Thinking Outside the Box

Steel buildings outpace conventional construction in time, cost, maintenance and sustainability. These are all very important factors to consider when planning and budgeting for a new building. In today’s uncertain economy the goal is a combination of both saving money while maintaining professional quality. Yet, the devil is in the details and it is therefore important that your new building can comply with local building codes.

Building code compliance is one of the first factors to consider when purchasing a steel building. There are many thresholds of compliance that conventional buildings must undergo due to changing engineering conditions. A conventionally designed building must be coded individually while steel building manufacturers and suppliers, on the other hand, will meet or exceed applicable codes prior to the shipment of the steel building.

Construction time is another factor to consider. It takes more time to construct a conventional building. The implementation of non-standard materials requires onsite customization in order that the structure is correctly engineered, fabricated and erected. All component parts of a steel building are pre-welded, pre-drilled, and pre-punched prior to shipping to any job site. There is a shorter construction cycle with a steel building that can be completed in a fraction of the time that conventional buildings require.

Cost savings is another important consideration. Custom materials that are often required in conventional construction make final cost determinations difficult to estimate. These unpredictable costs often escalate the project’s expenditures. Higher costs are also seen in conventional buildings because the use of building materials is often inefficient. The use of a steel building ordered from a quality steel building manufacturer or supplier can save you up to a third or more of the cost of a conventionally built structure. Standardization of steel building system design makes for a stable final cost determination.

The fourth factor to consider is that of flexibility. There are limitations to conventional construction based on local building code enforcement, material availability and fluctuating engineering expertise. There are structural options and other flexibilities provided with conventional construction, but usually with a large price tag. A standard, but flexible steel building design can be provided for much less money. Today’s steel buildings are customized with computerized design and engineering systems.

Maintenance is another important factor. There are varying degrees of maintenance required for conventional structures because of the types of materials used, the structure type and its location. Long-term maintenance factors can be very expensive. Steel buildings are not affected by such issues as rotting, warping, wasting and insect infestation that plagues conventional buildings. There is no regular maintenance required. Steel building wall paneling and roofing materials are treated with premium coating systems to minimize maintenance considerations.

The final issue is value sustainability. Conventional structures’ future values vary greatly with the materials that are employed, design of the building and construction methods. Quality steel buildings combine style, function, rapid erection and cost savings to provide a quality structure for many years. Steel has a multitude of applications to offer you. Therefore, if you have to construct a new building, think outside the box: building with steel and you will save time and money.

We hope this information has been helpful and that your next building project will be successful and trouble free. This article is intended only for general information purposes and is not to be interpreted as advice on the construction of your building. For specific questions, contact a licensed general contractor.

Understanding the Most Common Purlin Methods

What do you understand about purlins? They are an integral part of steel building construction. Let’s take a minute to discuss a few of the major purlin methods used in the industry.

Traditionally, hot-rolled purlins have been the standard for steel buildings. Because they can withstand great amounts of pressure, their use has been good for industrial buildings. But a more effective and affordable alternative might be what you are looking for in your building.

Choosing the right type of purlin depends on how you plan to use your steel building. The following article carefully addresses a couple of the most popular. A specific purlin technique that is implemented in many systems is that of hot-rolled steel beams. For production use in the early 1900s, roof framework assembly consisted of the roof trusses being spanned by hot-rolled channel and I-beam purlins. Only after many years of the origination of hot-rolled steel purlins would steel structure systems come into prevalent use.

Today, this technique can still be utilized for all-steel structures, especially in manufacturing facilities needing a lot of interior support. As matched up to lesser gauged designs, the evolving approval of hot-rolled steel beams is, in large part, because of their elevated load sustaining features. The beams themselves can be used with traverses above 30 feet. Hot-rolled purlins are also supportive of hefty overhead building loads throughout the internal building. This approach, although robust, can have a high price.

