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If you have questions about steel buildings, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m always eager to help the first time builder learn the benefits of building with steel. Let’s get right to it! Here are detailed answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What should I do before I buy my steel building?

So you need more space and you have a good idea of what you’re going to be using, right? The next step is to call your county building and zoning office. You’ll want to check for things like variances, setbacks and floodplains. There are also load requirements you must follow. Check with your homeowners association as well to get specific colors and sizes that adhere to your neighborhood’s covenants if applicable. Have an idea of details like your budget, dimensions, timeline and land conditions. Once you’ve secured your steel price, your project manager will give you an idea of what kinds of questions to ask and what resources you will need to get those additional questions answered.

Aren’t all steel buildings the same?

All steel buildings are not the same; in fact, some steel buildings are designed to be as cheap as possible in an effort to increase profit. Some suppliers use inferior paint and coating systems or require the erector to attach each clip by hand. Other companies use zinc fasteners and some even use 29-gauge wall and roof panels with little or no warranty. That’s not what you want! The BEST steel building providers fabricate buildings that come with structural and paint warranties. Keep in mind, those same great steel building providers will use top of the line materials and coatings, like pre-galvanized secondary framing and rust proof long-life fasteners. The steel building you want will come factory welded so you don’t have to spend any time welding in the field.

Should I shop based on price alone?

Absolutely not. For many people, buying a steel building is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. With a decision this important, it’s imperative you know what you’re buying. There are plenty of ways to save money when constructing a steel building, but sacrificing quality design and attention to detail isn’t one of them. These factors contribute to the ease of assembly; on-site delays can get expensive quick. The cheapest building might sound like a deal, when it’s quite the opposite. Those on-site costs outweigh your savings when you’re forced to hire a welder, custom fabricate missing parts, or worse yet, be stuck waiting months for replacement parts.

How strong is the steel used in my steel building?

When it comes to steel, thicker doesn’t necessarily mean stronger. Steel strength is a combination of thickness (gauge), hardness (strength), rib height and spacing. On top of that, you want your building to ‘bend’ slightly, not be immobile. This is called ‘deflection;’ an engineering term meaning the degree to which a panel is displaced under a load. Ideal panels are 26-gauge, full-hard, high-yield strength panels with close rib spacing. Basically, what you want are panels that provide the greatest structural integrity.

How do I design my steel building? Will I need an architect?

Not always. In fact, structural engineers at steel building suppliers design most of the steel buildings you see today. For simple buildings, a project manager will be able to help you with all of the required elevations and drawings of your new building. Project Managers are experienced in helping customers like you plan your building from the ground up. You’ll find that most of your needs can be met by a structural engineer or a designer. Architects are usually only needed for designs like multi-level office building or structures with complex interior designs. Architects are rarely concerned about cost and even simple designs can be expensive. Prepare to shell out for ‘custom designed’ buildings from an architect. Generally, if an architect is needed, have them design around the steel building design rather than have the steel building supplier design around architectural plans. Some architects aren’t familiar with the engineering or design criteria of specific steel building suppliers.

How difficult will it be to erect my building?

Most people with a basic knowledge of construction are able to assemble pre-engineered steel buildings easily. We do recommend a professional erector for projects that have a clear span width of 80 feet or more. Good steel building providers will provide easy to understand construction drawings, with each part numbered and labeled clearly on your plans. In addition, there are rarely special tools that you’ll need to get your job done. The erection of most buildings simply requires the tools you’ll find in a standard tool kit. The truth is you don’t need to be a construction expert to build a steel building! You just need to be able to read and follow straightforward instructions.

Have more questions about steel buildings? Head over to our FAQ section, or contact a building expert today.

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Whether you’re looking to buy a commercial steel building or a workshop for your backyard, purchasing any kind of metal building is a big investment. Not only that, but there’s an emotional component to big financial acquisitions. As a buyer, you must look through all the sales and marketing mumbo jumbo to truly see the real integrity of a steel building provider. That’s where consumerism becomes tricky. What do you look for when you shop? Regardless of who you buy from, pay attention to these potential red flags when shopping for a steel building. Keep in mind, the term, “red flag,” doesn’t mean absolutely, positively, avoid at all costs. However, it should still raise some concern. I always recommend that you stop and think about your choice and how it will impact your personal situation.

Cheapest Building

There are a few ways to help you get the best possible price on your steel building, but buying the cheapest building available isn’t one of them. Cheap buildings potentially come with parts missing or holes that don’t line up because they were fabricated in a factory where speed, not quality, was the end game. In the construction industry, you truly get what you pay for. The cheapest buildings are the cheapest because companies don’t follow industry standards, and only look to pad their own bottom line. Savings in production costs doesn’t translate to savings for you.

Who sells cheap buildings? Steel building brokers can offer a cheap deal, with no concern for future costs. What about design and engineering? And those same brokers might leave the engineering to others and have less incentive to placate any warranty claims. When it’s all said and done – meaning the building is erected on your property – the cheapest building could end up being the most expensive because of labor costs, construction delays, and poor quality.

