- Page 8 of 20 - Armstrong Steel

Search Results for: project manager

This day and age, all the information you’ll ever need is literally at your fingertips. Fire up your computer, tablet, or smartphone, and punch a few keywords into your favorite search engine. Now you’re sitting in the driver’s seat on the information superhighway, traveling as fast as your fingers can carry you.

That’s really all it takes to do research. So how do you pick what you want? In this particular case, you think you might want a new building on your property. Now you have even more choices. What kind of building do you want? How about you tell us! Which building from the choices below – without knowing, which is which – would you rather have? Will you choose a pole barn, or a steel building? Take our “Construction Taste Test!”

Building A – Is this a steel building or a pole barn?

‘Building A’ is a lightweight structure, and the components used to put the building together are readily available and popular for construction projects in the United States. This building is adequate for small structures, but requires more framing for structures that have longer spans. ‘Building A’ doesn’t come with any structural warranties and comes with several extraneous costs associated with it. It costs more to insure ‘Building A,’ and it costs a significant amount to build and design, ‘Building A’ (and both the building and design processes have separate costs). Plus, ‘Building A’ comes with a high labor cost. Contractors for this building type are expensive, and an architect might be needed if you plan to build your own version of, ‘Building A.’

‘Building A’ is an organic product and can be recycled, but is susceptible to deterioration from moisture, rot, mold, fungi, and all types of insects and termites. Unfortunately, ‘Building A’ is very combustible and doesn’t prevent the spread of fire. ‘Building A,’ works in residential and agricultural ventures, however, could require a lengthy installation period, sometimes covering several months or more. This building type also requires multiple trusses and interior columns to support the structure, rather than utilizing open, usable space. Lastly, ‘Building A,’ isn’t easily expandable. Also, sometimes this building doesn’t require a foundation, and might actually cheapen the land on which it sits.

Building B – Is this a steel building or a pole barn?

‘Building B’ is very durable, and also uses components available and native to the United States. This building can be as small or as big as the user necessitates, with lots of open space and no interior poles for support. In fact, this building can span hundreds of feet and still won’t require interior columns.

‘Building B’ comes with 50-year structural warranties, 40-year paint warranties, and 35-year roof warranties. It has significant cost advantages over, ‘Building A.’ Labor costs are kept in check because anyone is able to erect it, and you can manage the design and engineering process with the help of an in-house project manager. That’s right, this building doesn’t always involve the talents of an architect.

‘Building B’ isn’t an organic product, but it is a, ‘green’ product because the construction components can be recycled. It is immune to rot, cracking and termites. ‘Building B’ is classified as, ‘non-combustible,’ and will not encourage the spread of fire.

‘Building B’ can be erected in days, or weeks. It’s easily expandable and requires little to no maintenance over its lifetime. Finally, ‘Building B,’ appreciates over time, and will most likely increase your land value as well.

How was your blind taste test? At this point, you’ve probably guessed, ‘Building A’ is made of wood, and, ‘Building B,’ is a steel building.

Which building would you rather have?

Photo courtesy: Zepfanman

Search Results for: project manager

What makes some businesses successful, while others are less so? It has nothing to do with these companies wanting to be effective. That can be said about every business. It has everything to do with creating good habits, and turning them into everyday processes that are woven into the very fabric of an organization.

Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, and your values become your destiny.” –Mahatma Gandhi.

Just as Gandhi articulates, a belief can easily become your destiny. This quote can be applied to certain business practices as well. Taking this quote, and making it relevant to your company isn’t a big jump. Steel building providers, like Armstrong Steel, are available to make sure our customers gets exactly what they want, down to nearly every detail. But companies can’t create values without developing some good thoughts and habits first.

Before you go out and make a decision on which steel building provider to buy from, make sure they possess these values and integrate these practices into their business model. These habits are the customary, instinctive practices of the top steel building providers in the industry.

Commitment to Quality

The best quality buildings aren’t built on an assembly line. A commitment to quality means every building is designed by engineers with an obsessive attention to detail and components are fabricated in state-of-the-art facilities. Quality doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a pre-planned, coordinated effort. Quality is a guarantee and promise that a building with a 50-year structural warranty will last, no matter the size or the shape. Steel building providers with superior standards and guidelines are the difference between mistakes and excellence.

Detailing

What is detailing? Detailing is the process of designing each structural piece of steel, ensuring that every piece of primary and secondary framing lines up correctly and all the necessary components come in the correct quantity. The steel building provider should do all the detailing in America, as opposed to overseas, to prevent communication and accuracy errors.