The figure of hot-rolled steel structure roof purlins are determined by the channels and wide flanges design. Hot-rolled purlins can be utilized with steel decking which allows for excellent support and can traverse protracted intervals. Putting the primary frame rafters lower than the purlins is usually quite economical. A specific deck’s load bearing capacity determines the purlins’ intervals. Incorporating a roof-deck diaphragm or sag rod bracing can adapt the strains acting on the purlins. There can be installation of sag rods up to three inches below the top of the steel. This aids in lowering torsional features. Braced or unbraced hot-rolled steel purlins are readily adaptable for uplift, but “Z” and “C” cold-formed framework is not readily customizable to this power. An additional purlin set up to think about is the implementation of open-web steel joists. Also called bar joists, these can reach longer expanses than hot-rolled or cold-formed purlins. Open web joists are very inexpensive to employ in pre-engineered steel systems that exceed 30 feet in span in addition to structures needing wider bays. Bar joists are unable to withstand sizable twisting or turning energies as they don’t have solid webs to assist in easing of this pressure. A standing-seam roof can be readily assembled and the diaphragm capability is supplied by horizontal rod or cable bracing with pre-engineered steel systems with open-web joists. In sound design arrangements using bar joists to support standing-seam roofing, there are a couple of authoritative approaches. To select a steel deck and to involve thin gauge hat channels which run overhead the steel deck vertical to its flutes is one method. An additional steel roofing engineering technique is to not implement the steel deck in the formation, but establish tightly-spaced cross bridging instead. Cross bridging makes the structure very stable and resistant to force.

There you have it. Obviously, there is a much more complex level of purlins that we did not cover in this brief article. We hope, however, that this article was able to make you aware of the choices available on the market. For any specific questions, we recommend that you contact a licensed general contractor.

Steel I-Beam Roofs Out Performs Open Webb Truss Design

Steel I-Beam framing construction surpasses any other steel building design options available today. Consumers often inquire about the advantages of I-Beam construction and Galvalume® roofs when compared to an open webb truss design. This article will emphasize a number of those differences.

Most roofs from quality steel building manufacturers or suppliers use a strong and durable Galvalume® roof. This typically consists of a steel roof coating comprised of 55 percent aluminum, 44 percent zinc, and one percent silicon. Aluminum is a key factor here as it is highly rust resistant. There are also very substantial warranties provided with Galvalume® roofs and, in most cases, these provide at least a 20-year rust through perforation warranty. A hole going through a roof panel will be replaced by the factory.

Galvalume® roofs require very little maintenance, retain their luster over many years and will not dull. There is never a need to paint or patch your roof. Open webb truss designed buildings offer substantially reduced guarantees on their roofs. They sometimes utilize only a zinc coating which has a tendency to oxidize, darken in color and be susceptible to rust. Most quality steel building companies will supply only a stainless steel capped fastener which has a substantial warranty and will not rust. Stainless steel does not tarnish or turn a darker color. This helps to maintain the appearance and integrity of your steel roof. Some open webb truss providers use a zinc fastener which will rust over time. Other companies employ an alloy head which will not rust, but will darken in color and detract from the roof’s appearance.

Quality steel building suppliers will use roof panels that are made of heavy duty and durable 26-gauge Galvalume®. This is a strong and hard roof and will easily support someone walking on it. With open webb truss designs, some companies will use only a lighter 29-gauge steel. This steel is more than 30 percent lighter than 26-gauge steel and will not be as strong or durable.

Steel building companies supplying I-Beam framing usually provide a roof that has at least an 1¼ inch depth to the corrugation in the sheeting. The depth of the corrugation in a steel roof adds a lot to the inherent strength. Companies using open webb truss design use only a 5/8 inch depth to the corrugations on their roofs. This is about half the depth of a Galvalume® roof and, by definition, less strong. Sheets on the roof overlap at each bay with I-Beam framed buildings using Galvalume® roofs. The overlapping prevents water from backing up through the overlap into the building, preventing leaks and providing for a dry interior. This purlin braced roof system is very strong and prevents the roof sheeting from bending or cracking. Open webb truss designed roofs use an “R” panel roof that does not have good overlap integrity. Leaks are likely to develop, as the water will back up into the building. Shorter overlaps also reduce the strength of the roof. Choose your roof wisely when purchasing your next building.