“All-Included”

Who doesn’t want everything included? When you’re buying a car, you’re told, ‘all-included,’ means that Bluetooth, power locks, air conditioning, and all the extras are lumped into the price. You don’t bat an eye. Why is that? Those accessories are what’s expected and common in new cars, and usually don’t significantly increase the price. But ‘all-included’ in the steel building industry is a little different, and here’s why.

Steel building accessories can be expensive, and steel building brokers and contractors selling turnkey buildings know it. You want to be able to select your own doors, windows, gutters and other add-ons, and have a say in what goes on your building. If you let someone pick these accessories out for you, you might be in for extra markups that you didn’t even know existed. Don’t let a building salesman pick out your doors and windows for you. It’s a big red flag if a provider won’t let you make your own selections. How do you know if you’re getting scammed or not? Would you buy a house without knowing what color it was? A steel building provider should offer you the option to manage these certain aspects of your own project.

Over-ambitious Delivery Options

A steel building isn’t a Blu-Ray player. It’s not a set of pots and pans, nor is it a speaker system for your truck. It doesn’t arrive to your property in 4-6 business days after you order it. You need to be flexible with your delivery schedule. It’s a huge red flag if any steel building provider is way over ambitious with delivery options.

I don’t have a problem admitting that the process of a steel building purchase, from conception to completion, takes time. If you decide to buy a steel building, your project won’t hit a project manager’s desk until engineers draft and provide drawings for your job. Then you’ll go through the Direct Buy process, where you can design and pick your accessories (remember from earlier?). You might have changes you’d like to make in this process. Then you’ll have to ‘OK’ a set of revised approval drawings. After that, you’ll take your engineering drawings to your county for permitting purposes. The county will verify wind, snow and seismic loads. I’m sure you’re starting to get the picture, and I haven’t even brought up fabrication yet. A meticulous effort must be provided in order to guarantee your building stands for decades, or longer. In the fabrication stage, holes must line up and parts fit together perfectly so you can erect your building with ease, the first time, the only time.

Be wary of steel building providers that say they can get you a steel building in a matter of weeks. Even if it’s possible, do you know exactly what you’re getting?

Most times, you can work with the shipping and logistics department to work out your freight plan and delivery schedule. In reality, if you can be flexible with regards to your delivery date, there might be a big opportunity to save some money through freight consolidation.

Keep in mind: the amount of time spent on each project will vary from person to person. While the entire process can be lengthy, it’s in place to guarantee you get precisely what you want.

Can you think of any more red flags? Join the conversation below!

Photo courtesy: Alfred Smith

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Supply and demand. It’s the most important determination of microeconomics and it's the backbone of macroeconomics. Supply and demand says that a price for a particular good will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers. Think about it this way: Supply is how much of something is available, while demand is how much of something people want.

Let’s get down to the ‘nitty gritty,’ and how supply and demand factors in determining your steel price. Of course, you want to get the most bang for your buck if you decide to invest in a building of any kind. Like gas and oil, steel is also a commodity that undergoes price fluctuations. And like any commodity, those prices are affected by supply and demand. Just like that, we’ve gone full circle.

As a consumer, you’re familiar with the increases and decrease of oil and gas prices, because you see them everyday. But steel prices aren’t front-page news. Natural disasters, labor disputes and seasonal or large project demands of the construction industry might not automatically trigger a response much like the feeling you get when you pass a gas station, and see the price jump 10 cents in 4 hours. But it still happens everyday, whether you are aware of it or not.

While the cost of steel as a commodity will continue to fluctuate, the price of finished steel will always rise. That’s because plant workers and fabricators need to be paid. Most of the time, labor rates won't drop. So as finished steel (used in steel buildings) is produced, you can count on the price increasing as time goes on. Recently we had a drop in gas prices across the country. That drop also influenced steel. Change in the price of gas made it cheaper to transport the finished and fabricated steel to and from facilities, and to and from customers looking to build. Now, it’s true there will be minor fluctuations in finished steel, but typically, you can count on the price rising over time.

So when is the best time to lock in your steel price? Right now it isn't possible to lock in a steel price.

With a small engineering payment, you will get your project started! Once you make the engineering deposit, your project is ready to hit the desk of an engineer and project manager!

You might wonder why we need to charge you an engineering payment. While not exactly similar, the small payment acts kind of like a down payment on a house. This is a non-refundable expense that goes towards the total purchase price of the building. But it does so much more than a down payment does. Not only is it a guarantee to get your project started, but it’s also a covenant from our engineers. They’ll begin work on your dream building drawings and blueprints in our in-house engineering department as soon as it’s received.

Once you have your drawings, you can obtain a loan from your bank if necessary. For reference, don’t pour your foundation or try and get a permit before you have your preliminary drawings. It’s a huge blunder!