Assistance at Every Step

Choose a steel building provider that makes it a habit to give support at every step of the process. Instead of just telemarketers and a website, look for a company with expert building consultants, in-house engineers and project managers. These specialists will have intimate knowledge of every project, and will continue to provide feedback for first time builders to improve the product and the erection experience.

Logistics Department

Getting a building delivered on time to your job site, of course, is one of the most important steps in the process. The top steel building providers will be able to arrange for delivery, and work through any problems a customer might have.

Fabrication Facility

Some successful companies own and operate their own manufacturing facilities. Other companies use multiple fabricators across the country. No matter how the business operates, the focus needs to be on the customer’s schedule. Most important, choose a company that offers the best geographic coverage to cut down on delivery costs, travel time, and other miscellaneous expenses.

No matter what kind of steel structure you plan on building, do your research first. Plan on how much space you’ll need, and then pick out which steel building works best for you. Then, ask your steel building provider what your other options are.

Photo courtesy: Nicola

Search Results for: project manager

What’s the hardest part about being a contractor? I know it’s a tough question, but can you, ‘nail down,’ the answer? From earning new business to erecting the structures themselves, it’s a tough job. But above all else, you do what you do because you love it, and you enjoy seeing your customer happy.

Since that’s the attitude that constantly drives you and gets you up in the morning, your aim should focus on satisfying your customers AND save them money. While money isn’t the most important thing when you submit your request for proposals (RFP) on a project, it’s often going to get the lion’s share of the attention. Each customer is different and has his own set of ‘deal-breakers’ when reviewing those RFPs, but lots of people don’t realize that they could be making a mistake that costs them hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.

Get the facts straight. In the bidding process, don’t make a mistake and forget to include a pre-engineered metal building in the proposal to your customers.

Pre-engineered metal buildings offer cost savings at nearly every stage in its lifecycle. Steel structures just cost less than traditional construction. In the erection process, the framing goes up very quickly, and therefore construction delays are minimized. No waiting on parts to be built. Since the building can be erected with ease, there aren’t any surprise cost increases associated with steel buildings. The parts fit together, and the pre-punched holes line up perfectly the first time.

Because steel buildings are designed in-house at Armstrong Steel, there isn’t any leftover waste on the job site. All the members and components are specifically engineered so every piece fits together, and the erector only receives what they need. With wood built structures, at the beginning of construction, a massive amount of lumber is delivered to the property. Then wood trusses and framing can be constructed at each location, and the wood is potentially left unused after field fabrication. The customer still has to pay for that lost lumber.

Further in the design process, the cost savings is evident. Tell your customers how they won’t need an architect to design the building. An Armstrong Steel project manager is available at no extra charge to the customer, along with a whole team of engineers who work directly with every project and will be familiar with any changes or additions are made in the approval process. Really, that’s the beauty of working with one provider.

Now the savings are really starting to stack up for the consumer. Add energy efficiency to the list. Pre-engineered metal buildings can be insulated far better than wood frame steel buildings. That, in turn, leads to a building becoming more energy efficient and leads to added savings on heating and cooling costs. On top of that, there might be energy efficiency standards that customers are legally required to follow.

After the cost savings compared to conventional construction, the amount of money saved on design, engineering, and in the actual erection process, there is still another fact to consider. Steel buildings that require permits and some kind of a foundation generally appreciate with time. Other methods of construction have the potential to depreciate, as they get older and weaken. A building is supposed to be an asset, not a liability!

If your customer chooses a stick-built pole barn or brick and mortar structure, they could be making a thousand dollar mistake. Convince them a pre-engineered building is the right way to go. They’ll save more hard-earned money and you’ll reap the benefits of erecting the building. It’s a clear win/win for all parties involved.

Photo courtesy: Steven Depolo

Search Results for: project manager

Whether you’re looking for a new sturdy barn for your farm, a place to park your classic cars and trucks, or a space to work on your hobbies and pet projects, a steel building is the complete solution to your desires. As with any purchase, you’re looking to get the most for your money. Since steel building prices are volatile, sometimes it’s tough to know how to save money. Most people see the word, ‘volatile,’ and automatically think, ‘scary,’ or intimidating. But there’s nothing intimidating about building with steel. In fact, just by making the choice to buy a steel building instead of other traditional construction methods, you’ve already saved yourself a sizable chunk of cash. That’s the first step to getting a great price on your next building. Read on for more tips on how to score a deal on a steel building.

Know What You Want

When you talk to a steel building expert, if you have a good idea of what you want, they can assess your situation better. What is your schedule? What can you afford? How many square feet do you need? Having an answer to some of these questions can get your plan in front of an in-house project manager sooner. Then the project manager will be able to concentrate on your individual project, and apply as many cost saving measures as they can in the design process.