Getting Started

As you proceed with the planning of your building project, you may be deliberating between whether or not to work with a contract manufacturer or a broker. This is an important, preliminary decision as you are getting started. Therefore, you will benefit from being informed as to the differences between a broker and a contract manufacturer.

Hoping to amplify profits, brokers look for the lowest priced building supplies to fill the order with anticipation of enticing building shoppers to their low costs. Brokers are often concerned with approximating the size to the lowest cost (and normally cut-rate caliber) materials. Brokers will not supply much, and for some structures, no assistance to the prospective buyer.

Building resources trucked to your assembly site and a construction guide might be the only help supplied. For certified blueprints and anchor bolt patterns, a good number of steel structure brokers charge on the back end of the project. Sometimes when purchasing with a broker, the buildings are incorrectly fashioned and require more time to construct. Brokers commonly conduct business from a phone room and they often don’t understand the product they are selling. Closing deals is their only function.

To outfit a prefabricated, pre-engineered steel building, elements such as windows and doors are important. Brokers deal in this area and problematic quality grade might be an issue. Brokers will often offer a low cost substitute for the premium product.

Due to the fact that steel costs climbed awhile back, the American Institute of Steel Construction approved the use of expense escalation provisions in building agreements. Not having the steel building in position for production rapidly made this necessary. From the point the structure was purchased, previous to being released for fabrication, the structure merchant could impose a balance due for the rise in expenditures for steel. You should make sure your price is secured.

A full-service contract manufacturer is a viable option. Unlike brokers, professional contract manufacturers have their product specifications listed with different steel building manufacturers. All of these requirements are pre-determined and fabricated at the most economical and convenient sites. These buildings will be adjoined together with bolts and require no welding. Correctly produced steel building products are sold by contract manufacturers. Any purchaser is allowed the opportunity to engineer and design their building through a contract manufacturer.

Contract manufacturers will not determine or pre-designate supplemental components for the steel building, but commonly offer these kinds of selections at direct pricing. A person of contact is usually available to help with the building codes, helping with the site plans examiner, recommending erectors and acquiring architectural renderings to help with code approvals. Contract manufactures provide optimum touch and optimum service with each undertaking, paced by the buyer.

When using a contract manufacturer, the customer controls costs, square footage, the options they desire and the erector they want. With a structure project there are not any undisclosed expenses. The good news for you is that a contract manufacturer can help anyone set up a new all-steel building at the greatest economic value.

Reasons You Might Build With Steel This Year

An extremely durable and hardy building material, premium grade steel has been continuously increasing in acceptance for a number of demands and plenty of building structure styles. Steel is very recyclable and presents both environmental and monetary advantages. Steel is among the most heavy duty and durable materials you can use in a building.

When you choose to engineer with steel, there are a broad assortment of selections available to you. Pre-engineered steel structure systems supply one of the most creative designs that can be used. They are pre-engineered, pre-punched, pre-welded and pre-drilled at the steel building factory before shipping to your construction site. Building construction is the only action remaining. As they simply bolt together, pre-engineered steel structures are relatively easy to assemble, requiring minimal professional construction assistance. On a few smaller buildings, no skilled help is necessary.

Most steel building systems feature free span (no support columns in the interior) erection. This sustains a barrier-free interior environment nearly the length of a football field in breadth, great for sports complexes. Useable floor space is augmented, and although the width cannot be changed once built, there are no limits to length requirements.

Allowing savings up to about half of the budget for similar dimensioned traditional buildings, pre-engineered steel structure systems are more rapid to go up and not difficult to put together. They can be engineered to your exact specifications. Pre-engineered steel structure systems are receiving increased recognition as fellowship halls, legal businesses, colleges, warehouses and restaurants. Before the final design and engineering of your steel structure is confirmed, factors like the ground at your job site, other buildings close by and type of use should be considered.

Pre-engineered and pre-fabricated steel homes have also become extremely popular recently. They offer more affordability compared to conventionally constructed homes and many other benefits. Manufactured or modular are the choices for pre-engineered high-grade steel homes. One distinction is manufactured housing does not have to be constructed subscribing to prevailing local codes, although modular residences must satisfy any municipal building code office guidelines. Modular houses are usually thought to be more reliable and sturdy as opposed to manufactured residences.