Steel prices are subject to change as quickly as the weather changes. Not that they will, but contractors will likely need to adjust their quotes based on the market.

Photo courtesy: BrooklynJohn, James Case

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A new church building project is a huge undertaking. From choosing what type of building you want to the materials and design, you might think it could be tough to get exactly what you want for your budget. That’s true of any building project. In the construction industry, transparency is one of the goals of every supplier, but that’s unfortunately not always the case with everyone. As you set out to plan your project, you want to make sure your congregation isn’t taken advantage of or overcharged. That’s easier said than done.

When you begin to discuss a church building project, one of the most anticipated questions will be, “Who should we choose to build our sanctuary?” Pretty logical, right? It’s obviously one of the first steps towards your new building. But in order to plan a church building project, your church must decide what it wants. On the issue of costs, there is no, ‘do-over,’ when it comes to your building. You can’t go back to your congregation and ask for more money after mistakes have been made.

Now, when it comes to home repairs, you should be able to trust a local contractor to get the job done right for the first time. But when you decide to buy a steel church building, it’s another story entirely. Hire a contractor after you’ve purchased your steel building! Why? There are several things your contractor doesn’t want you to know – and it could jack up the cost of your project.

He’s not a designer

Contractors are many things. Most are excellent at their jobs. They do great work and provide a great service. In order to get your business, they might recommend certain designs they’ve seen in the past. But get one thing straight: Contractors are builders, not designers. That means you’ll need an architect to design your building, which is a huge additional expense.

Some steel building providers, like Armstrong Steel, have an in-house engineering department and design team. You’ll work on the design with a project manager, and plan out every aspect of your project with them. They’ll determine structural specifications based on your location without the extra expense of an architect. The project manager’s sole responsibility is to ensure your project stays on budget and on schedule – at little or no extra expense to you.

If you ask a contractor about the design process, they might not have an answer, other than referring you to an architect or other designer that will handle church design. While an architect can design the church building of your dreams, those drawings can get expensive as more intricate details are added. If an architect is absolutely necessary, have them design around the pre-engineered steel building designs, rather than having a steel building provider design around architectural plans. Architects can take a steel building provider’s completed structural drawings and foundation plans, and bring them all together in one set.

The cheapest building isn’t your best bet

When you’re shopping for groceries, and you buy in bulk, those food items cost less. It’s the same rule with steel buildings. Steel building suppliers can get lower prices based on the amount of steel they buy on a regular basis. Contractors don’t have the same buying power. In order to stay in the competition, those contractors might offer the cheapest building initially, but then hide huge markups in the bid. Material costs can really get out of hand if you don’t choose a company that allows you to secure your steel price.

The cheapest preliminary price of a church building project could sound like a sweet deal, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. How could a contractor really know exactly what you need, and have the means to provide it? Those types of buildings are rarely tailored to your exact desires and might come with parts missing, or holes that don’t properly line up. This leads to even more cost increases down the road, from on-site delays to the price of getting new materials and equipment.

Contractors who lure you in with a low price might try to convince you to upgrade to better materials halfway through the process. Don’t trust any contractor that won’t provide an itemized list of all expenses before you begin your project. Your steel building provider will lock in your order, and work with you to detail your accessories and add-ons like doors, windows, and insulation. Those accessories can be ordered direct from the supplier, free from contractor markup.

He’s screwed up church building projects in the past

We all make mistakes. However, you probably won’t have a contractor admit them to your face. It’s up to you to check their references and reviews. Did people complain about them online? Did they finish every project, like they said they would? Do they have money troubles? Have they obtained the right licenses in the state? After you design your steel church building with a reputable company, you’ll need to hire someone to erect your building, do your research into local contractors or ask for a referral. It’s a great idea to talk to past clients and ask to see a completed church-building project or work in progress.

It will be more expensive to buy from him

Heard of the term, ‘contract overhead?’ That could be the cost of the materials, concrete foundation, or any type of subcontracted work in your bill. You might ask, “If I were going to use a contractor in the first place, shouldn’t I just buy from them?” The answer is a resounding No. You’ll be able to get a better steel price and control your costs if you do business with a steel building manufacturer. Avoid that hidden ‘overhead’ from a contractor.

When it comes to your new church-building project, there are no silly questions. When you’re ready to start planning your next project, give me a call and I’ll make sure you know everything you need to know before you begin.

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When people ask me what I do for a living, I always have one answer to explain my job. I make people’s pre-engineered metal building dreams come true. No, I’m not a magician, or a genie, and I don’t have any supernatural powers. But I do have the ability to grant wishes. That requires a specific understanding of people and an urge to assist them at all times. I learn what you want, how you want it, and why you want it. It all starts with a simple connection. We’re talking about a steel building quote.