Buy Direct

Up until recently, direct pricing on steel buildings was only accessible to the nation’s largest contractors. That’s not the case anymore. With the Direct Buy process, you can qualify for special pricing if you have your financing in place, your job site is ready, and you’re prepared to pay a small engineering fee to secure your steel price. Sometimes, only one of the conditions needs to be met in order to qualify. Talk to your building expert for more information on exclusive pricing in your specific scenario, or if any short-term pricing options are available.

K.I.S.S.

You know the old acronym ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid?’ Well, since I don’t think you’re stupid, I want to put a new spin on this old acronym. For steel building purposes, you need to, “Keep It Structurally Simple.” You can add all sorts of bells and whistles to a steel building, but understand that’s going to drive up the price. If a building is structurally simple, there even might be discounts available.

Also, the bigger you go, the more steel is needed to shore up the building. What kind of room do you have on your property? Did you know a building’s location could greatly affect its price? If you live on the coast, for instance, there will be specific codes and wind loads with which the building will need to adhere. If more steel is needed in the engineering process, then obviously the price will increase. Conventional wisdom would say, ‘the thicker the steel, the stronger it is.’ That’s just not true. Remember, when it comes to steel, the thicker it is, the more it will weigh, and the more expensive it will be.

In-house Engineering Department

Another way to guarantee a deal on your steel building is to find a provider with an in-house engineering department. Don’t deal with a company that has an overseas engineering department! Communication is key in the process of planning and designing your steel building. Instead of emailing and calling detailers across the pond, you want the ability to have all the employees connect with each other in person and collectively work on your project together. Communication errors lead to problems, problems lead to delays, and delays lead to money out of your pocket. Another benefit of an in-house engineering department: you have the ability to call the company, and work with someone who has intimate knowledge of your project. If you have a question, at any stage, you know your question can be answered quickly and effectively.

Use this tips to score a great price on your next steel building!

Photo courtesy: 401(K) 2012

Search Results for: project manager

I guess you could say it was a ritual of sorts. Every time I drove in and out of the town I used to live in, I’d have to pass by an old sign shop, right off the highway. I’m sure you’ve seen these little shops around your town. They’re everywhere throughout the country. This particular little wood shop wasn’t any different than the others, I imagine. It must have specialized in some really cool designs and logos for hot rods, businesses, and trucks. I never went into the shop, but I always recognized it every time I passed by it. Sometimes at night, you could make out the glow from the shop’s several neon signs in the distance, growing brighter in your windshield on approach, almost as if it were the unofficial ‘welcome sign’ to the town entrance.

A few months ago, I got the opportunity to head back to my little hometown. I jumped in the car, and made the hundred-mile trek back to pay a visit to my extended family. As I got closer to my destination, I felt an odd sensation. The landmark I always saw – the little sign shop – was a shell of its former self. I hardly recognized it. Run down and decaying, it barely looked like it should be standing. Honestly, saying the building was ‘standing’ is a very generous statement.

I later found out the owner was practically forced to relocate if he wanted to keep his business alive. I don’t think this situation should have to happen to anyone. In all actuality, it doesn’t have to happen at all.

If steel prices are low, it might be a good time to relocate your business now. Think about it – you want your business to last just as long as you do, and with the structural warranties steel building providers offer, they will. In fact, one of the defining features of a steel building is it doesn’t require much maintenance. Focus on running your small business, not worrying how many years you can still get out of your current construction.

Do your research when you plan for your new building. You’ll want an extremely durable structure, something that has long been used in commercial and residential construction projects. Steel structures aren’t vulnerable to rot, decay, or termites. Since it’s not an organic product, it won’t entice any type of pest. These pests can be a huge detriment to wood buildings. And unlike wood framed structures, steel won’t warp or split with age.

In what part of the country do you live? Do you live in a disaster zone, or an area that has extreme weather? Because of precise engineering, steel buildings have the ability to resist most of what Mother Nature throws at them. No matter what type of business you decide to run inside your steel building, it’ll be protected. During the engineering process, engineers look at snow, wind, and seismic loads, and plan for each building to withstand the forces of nature.

Maybe our story struck a chord with you. If you’re the owner of a business, much like the sign shop I told you about earlier, there’s still hope. There are a ton of benefits to relocating on your terms, instead of waiting on your current structure to collapse and force an unwanted move.