Whether you are considering putting together a modular or manufactured residential structure, an additional store, sports arena or hospital, all-steel buildings will afford you a vast variety of durable and affordable alternatives. From any reliable steel structure company or supplier, you can acquire helpful facts free before purchasing your steel structure.

Don’t Be Blindsided

Happy New Year!!! We hope that your 2009 is off to a great start for you. If you are visiting this site then you may be thinking about constructing a new steel building this year. We wish you all the best in this venture and wanted to share some words of caution as you proceed with this endeavor.

The construction of a new steel building begins (among other key preliminaries) with the purchase of the materials. This is often done through a company that sells a pre-engineered building kit. This is a good and recommended approach. But, how do you find the best company to purchase from, a company that you can trust. Some have transferred their buying habits from Amazon and e-bay over to more sophisticated purchases, such as shopping for a multi-million dollar steel building. In other words, they shop online by simply doing a Google search for “steel buildings” and going with the first company that pops up on the top of the screen. Needless to say, this is not a good and recommended method to shop for a steel building unless you first understand a few truths about the market and the companies that are out there. Nevertheless, since it is a growing approach that people are taking to shop for a new steel building, we wanted to take some time and briefly discuss this practice.

Purchasing steel buildings online has gained popularity over the past few years. And as long as you are armed with a few tips, navigating through the process will be safe and effective. Although there are many advantages to this process, there are also deficiencies and caveats that need to be pointed out so that the consumer is protected and ultimately satisfied with the purchase. The #1 caveat is “Buyer Beware.” Hence, the following information is provided to you–four important guidelines when shopping for your building online.

(1). First, any online steel building website that features online ordering capability should have qualified, trained representatives who are also available at a phone number. Never order a building online without first talking to a representative of that company to ensure that they can provide you with a building that will meet your exact specifications. Find out if the representatives or estimators are competent by discussing your building needs first. Verify that they can help you now, through the planning portion of your project and upon completion.

(2). Second, get as much product information about the online company you are dealing with before purchase at its website through faxes, the Better Business Bureau or mailings. Be sure that you can obtain any information that you do not have through these resources by calling the company and getting answers to your questions.

(3). Third, remember the 3 “C’s.” The three C’s stand for Confirm, Compare, and Check-out. Here they are in detail.

(A). Confirm: Confirm that the design and pricing systems online are easy to use, especially if you are new to the steel building process. Most professional websites offer clear instructions on how to utilize their systems and/or provide a number to call so that a professional can walk you through the process.

(B). Compare: Comparison shop a number of steel building websites. Make sure that websites that are significantly under-pricing their buildings compared to other companies are comparing “apples to apples.” Some companies use thinner 29-gauge steel as opposed to the recommended 26-gauge premium standard.

(C). Check-out: Check and see if the applicable building codes for your area of the country are available online. It is best to check with your local building code office in order to know the correct tolerances before trying to price a building.

Some online building companies will try to sell you a steel building that is deficient in the proper codes and loads for your area. You will not be able to get the proper approvals to erect this building.

(4). Fourth, and lastly, it is important to remember the 3 M’s. Each “M” stands for “Make sure …” as they are key reminders of the potential financial and contractual entrapments that lie waiting for you at the hands of certain companies.

(A). Make sure that the shipping costs of your building are itemized in the contract. Some companies hide the actual shipping costs in a very vague “final price” listing that does not specify shipping charges.

(B). Make sure that the company can deliver the building in line with your project schedules and not their convenience.

(C). Make sure that there will be a technical assistance person that you can contact at any point up through and upon completion of your project to resolve any problems. Some companies do not provide this service — you are on your own.

The pre-engineered steel building industry has enjoyed over 60 years of excellent sales and results. Steel buildings are some of the most durable structures available and some come with substantial warranties. There are excellent benefits when buying a building online if the consumer knows what to look for.

The bottom line is that you have to perform your due diligence. Once again, check this company out thoroughly! Verify any references. Read through any customer complaints or satisfaction reports that you may find. Don’t be blindsided when you have this much invested money on the line.