 10% , but that is in large part due to the increase in costs in every construction material, not just steel. Sturdy I-Beam construction represents less than 2% of this 10% increase in costs. Compared to steel, concrete costs have gone up pretty much equivalently.
            The availability of materials is another factor. Shortages of cement, the primary binding element for concrete, have been reported across the United States, especially in the aftermath of recent hurricanes. Shipping rates and a limited number of transportation ships have also contributed to shortages. This has resulted in higher costs and unreliable supplies of concrete. The availability of steel has been questioned in recent years, primarily due to the explosive growth of the Chinese economy. Shortages now, however, are lessening. There is now adequate capacity to meet any growth in structural steel needs in the near future.
            The final consideration is the design possibilities of both materials. Concrete can, basically, take on any shape or form. Cast-in-place concrete for use in a high rise office building can yield more rental space because of lower  floor-to-floor heights. Steel, on the other hand, has the highest strength-to - weight ratio of any construction material. Clear span steel construction is available to provide wide areas of space without the need for interior load-bearing columns.          
 

            When considering purchasing a steel building many consumers are confused about building codes and the purpose of drawings for their proposed project. This article, hopefully, will answer some of those questions.
            A building permit is required, in most cases, before erection of any steel building. Agricultural buildings are exempt, in most areas, from the permitting process as many of them are in remote areas and/or outside of the city or township’s jurisdiction. Consumers should check with a local building inspector to see if a steel building will be permitted at the intended site before purchasing the building from any company.
            Most steel building companies or suppliers will represent the minimum specification requirements as being sufficient to conform to any permitting process. This is not always satisfactory, and again, the consumer must check with their local building authorities to find out what the correct codes and loads are.
            Before purchasing a steel building ask for a copy of the purchase contract from the company you are considering buying from. Taking this copy to a building code office will be a great help to the inspector in order to secure the correct information he needs to determine if your building will meet codes.
            Permit drawings are sometimes required by your building code office to be submitted in order to get the necessary approvals. Inquire with the steel building company you are considering buying from whether these drawings are available pre-purchase.
            Some building inspectors require engineer stamped drawings. Engineer stamped drawings and design calculations are available from most steel building manufacturers and suppliers. Most steel building companies require an engineering deposit before they will complete standard erection drawings. Most companies use a computer generated drawing to include the anchor bolt plan with reactions which will provide your foundation engineer with all of the information necessary to design the proper foundation for your steel building.
            These drawings also include diagrams of each connection that will be used in your steel building as well as cross-section diagrams for every part of your building.
            Remember, the ultimate responsibility for getting permitting paperwork for your steel building is yours. You must employ excellent scrutiny of the steel building company you are considering buying from in parallel with getting the correct answers from your local building code office.

            Choosing the right material and design method for your roof may not be as simple as you may think. There are many different factors that are going to affect your decision. The redesign of any existing structure or the need for an entirely new facility has led many people to choose a steel roof.
            Roofing integrity is a concern for many consumers, businesses, and organizations. Traditionally the life expectancy of a roof depended on many factors including proper design, construction, and maintenance. Steel roofing in the 21^st century addresses all these concerns. First the design of today’s steel roofing is extremely adaptable to almost any design specification. Low profile or steeper pitched roofs are readily available and easily installed as are the optional amenities of parapets or mansards. Secondly, construction of a steel roof is easily adaptable to be placed atop any existing structure. New all-steel buildings accentuate even more the ease with which a steel roof can be attached. Maintenance of any steel roof is virtually nil and outperforms the need for patching and repair so evident when using non-steel components for a roof. Lack of maintenance on old non-steel roofing systems can become a big integrity a safety problem in a hurry.
            The primary factor to consider with any steel roof is the slope or pitch. Low profile or even flat roof design are at the low end of the spectrum of steel roof design. 6:12 (six inches of rise for every foot of run) or “ski slope” pitches are the other end of the spectrum. Most people find a roof pitch solution somewhere in between. Steel roofing pitch can also affect the interior volume of the building. If you have a building that will need 100 feet in width and rise to a gable in the center, the roof pitch will be critical. A 1:12 roof pitch will have the roof rise four feet, two inches from the eave to the gable. Employing a 4:12 pitch to the same dimensioned roof has the roof rising just short of seventeen feet at the gable from the eave. If your interior space is requiring a ten foot ceiling, this rise in the roof will increase the interior volume substantially. If this interior volume needs to be heated or cooled, the roof rise will add to your long-term energy costs.
            Steel roofing is an excellent performer. Exterior environmental conditions have an impact on any type of roofing system. In cold climates, the dangers of ice dams or water back-up can be very damaging to any shingled roof. Additionally, high wind areas adversely affect shingled roofs with the danger of blow-offs. The use of a standing seam steel roof system can help to alleviate any complications of water ponding and will not blow off, as all steel roofs approved for high-wind areas meet or exceed the wind loads established by local building codes.
            Look into the benefits of a steel roof for your new steel building project or the re-fitting of your current structure.