What kind of business do you run? Do you own a sign shop, auto repair shop, or tint store? Or do you rent your building? Maybe it’s time to relocate. Choose a steel building provider that lets you work with a project manager in the design phase, pick out your add-ons and accessories, and tailor the building to your exact provisions. Will you need multiple man doors, or how about several overhead doors to keep a steady stream of vehicles coming in and out of your business? Make sure you have plenty of uninterrupted space with room to make repairs, or navigate around other employees. Will you have need of extra office space, as well as room to work?

I know you might not want to, ‘upset the applecart.’ I understand relocating can be a huge hassle, something of which you don’t willingly choose to do often. Now that you have a choice in the matter, choose to move and pick a structure can be erected in days, or even weeks. Since a steel building costs less than conventional construction, you’ll be able to pour your extra profits into your business, and concentrate on hiring more employees and making more of your product or expanding your services.

Don’t be like the sign shop owner, and be forced to relocate before it’s too late.

Photo courtesy: Matt

Search Results for: project manager

When you plan for your steel building, you’ll want to think about insulation. The first question you need to ask yourself: Do I even need it? For residential structures or garages and workshops, usually people spring for some kind of insulation. When it comes to commercial or agricultural buildings, it might not be necessary depending what you are storing or housing.

While steel structures are some of most durable, cost-effective and flexible building solutions on the market, they’re also susceptible to moisture. That’s why I suggest using some kind of insulation, regardless of your building type, to create some kind of moisture blocking system in your building. Plus, you want your building to stay warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, right? Insulation will go a long way to making that happen, and provide a cozy atmosphere all year round. Coupled with the right kind of ventilation, insulation can help defend your steel building against the elements.

How can insulation protect my steel building?

Insulation provides a vapor barrier for your steel building. Not only that, but since steel conducts heat, a building made of steel will transfer heat energy in and out of it. This may cause condensation to occur inside a steel building when there is a considerable temperature difference outside the building. Insulation delivers a material and vapor barrier, protecting the inside of your building – and most importantly – and all the equipment inside it. Insulation also prevents the buildup of condensation, which could eventually lead to rust or mold growth. Work with your project manager to protect your investment by determining the best type of insulation for your building.

What kind of insulation is best for my steel building?

There are quite a few options of insulation to pick for your structure. Your choice depends on your building type, budget, and unique specifications. You want your insulation to have a good R-Value. R-Value is a measurement of the effectiveness of an insulator to retain or impede the loss of heat flow. Think of R-Value like this: the higher the number, the better it will insulate. Pick your R-Value based on your steel building location and climate conditions. As I stated before, good steel building insulation also reduces condensation, installs easily, and reduces the effect of humidity on the insulation. Some of the best insulation is recognized for its energy saving features, or endorsed by Energy Star.

Types of insulation for a steel building

Blanket insulation – This is most common and widely available type of insulation, and it comes in rolls or ‘batts.’ It is made up of flexible fibers, most commonly fiberglass. There are also batts and rolls made from minerals, like rock and slag, wool, plastic fibers, and natural fibers, like wool and cotton. It’s usually the cheapest insulation option, but many people use it to protect their building against condensation. Most people who own a steel building use blanket insulation for its ability to be easily replaced if necessary.

Loose Fill – This type of insulation consists of small particles of fiber, foam, or other materials. These small particles form an insulation material that can take the shape of any space without disturbing frames or finishes. Its ability to fit in every nook and cranny makes it appropriate for locations where it would be difficult to install other types of insulation. Loose-fill insulation is generally made from fiberglass or cellulose, and is relatively also inexpensive.

Spray Foam – Spray foam insulation is often times the most expensive options for steel buildings, and sometimes used with different interiors. The liquid foaming agent is sprayed, and expands to fill into any space or cavity, forming an air barrier. Some installations of spray foam insulation can have twice the R-Value per inch or traditional blanket insulation.

Rigid Board – Rigid board insulation consists of either fiberglass or mineral wool and is generally used to insulate air ducts in buildings. This type of insulation is also used because of its ability to withstand high temperatures. It’s one of the easiest types of insulation to install, and is typically made from polyurethane or fiberglass. This insulation type can be cut to a desired thickness, and possibly increasing its R-Value if doubled up. One drawback of rigid board insulation is that some types do not provide an adequate vapor barrier.

Which type will you pick for your steel building? When you work with a project manager and determine your steel building accessories, you can determine which insulation works best for your location, your plan and your budget.

Photo courtesy: Anne Swoboda, Dunktanktechnician

Search Results for: project manager

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.

Search Results for: project manager

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

Search Results for: project manager

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 order? 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

Search Results for: project manager

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.

Photo courtesy: Mandy1804

Search Results for: project manager

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!