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Once you’ve decided to build a steel building, you have a couple of options. You can hire a contractor to purchase, design, and erect a steel building for you, or you can purchasing a steel building from a steel building provider. The important part to note – its good to have options. Every person is different, and might have a different set of goals. It’s essential, first and foremost, you make the correct choice for you and your budget.

If you hire a contractor to build a steel building, you also may have to pay for an architect to design it. A contractor is a builder, not a designer. Makes sense, right? You can absolutely go this route, but it will almost certainly cost you. Think of it this way – there are many architects who are capable of designing intricate masterpieces to simple buildings. But lines, no matter how beautiful on a page, can be pricey. Every time you want to make a change, those little lines translate to an increase in price. A quality steel building supplier, like Armstrong Steel, has an in-house engineering and design team. No costly architects needed. When buying through a contractor, you may lose the customization that buying through a steel building supplier allows. Your contractor may not be able to give you updates on the design process, but a steel building supplier can set you up with a project manager, whose responsibility is to keep your project on time and on budget. You might not even need a contractor, as many people decide to build a steel building themselves! When it comes to speed, a steel building is able to be easily erected in days or weeks, compared to months like other traditional construction methods.

When push comes to shove, you might want to look into a steel building manufacturer because of two simple words: purchasing power. Contractors typically can’t afford to purchase steel in bulk. It’s possible they might mark up a steel building when they eventually buy it directly from the manufacturer or broker. But you can skip the middleman, and skip the expense of a middleman. You have the opportunity to buy straight from the manufacturer. Builders who don’t mind managing some of the finer aspects of their project can take advantage of huge savings via the Direct Buy process. Why would you want to settle for anything less than factory direct on a steel building?

Speaking of price, do you know exactly what you are getting? When you buy from a steel building supplier, you’re picking out exactly what you want. You understand the quality of each piece of steel and connection, plus with the Direct Buy process, you have the ability to pick out your accessories as well. What are you buying from a contractor? Contractors can hide mark ups in the design process because they get to pick what goes into your project. You’ll never know the difference, because they take care of everything for you, possibly at a price that fits them best. It sounds like a great service when you build a steel building, but you lose the ability to customize and choose your own components. A steel building supplier will provide you with an itemized list of costs, so you’ll never be subject to unseen overages, or disappointment in your project.

When making this decision, it’s wise to do your research. Ask for references from contractors and steel building suppliers alike. Get multiple quotes to compare prices. Look at online reviews and see what type of resources are offered. You’re going to have to put some work into this process to make an educated decision when it comes time to build a steel building. Keep in mind, contractors are not the bad guys here. They perform a great service, and many have extensive experience erecting steel buildings. In fact, if you need help erecting your pre-engineered steel building, you should know how to hire a knowledgeable contractor in 4 easy steps. If you want the safety of locking in your steel order, and the ability to select your own components at direct pricing, we can help you take the first step to pre-engineered steel building ownership.

Whatever decision you make, you’ll still be making the right decision of investing in a pre-engineered steel building, and you’ll enjoy the long-term savings for decades to come.

Photo courtesy: Lindsey G

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When did you first decide to become a contractor? Are you involved in a family business? Are you good with your hands, and thought it would be a great career path? I know a lot of general contractors who have an aptitude for building and design – they can see what a project will look like well into the future before it’s even finished.

One characteristic I see in many general contractors is competitiveness. These people seem to thrive in high pressure situations. Are you the same way? If so, I’d bet money it shows through in your bidding process. However, if you’re not the most competitive person in the world, you can still stay competitive in the marketplace by incorporating a winning strategy when it comes to the bidding process. Honestly it’s easy; all you have to do is present your customer with the best building option available, and that’s usually a pre-engineered steel building.

A pre-engineered steel building is a smart building option because it can save you and your client money. Now do I have your attention? How often do you juggle several different jobs? How can you control your cash flow, give a project the attention it deserves and perform quality work at the same time? When you order a pre-engineered steel building at your client’s behest, it arrives at the job site ready to erect. Steel buildings typically can be erected in days or weeks as opposed to conventional construction methods, which could take months. This will allow you and your crew to move efficiently from one job site to another, but not at the expense of quality and commitment. With minimal down time in between jobs and a quick erection process, there’s a ton of potential for you to take on several jobs at a time and increase your profit margins.