Let me explain. Our industry is a little different than other industries. While a big box store can advertise their prices out in the open, it’s just not possible for our industry. In fact, it’s a big red flag if a steel building supplier flaunts their prices out in the open. That’s something only a steel building broker would do. Brokers think they’re doing you a favor. As they see it, now you can comparison shop, as if you were buying a car or a TV. But how did they arrive at any number, especially without knowing what you want, how you want it, why you want it, and most important, where do you want it?

Armstrong Steel, like many other steel building providers, works with in-house estimators to determine your price per pound of steel that eventually becomes the frame, walls, and roof of your steel structure. We’ll call that your base building. How is this accomplished? The simple answer: Math.

Our professional estimators take many factors into account. They look at the dimensions of your building (that you provided), and it factors in the price of the finished steel as a commodity. The price of the individual metals, like steel, are determined by current and future supply and demand. They also take a look at your zip code.

Every area across the United States is subject to different weather patterns. That’s one of the reasons why you’re asked for your zip code. A steel building in Jacksonville, Florida will constantly have to deal with winds coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. This will affect the building’s wind loads, and the building will have to be engineered to withstand gale force winds that could result in a hurricane. By the same token, a steel building with the same dimensions in Lubbock, Texas won’t have to be engineered to resist an east coast storm. It’s the same for snow, and seismic activity. So which building do you think would have a cheaper quote? The more of the elements a building must endure, the more steel is required to “shore up” the building, and therefore, the price goes up.

That’s why we ask you to submit some of your information to receive a steel building quote from Armstrong Steel. That math that I spoke about earlier – the engineering and design process – is the most important part of a steel building purchase. Since those steel members are designed to carry a specific load, there is no way to give you an accurate price without knowing your unique needs and particulars. There really isn’t another way around it, unless you want to take your chances with a building that comes off an assembly line, and the only warranty you get is a pat on the back and a promise that the building will hold up in a weather event. A promise isn’t good enough.

After you speak with a building expert, you’ll want to lock in your order. It’s one of the secrets to getting the best deal on your steel building. I recommend locking in your order as soon as possible.

Your cost for accessories, like doors, windows, and insulation are usually NOT included in your steel building quote. If you choose to utilize the Direct Buy process, you’ll choose these add-ons directly from our project manager, or you can buy from a local company. Be sure to look at exactly what comes included on your quote. There will be a section on your quote which details EXACTLY what you’re getting.

One last thought: Your quote from Armstrong Steel might not be the cheapest out of all your quotes. Sometimes, it will be. But I want to warn you ahead of time not to shop based on price alone. For many people, buying a steel building is the culmination of a longtime dream come true. There is no reason for that dream to turn into a nightmare. It’s important to understand what you are getting with each quote. Trust me, there are tons of ways to save money on your steel building, but sacrificing design and engineering isn’t one of them. If your parts and components don’t fit together perfectly, you could experience costly on-site delays or problems down the road with labor costs. A steel building is an investment, and you want it to last – not just for years – but multiple decades.

A steel building purchase involves meticulous attention to detail. From the very beginning, even requesting a steel building quote, there is a plan in place to accurately assess your needs based on your geographic location, and the forces that will impact your structure. It’s not a guessing game, or a sales tactic. When it comes down to it, it’s just math.

If you have any more questions, I’ll be happy to answer them, or you can contact a building consultant to get started!

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It all starts with a wish. You’re looking for more space, and you need a building on your property. So you begin to fantasize about what you want. Are you looking for a pole barn, or would you rather have a steel building? As you continue to research the topic, you might start to initiate some kind of contact, and get price estimates or quotes.

Honestly, we wish pricing a building were as easy as publishing a long list of building prices for the public. It would go a long way to help people that are curious about steel building prices. Unfortunately, pre-engineered metal buildings are different than tuff sheds, or your basic lumber package. We, or anyone in the steel building industry, can’t put a set price on a building size like you’re accustomed to seeing at your favorite hardware store. If a steel building company gives you a concrete price BEFORE knowing your location and intended use of the building, it’s a big red flag. Most likely, that means you’re talking to a contract manufacturer, or broker. These companies are simply ‘middlemen,’ who sell you high, then order your building from someone else.

So you obviously have your computer, phone or tablet open right now. I’ll walk you through our Price a Building setup, and tell you everything you need to know to better understand the process, and help you get a more accurate steel building quote.

First, when you use the online price calculator, you’ll choose what type of building you want. Interested in a workshop, a barn, or commercial building? Knowing what type of building will help us know the building’s intended use. Now select your width and length. Most building widths are between 30’ and 150’, and lengths usually fall in the 40’ to 200’ parameters. If you think you need a building beyond those limits, pick what you think is the closest, or contact a building consultant for a more accurate steel building quote.