            The heat build-up within a steel building is, in large part, determined by the building’s roof reflectance under the sun. “Cool roof” technology initiatives have been applied in the 21^st century to help improve any steel building’s resistance to heat.
            Roofs that have non-reflective pigments of the same color will not dissipate and reflect heat as roofs employing infrared reflecting elements in their composition. Infrared reflecting elements on roofs keep steel building interiors cooler.
            The reflecting of light and heat is only a partial answer for the need for dissipation of the light and heat away from the steel building. Heat that is not reflected by the roof is absorbed into the structure. Steel buildings will react in one or a combination of three ways with exposure to light- it will absorb it, reflect it, or transmit the light. Any light introduced to a steel roof is either absorbed or reflected. Much of the sunlight introduced to the roof can be reflected away successfully with the use of certain pigments in the paint of the roof. Remember, that light that is absorbed by the roof and the steel structure of the building is converted to heat within the building.
            Radiation, convection, or conduction will dissipate the heat build up within a steel building. The emission of radiation of energy away from the roof is called radiation. The transfer of heat from the steel building into the air is called convection. The movement of heat through solid materials from a high temperature area to a lower temperature area is called conduction. In relation to a roof on a steel building conduction will travel from the roof’s surface, then go underneath, through the decking, rafters, joists, walls, and ultimately throughout the entire steel structure. The processes of conduction and convection make heat easy to draw into a steel building.
            There will be a large amount of heat built up by an uncoated steel roof while exposed to the sun. A large portion of this heat can be radiated away from the roof and structure with the use of a coated steel roof. The amount of energy expenditure within the building to keep it cool will, in large part, be determined the roof’s reflectivity.
            Absorption of any light introduced by the sun is essential to dissipation of this same heat by way of the radiation process. The use of highly reflective roofs then, in contrast, will not  be as effective in heat blockage because the proven heat reduction capacity of certain pigmented paints has not been applied.
            The painted roof stipulations, in some states, have been written into their building codes. The code specifies that the roofing material needs to be coated with a durable paint finish.
            The steel building purchaser should consider introducing reflective paint pigments onto the roof to maximize reflectance of the roof and, subsequently, the entire structure. No dulling of paint characteristics is necessary. “Cool roofing” will pay more and more a part in the future of steel building construction.     

            Steel is gaining in popularity across the nation as the building material of choice because of the many options that it offers. The primary advantages of steel are its strength and its affordability. Pre-fabricated steel storage buildings are becoming the structure of choice for storage facility owners and investors alike. Steel storage buildings are seen in one-car garages to jumbo jet airplane hangars. The most popular use, in the 21^st century, for steel storage structures is seen in self-storage units. These units are popular because they are secure, provide ample space, are made of a very strong material, and have virtually no maintenance.
            Steel is the preferred material of choice when building self-storage buildings because they are strong enough to be resilient to even extreme weather conditions. Steel self-storage buildings are resistant to high winds, heavy snows, and seismic activity. Low structural overhead costs also make it an economically viable building option. Steel self-storage buildings can be coated with aluminum compounds to help prevent rusting. Coating steel panels with aluminum prevents rusting and increases the life of the panels to many decades.
            Steel self-storage buildings are quick and easy to erect. These structures are pre-engineered and pre-fabricated at the factory and are shipped complete directly to the job site. Once at the jobsite they can be rapidly assembled. Self storage buildings made of steel are pre-punched, pre-drilled, and pre-welded at the factory to make for faster erection, thus helping to defray labor costs at your construction site.
            Steel self-storage buildings are also versatile. They are furnished with adjustable interior panels, so that the size of each individual unit can be changed and customized to the space requirements. Steel self-storage buildings are easily expandable to allow for simple addition of new units to the existing structure. End walls are easily removed and the necessary additions installed. In most cases the original end walls can be reused. The lack of the need for interior support columns allows for the use of more square footage within the self-storage structure.
            The likelihood of a fire destroying a steel self-storage building or spreading to a number of units is remote as steel is a non-combustible product.
This makes steel self-storage buildings especially suitable for storing chemicals or other materials that may be hazardous. Use of security systems such as alarms and coded keypads helps to increase the security of these buildings. The non-combustibility of steel can also lessen the insurance premiums for your building. Check with your insurance agent.
            Initial costs for steel buildings are not generally lower than the costs of more conventional construction methods and materials. The total costs, however, are usually more easily and accurately predicted and budgeted for. Steel buildings that are used for storage purposes cost less than traditional buildings, so they can be pre-engineered to the precise requirements of the purchaser.