Of course, your potential client isn’t going to be concerned with your overall profit. They’re going to be concerned with their savings, and they should be. Let your clients know steel buildings aren’t usually affected by delays like traditional construction methods, and since the building simply bolts together, these types of projects aren’t generally subject to surprise cost increases. If your client is a small business owner or a church pastor, delays and cost increases are a huge inconvenience. They’ve got a business to run, and a congregation to mentor. As you well know, it can flat out be unacceptable to wait or displace a group of people depending on you.

Aside from the quick erection time, pre-engineered steel buildings are extremely durable and require little maintenance. A pre-engineered steel building is fire resistant, wind resistant, and can even incorporate specific coatings to protect the exterior. Pre-engineered steel buildings are also resistant to insects and termites. Some people worry moisture will affect a steel building negatively, but with galvanized steel, proper ventilation, and temperature regulation, you can practically eliminate moisture. Sell your customers on the benefits of steel buildings and how they are designed to last for decades.

Due to pre-engineered steel buildings being so durable and versatile, they may actually provide your client with lower insurance rates and tax breaks. A pre-engineered steel building can also be designed to incorporate many forms of green energy such as solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, and small wind energy. These forms of green energy can be used for the Residential Energy Property Credit. If you think about it, a pre-engineered steel building can increase your client’s property value because it’s considered a permanent structure. Permanent structures are considered capital improvements if they last at least a year and are evident if your client decides to sell. Pole barns and wood buildings don’t usually require a foundation, which puts them in the ‘non-permanent’ category. Non-permanent buildings don’t generally raise property values, or appreciate over time.

As the builder, you always have a support system. A dedicated project manager will gladly answer questions offer advice, and be your point of contact during the process. We’ll handle the tough part – all you need to worry about is building erection.

You don’t need a crazy plan or gimmick to win the bid – if you bet on the quality, durability, versatility and flexibility of a steel building, you (and your customer) are sure to win every time.

Photo courtesy: David Wall

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$200 million bucks.

Think of what you could do with that kind of money. I know I wouldn’t mind having that much cash in the bank. According to a report from US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Forest Service spent an astounding $200 million a week to fight the fires in the Northwest over this recent summer. As of September 1st, the wildfires in the U.S. have burned 8 million acres of land, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. These fires could be an annual disaster, which might need to be a consideration if you decide to build any type of building in the western United States. I would suggest you take steps to ensure your property is protected because, according to Vilsack, the U.S. Forest Service has borrowed money to fight these fires the past 6 out the last 10 years. They’re doing what they can to fight the fires, but they’re clearly strapped for cash and they might not be able to stop a fire before it reaches your property. Let’s face it, you have two choices. Not build (but that might not be an option) or find a building type that can withstand the heat. How can you protect your property from the threat of wildfires?

The majority of the 1.6 million acres burned in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington is government-owned land used for animal grazing. According to reports from local news media in the area, in Oregon’s Canyon Creek Complex, 125 of the 170 burnt square miles were grazing allotments for up to 4,000 cows. Farmers are trying to figure out how to feed their cows in both the short and long term because it’s estimated those lands won’t be usable for several years to come. One option these farmers have is to purchase the necessary amount of feed and build pre-engineered steel buildings to store the feed and house animals. In Colorado, wild fires ripped thorough areas and burned down many people’s wood barns, leaving them with almost nothing. Several of those ranchers turned to steel buildings after they lost their wooden pole barns.

Steel buildings are considered type 1 and type 2 buildings due to its resistance to fire. Type 1 is considered fire resistive and type 2 is non-combustible. Naturally, if a farmer were to store their feed in a pre-engineered steel building, the feed and the cows would have a better shot at surviving wildfires, or any kind of natural disaster. A wood building or pole barn is more susceptible to fire and doesn’t provide the protection steel buildings offer. According to the combustibility scale, the more wood you add to your structure, the more combustible it becomes.

Obviously, rangeland isn’t the only thing lost in wildfires as over 1,800 homes and other buildings were destroyed in California this summer. According to an Associated Press report, many of those homeowners didn’t even receive an official evacuation warning. Many of these people only had enough time to grab important belongings, pets, and anything they could carry and take it to an evacuation site. These people had to figure out their next move, and talk with insurance companies to find a better living arrangement.