Then, you’ll select eave height and roof pitch. These are the two selections that bring about a ton of questions. Eave height describes the vertical distance between the floor and the top of the eave strut. The eave strut is the structural member that supports the roof and wall paneling. Basically, you’re picking how tall you want the building walls to be. Now you can pick your roof pitch. Think of what angle you want your roof to have. The angle of the roof, or pitch, is calculated by the number of inches it rises vertically for every 12 inches it spreads horizontally. For example, a roof that rises 2 inches for every 12 inches or horizontal run has a 2:12 pitch. The larger the first number is, the more sloped the roof will be. Do you want more of a flat roof? Pick 1:12 or 2:12. If you want more of a sloped roof, pick 4:12 or higher. Talk to your building consultant if you have anymore questions about your roof pitch options.

Next is zip code. We’re asking for the zip code county and state of the steel building site. This is because every location has different codes and requirements for erection. There are even snow loads, wind loads and seismic factors unique to every job site that affects how the building is engineered and fabricated. Estimators, engineers, and designers do a lot of work to determine all these influences and give you a precise proposal.

After that, you’ll pick your wall, roof, trim, and wainscot colors. All the colors listed are available for the exterior of your steel building. There are also a few different finishes you can select if you don’t want the outside of your building to flash the look of steel. You can pick from faux brick, stucco, vinyl siding, or even a wood exterior later in the process with the assistance from a project manager.

Once you’ve established the look of your building, you’ll have an opportunity to pick some accessories like gutters, skylights, cupolas, windows, doors and insulation. These add-ons will not show up on your building quote, but are in place to give a building consultant a better idea of your vision. Even if you’re not sure what you want now, you’re not married to any selection on this page. This is another benefit of the Direct Buy process. You’ll get to pick your accessories yourself, as opposed to letting a salesperson choose your additions, which could expose you to hidden markups. In addition, Armstrong Steel isn’t a door and window company, so you’ll never be obliged to buy those fixtures from us.

Finally, you’ve come to the end of this easy procedure. Review your selections, and feel free to make any changes if you feel like it’s necessary. Finally, fill out the remaining information. Once we’ve received this information, a building consultant will contact you. Our estimators will get to work. They’ll take all the information you’ve provided, assess the details and determine your codes, loads, and exposures, and provide you with a detailed steel building quote.

If you don’t want to wait, contact a building consultant now and get started!

Want more information like this? Visit the Steel Building Insider blog for tips and steel building advice.

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Let’s face it, when you set out to make a big purchase of any kind, it can be scary or frustrating. How do you know where to start? Are you paying too much? Have you comparison shopped enough? Are you really getting a deal, just because the company says you are? It can be such a nerve-wracking process! Basically, you want to accomplish two goals: get the best value for your money and have a stress-free experience.

Shopping for a steel building is no different. The trick is to be an empowered and knowledgeable consumer. So I have a few cold, hard facts to offer when you start shopping for your dream building.

A flashy website doesn’t always equal a good company

These days, anyone can buy a domain name with a couple bucks and slap a logo and a phone number on a web page. Forrester Research estimates that the U.S. online retail industry will be worth 279 billion dollars at the end of 2015. That’s because just over 80% of Americans have ever bought something online. Look over each steel building provider’s website, and make sure they offer reviews and testimonials, or ratings from organizations like the Better Business Bureau.

Don’t shop based on price alone

Being frugal is different than being cheap. Some people think that they are saving money by getting the cheapest steel building, but it can backfire. If you’re being frugal, you’re looking at getting more for your money. But if you buy cheap, you’re most likely getting a steel building that will need fixing or extreme maintenance down the road. One of the biggest benefits to a steel building is that, if it’s of quality construction, it will need little to no maintenance over the course of its lifetime. Unlike traditional construction methods, a steel building will last multiple decades. Armstrong backs that claim up by offering a 50-year structural warranty, 40-year Wall Panel and Paint Warranty, and a 35-year Roof panel warranty.

Project Managers should NOT be an extra cost

Most companies will not include a project manager when you make a steel building purchase. If they do, often times it’s an extra cost. Project Managers are focused strictly on your budget and your requirements, and they don’t care about profit. As a matter of fact, most of the time they are looking to save you money on your steel building. It’s imperative to choose a steel building supplier that provides you with a dedicated project manager. If they can’t, they are most likely a broker, or the same sales rep that originally sold you the building in the first place. With a broker, you don’t have a professional on your side, and you might not have any control on the design or engineering of the building.

An in-house engineering department makes all the difference

Why is it important to look for a steel building company with an in-house engineering department? Some companies farm the engineering and detailing duties out to other organizations that are halfway around the world. There’s nothing wrong with that, but wouldn’t you want to be able to talk to your engineer or detailer if you had any issues, or wanted to make any changes? When brokers work back and forth with contract dealers overseas, it opens up the risk for more accuracy errors, and quality control isn’t as closely monitored. The following scenario happens in our office frequently. A customer just like you will call or email us, ask a question, change the color of their building, add and subtract a few feet from the length of the building, inquire about an extra door or window, or have a hundred different requests pertaining to the process. You get the idea! So, instead of calling a different country and getting the ‘run-around’, our project managers stand up, walk out of their office, and step right up to our others engineers and estimators. The line of communication is open between departments, ensuring the precision of each request and order.