Think about this – wood catches fire at 572 degrees Fahrenheit and steel doesn’t melt until it reaches over 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s possible an average fire won’t reach steel’s melting limit and steel won’t encourage the spread of fire because it’s an inorganic material. Since wood is an organic material with a far lower resistance to heat, a pole barn will be affected by fire quickly. If you’re worried about protecting your steel building even further and making it even more fire resistant, you can always look into installing a sprinkler system. The sprinkler system will extinguish the flames and lower the overall temperature in your building. Make sure to speak to your project manager if you’re interested in adding additional collateral loads to a steel building.

One major cause of the summer wildfires is lightning. In fact, it’s estimated that during 2007-2011, there were 22,600 fires per year caused by lightning. Lightning strikes have the potential to be up to 5 times hotter than the sun! Should one of these lightning strikes hit a wood structure, it could cause the wood to explode due to the moisture and overall resistance of the wood. Pre-engineered steel buildings are grounded on a foundation and can conduct lightning much easier than wood, which usually allows for far less overall damage compared to a wood building if it encountered a lightning strike.

Natural disasters like wildfire, hurricanes and earthquakes are extremely destructive and can potentially level any and everything in its way. Pre-engineered steel buildings are designed and engineered (of course) to each specific location. 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. Even if you’re in an area that sees an increased risk of potential disasters, steel buildings are engineered to combat whatever nature throws its way. Sounds like a smart option to me.

Photo courtesy: US Department of Agriculture

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In most major projects or undertakings in life, you need somebody to be there for you. Something or someone to back you up, assist in any way, and set you on the path to success. The Lone Ranger had Tonto, Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson, Rocky Balboa had Mickey Goldmill, and Wayne Campbell had…well…he had Garth Algar. But we’re talkin’ more than a made up sidekick or special character here! You need support from conception to completion! When you want to begin a pre-engineered steel building project, you need a real partner in your corner, but how do you know if you’ve found one or not?

What qualifies as a manufacturer?

First, you should be sure you’re speaking to an actual steel building manufacturer, meaning a company that makes their own product. Steel building manufacturers are able to design, engineer and fabricate a pre-engineered steel building because they actually have their own engineers, detailers and an manufacturing facility. Manufacturers sell directly to the public – no expensive middleman necessary! Steel building manufacturers have much more control over the entire process of a steel building project, and can assist a customer from conception to completion. Manufacturers own and operate their own factory, and some even have in house detailers and engineers.

A broker will sometimes refer to themselves as a ‘contract manufacturer,’ meaning they will not be able to manufacture a steel building. They do not have the proper facilities. A broker will shop your information around and find the cheapest manufacturer to fabricate your building. The quality assurance is then left up to the lowest bidder to perform all the checks and balances without even speaking to the customer. Most likely, the design and engineering of a pre-engineered building will also be outsourced to a different company. These companies are purely expensive middlemen, and do not make their own product.

There should be perks

A quality steel building manufacturer will want to help you get the best pre-engineered steel building for your needs. It makes sense, right? If you choose to buy a product from a company, you’ve invested in the company name and quality of the product. How would you feel if you knew the company you purchased from turned around and bought a product from someone else, and signed their name on it? You make a promise to yourself NOT to purchase that particular product, but the broker didn’t make the same promise. It’s simple: know exactly who is manufacturing your steel building.

When you purchase directly from a steel building manufacturer, you’re guaranteed communication with a dedicated project manager. You’ll be able to review plans, make changes and add accessories as you watch your steel building come to life. Don’t let a company pick your doors and windows for you! Do you know how much they cost, or how much they are getting marked up? Pick your gutters, downspouts, doors, windows and insulation yourself. Plus, with a manufacturer, you’ll be able to plan for your delivery and keep control over the entire process. What happens if you purchase from a broker, and your building arrives with missing pieces, or the parts don’t line up correctly? Do you think the steel building broker will care?

Check the work

Once you’ve found a steel building manufacturer, ask for testimonials and to see other projects the manufacturer has completed. Look online to see what other steel building owners have to say about their building. Also, ask about different resources the company offers. Will they offer blogs and articles to help point you in the right direction. Many first time builders are looking for more information about different types of construction material, and it’s important to find a steel building supplier who wants to help you realize your building dreams, even if you don’t choose them. Look for a wide variety of steel building guides and other means to help you make the best building decision for you and your budget.

In the end, a savvy steel building manufacturer is going to care about your project and do everything in its power to ensure your project is a success. That’s exactly who you want in your corner when it comes time to build a steel building.