A steel building supplier with a manufacturing facility has a big advantage over those that don’t

Steel building suppliers that own and operate their own manufacturing facilities have a big benefit: control. They can focus on superior design, shipping, and plant efficiency. Companies that don’t have a manufacturing facility are subject to other factories or facilities making their product for them. As the demand for pre-engineered metal buildings continues to rise, suppliers with a manufacturing facility will be about to control the quality and direction of their product, manage their own costs, and adequately meet consumer demand.

You don’t deserve to be pressured into buying

From the moment you speak to a steel building supplier, you are going to be on their radar. After reading the Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Steel Building Quote, you understand why you are asked for your information and location. You don’t want to be constantly pressured to buy once you provide that information. Still, Armstrong Steel will continue to send you helpful resources in order for you to make an informed decision. We even provide a checklist on your steel building quote, and invite you to compare our characteristics to others. Even after you get a quote, there is no obligation beyond that. Yes, this is a business, but Armstrong Steel is in the business of people, not pre-engineered metal buildings. We’re here to help you realize your dreams.

Once you’ve completed your research, you’ll know what type of steel building you want. When you want to continue that journey, we’re here to help.

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Have you ever wondered if you can erect your own steel building? Is this a project that you can really do yourself?

You don’t have to wonder anymore. It is completely possible to erect a steel building yourself. Just ask Eric O. from Wabash, Indiana.

Eric had never assembled and erected a steel building before, but found that it wasn’t nearly as difficult as he first thought. “I had no big problems putting it together, all the pieces went together the way I saw in the [erection manual] and when I had questions, like on how to install the eaves, I called and was sent a sketch on how it was supposed to fit, no problem,” says Eric.

“I would work on the building in the evenings and on weekends,” says Eric. “It seemed like more of a hobby and less like work that way. It took me a few months, but I enjoyed doing all the work, myself.”

Eric’s story is just one of the many tales of people putting steel buildings up themselves. Sure, it took a few months, but he did it. Himself. You can imagine how he swelled with pride as he tightened the last fastener and gazed upon his 20-year dream in the making.

Pride isn’t the only reason do-it-yourselfers take on this pre-engineered challenge every day. I’m not sure I know anyone who isn’t in the business of saving a couple bucks here and there. Heck, we all are trying to save some cash when we can. When it comes to steel buildings, there are many ways to save. In fact, just by choosing to build with steel already saves you a bunch of money. Compared to other construction methods, steel is more cost-effective than wood or brick & mortar buildings, often times quoted at half the price. The savings add up when you start to add other factors.

When you first decided on a steel building, you noticed that you don’t usually need an architect to design the base building. Structural engineers at steel building suppliers eliminate the need for an architect, as well as the need for the extra expense. Since steel buildings are completely customizable, you can work with a project manager and engineer to pick out what your building will look like, and what function it will serve on your property.

Now, if you’re a red-blooded do-it-yourselfer, you can also save money on the erection process. If you decide to farm out the work to a professional, you’ll have to pay a construction crew to erect the building, along with a general contractor to manage your project. There is nothing wrong with hiring a crew and a general contractor, and it might be a necessary expense if you have an enormous steel building project.

Since you can erect your own building like Eric O., you’ll be happy to find out that you don’t need to do any field fabrication. All pieces – the rigid frames, wall and roof panels – are ready for erection. That’s what ‘pre-engineered’ means! All those pieces come with pre-punched holes and components are pre-cut and numbered to correspond perfectly to your construction drawings.

I’ve said it before; steel buildings are the grown-up versions of erector sets.

Now, honestly, how long does it take to erect a steel building? Since every steel building is different, it’s difficult to give you a definitive answer. I’ve heard of a 5-7 man crew complete a 40’x60’ workshop over a weekend. We’ve seen people erect their rigid frames in a few days, and then take their time on the wall panels and roof. Some projects take longer. It all depends on the amount of time you can put into your steel building project. One thing is for sure – erecting a steel building, even doing it yourself, is a heck of a lot faster than building a wood frame building.

It’s up to you. If your steel building project doesn’t require a ridiculous amount of customizing, it will be easy to erect, and the process will be rather quick. It’s the ultimate do-it-yourself project.

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Do you have the next great idea? At one time or another, I believe that everyone thinks of starting his or her own business. One of the most attractive models out there is a self-storage or mini-storage business. According to the Self Storage Association, the self-storage industry generated more than $24 billion in annual U.S. revenues in 2014. They say that the industry has been the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the last 40 years and has been considered by Wall Street analysts to be “recession resistant” based on its performance since the economic recession of 2008.

Sounds like the action you’d like to join? Would you like to throw your hat into the ring of the 48,500 other facilities in the U.S.? First, it starts with a pre-engineered metal building.

The SSA claims that nearly 9% of all Americans currently rent a storage facility. That might not sound like much, until you realize that equals approximately 11 million people. How do you tap into those people? First, you need some kind of business plan. You remember the 3 rules of real estate, right? Location, location, location! Find out where other storage facilities are in the area, or if there are new housing developments or apartment complexes being built in your region. People are going to need more room to store their belongings, and you need to be ready and able to help them with their storage needs. Try to find an area that isn’t properly serviced.

Most mini-storage facilities are pre-engineered metal buildings for a bevy of reasons. Steel buildings are extremely easy to take care of, and require little to no maintenance. Keep more of your profits or invest more of your money back into your business without having to worry about replacing lumber every 5-10 years because of rot, insects, or warping. Look at your startup costs. Budget for the cost of operating your new business, and for the erection of the self-storage unit. You’ll also need to account for marketing costs, employee salaries and other occupancy costs like security, landscaping and insurance.

As you prepare and refine your budget, you can work with your steel building provider to determine your overall costs. Don’t forget about foundation planning. Whether you use a pier system or concrete slab, you have to have your foundation ready before your steel building arrives to your job site.

When you talk with a project manager, explain that you’re opening a self-storage facility. I’m sure they will want to know for permitting purposes. Most mini-storage buildings have a narrow width, but a very long length. Since steel buildings can span great distances without the price in finished steel going through the roof. For example, a wood building could need supports, poles, struts, or trusses to stand up properly in any design of 40 feet long, or more. Engineers design each bay of a steel building to span particular distances, but the amount of lumber required continues to increase as spans increase. Wood, brick and mortar constructions have limitations, and the cost per square foot will rise exponentially. There comes a time when it’s not economical to continue building with anything but steel.

Next, you’ll want to confirm your job site is ready for delivery. The property must meet the needs of the storage facility. Is there enough space in between the storage buildings? Do you have a forklift or cherry picker ready to unload the building off the truck? For your information, the driver of the truck isn’t responsible for unloading of the building. That’s pretty standard in the industry.

Before you erect the self-storage steel building, be sure to set a timeline for the erection process. You want to start generating some business revenue as soon as you can. Enter yet another benefit of a steel building. Since these buildings are pre-engineered, all the parts come pre-cut and pre-punched, ready to literally be ‘put-together’ on the job site, no field fabrication necessary. It won’t take months to get your self-storage facility up and running, as it might if you choose a different form of customary construction.

When your building is erected, it’s time to get your name out there! Start advertising and get your employees ready for business!

Do you own or operate a self-storage business? If so, how was the process of getting your pre-engineered metal building up and running? Share your stories below! We’d love to hear about it!

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Picture this scenario with me. I was recently standing in line at a local supply store, just waiting to check out. That’s when I saw it, just sitting in a case near the front of the store. Like many local auto shops and general stores, several items lay in rows at the checkout area, just waiting for these types of ‘impulse-buy moments.’ For me, the item that caught my attention was a Smith & Wesson pocket knife. There were a ton of different options from which to pick. After checking out the prices and the quality, I made my selection. Did I pick the most expensive utility knife? Or the cheapest one? Does it really matter?

When you’re debating what kind of impulse-buy to make in a checkout line, there might not be a big difference between the most expensive knife and the least expensive one. Maybe a few bucks at most? Either way, whatever route you choose isn’t going to make a big impact on your day, or your wallet. There is no hazard associated with either choice. In fact, you might get a big kick out of selecting the cheapest option and saving money for the amount of time you’re actually going to use it.

If you think that you can apply your pocket knife logic to all your purchases, then you’re sorely mistaken. When it comes to steel buildings, the cheapest price can often be a trap.

We’re not talking in absolutes here. There will be times when the cheapest steel building price turns out to be the best. There will be times when the most expensive building turns out to be the worst option. I understand that. Nevertheless, if I were a betting man, I’d do my research, and realize there is a significant risk by choosing the cheapest option.

When I say ‘cheap,’ I’m obviously referring to price and quality. Most of the time, the cheapest price will result in the lowest quality. If you buy a low quality building, you might be saving on the initial cost of the steel, but you’re setting yourself up for failure down the road. When it comes to quality, the devil is in the details. Quite often, it’s the small details that can make or break a steel building project, or define if it’s of high quality, or low quality.

With cheaper buildings, you might find problems with the way it was designed. In order to save the manufacturer or broker money, the building was engineered as quickly as possible. I often hear from contractors who are sick and tired of erecting cheap buildings. They’re the ones on the job site, dealing with the consequences of poorly engineered structures. When holes don’t line up the way a drafter intended, or when pieces are missing, causing costly construction delays, the cheapest building ends up being the most expensive. The initial prospect of saving a few thousand bucks isn’t worth it when those savings vaporize thanks to labor and construction costs rising because you, or a contractor had to spend extra time on a job site to fix a problem that should have been prevented in the first place!

When it comes down to it, there are tons of ways to save money on your steel building project. You can erect the building yourself. That will save you on labor expenses. You can rent your forklift, cherry picker, or crane instead of buying one. You can talk to your project manager about more cost effective accessories. Do you want the thickest insulation possible? Can you select a more economical door or window? Maybe you can find a local builder with more inexpensive options. Sometimes, there are even discounts for simple designs.

Worst of all, cheap buildings might not be structurally sound. They have the potential to break or collapse. Now we’re talking about your safety, your family’s safety, or the general welfare of your business. You put a lot of stock into those parts of your life, and you shouldn’t trust it would function the way it’s supposed to because you got a deal, a handshake or a wink. I’m not saying that a quality project can’t be inexpensive; I’m just advising that you shouldn’t accept anything less than a 50-year structural warranty. Believe me when I say this – cutting corners for the sake of profit in construction is one of the most misguided approaches to an industry that hinges on the safety of its products and the overall concern for its customers.

The hidden danger of the cheapest steel building price isn’t a loss of money. It’s can be much worse.

Photo courtesy: darkday

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I can honestly say this industry is like none other. Working for a steel builder supplier as an engineer, you truly have to appreciate the work that goes into every single steel building project. I’m hard pressed to find another trade that puts as much focus into their product as a manufacturer. Does a fast food joint pour over every single hamburger that leaves the building? What about every computer from a big box store – does it get as much, ‘tender love and care’ from the people that design and assemble them?

A company puts its reputation on the line with every single piece of product they make. That means every building, every component gets the meticulous attention to detail it deserves. In my position, I get the pleasure of seeing drawings of our product cross my desk or the desks of the other detailers and drafters in-house at our offices. As I design steel building after steel building, you start to see what’s trending, what’s popular with the masses. I see barns, garages, workshops, and riding areas every week, but I’m also starting to see another type of building a lot more frequently.

Steel building churches.

When one steel building church drawing is brought to your attention, you take notice. But when a flood of steel building churches are ordered, you start to pay attention. In a sense, I’m designing someone’s dream or his or her spiritual home for the next 50+ years. I like to think about the pastor or minister, the families and the congregations that will be benefit from a particular steel building project. I think it’s what brings me the most joy.

More people are utilizing steel building churches for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is money. Think about your church for a moment. Is it difficult to raise funds? How big is your congregation? Could you depend on your worship group to completely pay for a new church building? Some churches that are struggling in the growth department depend on the core of their membership to guide them in the right direction. In the Armstrong Steel Network, we constantly give advice on expansion and growth opportunities, but you might find yourself in the, ‘chicken or the egg’ loop. You want more members, but you don’t have enough money. If you get more money, only then do you have the potential to grow and gain more members. It’s a vicious circle.

This is where the attributes of a steel building church can break your church group out of a never-ending cycle. Steel buildings, churches included, are generally half the price per square foot of traditional construction. While a steel building church will have several preliminary costs, it’s much more inexpensive over the building’s lifespan than constructions with wood or brick.

We recently had an octagonal church designed in our engineered department. One of the reasons the pastor said he decided to go with steel was because of the construction time. Steel buildings can be erected in days or weeks, not months. In addition, you might not need a professional builder to erect the structure. There’s an art to getting your congregation on board with a new steel church building, and our pastor with the octagonal church knew it. He also knew that in order to get everyone in agreement, he needed to move quickly. He didn’t want to hold church service in a different building, or rent a basement for a few months. He knew that if he made it difficult for people to attend worship services, then they just wouldn’t attend. It’s a scary thought, because once you lose worshipers, you never know if you’ll get them back. Lucky for our pastor, his building was erected quickly, and his congregation made the leisurely transition into their new steel church building.

Another boon for steel is its flexibility. There is no rule saying you need to pick out a boring, boxy building. You have the ability to customize the building to the specifications of your church building committee. Are you the leader of a cowboy church looking for a place of devotion? Or are you a healthy congregation in the city? Either way, you’ll be able to accomplish the look you want, with a price your congregation can get behind. Take it from me; custom designs can get expensive, especially when you design with an architect. You’d be surprised on how much an intricate line on a piece of paper can cost. You can still design the steel building church of your dreams with an in-house project manager and engineer like myself, usually for less.

Finally, church is where we go to feel safe. Some use it as an escape from real life, while others need it to replenish their ‘spiritual cup’ for the coming week. But whenever you walk into a steel building that’s been erected properly, you know you are physically safe from harm. Pre-engineered metal buildings are some of the most durable structures on the planet. When I engineer each building, I go through the process of checking each area’s specific codes and loads. That means if there is seismic activity, or the risk of wind and weather events, the building can withstand those types of repeated events. We’re taking this scientific knowledge and applying it to your building system so it stands the test of time, every time.

Sometimes, the popularity of an item or idea doesn’t last. People pick up different trends or adopt the flavor of the month. But steel building churches? They’re here to stay. Literally.

Photo courtesy: gutierrez