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You want the most for your money. That much is obvious. Now, I realize that nothing in life is free, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to save your hard-earned money every time you want to make a purchase. Have a coupon for a local restaurant? Use it. Get discounts by becoming a member of a company’s “frequent shopper” program. If you can shave off a few bucks on a purchase, that’s great! You can do the same thing when you go shopping for a steel building, but doesn’t require a fancy membership card, or take any extra effort on your part.

Buy from a steel building manufacturer.

Now, your next question may be, “Doesn’t every steel building supplier qualify as a manufacturer?” Nope. There is a huge difference between a steel building manufacturer and a steel building broker, and the difference could cost you.

A manufacturer is a company with their own factory, where they fabricate steel that goes into a pre-engineered metal building. Since a manufacturer can produce steel buildings at their own pace, they can order steel in bulk, and not depend solely on other companies. Plus, they can pass those savings down directly to the customer. Still, the price of steel, like all commodities, can be subject to a very volatile market. Steel prices might be at an all time low at the end of 2015, but are expected to rise by the end of 2016. Manufacturers can offer several advantages to first time builders. A broker sometimes calls themselves a ‘contract manufacturer,’ but the truth is they don’t actually manufacture anything. After you speak with a broker, they’ll shop your dimensions around to other building manufacturers, possibly find the lowest bidder and pocket the difference. Purchasing a building system from a broker could mean that you would be subject to mark ups on accessories, sight unseen. You want the choice to pick out your own doors, windows and insulation. Don’t let someone make the choice for you!

So, choosing the right manufacturer is the first step to saving money on a steel building purchase. Now, let’s keep the trend going.

You might think that choosing the cheapest price is a great way to save on a steel building too. Think again. This is a project you might only do once, and you want to do it right. The prospect of saving a few thousand bucks upfront is insignificant when you have to pay twice that amount down the road on repairs, replacements, or another building altogether! Choose a quality product and don’t settle for less than a 50-year structural warranty on your building.

Next, you’ll want to put a small engineering payment down to lock in your order. The benefit of locking in your order even extends to future work. Once the engineers finish with your drawings, you’ll be assigned to a dedicated project manager. Now you have the ability to work with someone and customize all the aspects of your steel building project.

Along with the ability to choose the accessories you want, purchasing from a manufacturer will grant you the ability to communicate with the people directly working on your building. Should you wish to make changes to your building, you can speak with your project manager or edit your drawings. This is a luxury you’re not always granted when you purchase a steel building through a broker because you don’t have a relationship with the manufacturer that your broker chose. This chosen manufacturer can be located anywhere in the world and while there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with that, it does mean there could be obstacles and communication difficulties. Make those changes or additions to your building, and when you’re ready, sign off on your drawings.

As you continue the process of purchasing a building directly from the factory, you’ll receive three copies of permit drawings. These drawings are signed and sealed by a professional engineer, and sent to you. You can take these permit drawings to your county or local municipality. Once you give the OK to the manufacturer to begin fabricating your building, you’ll receive construction drawings and schedule your delivery.

The decision to work with a manufacturer could help you down the road, especially if, God forbid, there are any difficulties with the delivery process. If you ordered your building from a steel building broker, what do you think will happen if your building arrives and the parts don’t line up or you have missing pieces? Do you think they’ll be able to help? Can you call the factory?

Lastly, ensure your job site is ready for delivery. Make sure the site is accessible for the delivery truck and you have all your equipment on hand to unload the building. You’ll need to have a forklift or cherry picker on site capable of lifting about 3000 lbs. Now all you have to do is erect your building! Many first time builders, even ones with little to no construction experience, erect the building themselves – and save a ton in labor costs in the process.

It isn’t hard to cut costs on a steel building project, but you have a few choices that keep you ‘in the black’ without ever lifting a finger. Now it’s up to you to choose wisely.

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As I’m sure you know, there isn’t a handy guidebook to life. You can’t flip to a random page and find out how to be the perfect parent or be the best at your chosen profession. There’s no life hack to add millions to your bank account. I’ve found that hard work and dedication is the most helpful advice to tackling life’s mysteries. Luckily for you, in the Armstrong Steel Network, we’ve laid out all sorts of steel building tips and advice to help you budget and plan for your next steel building project. Are you ready for your dream steel building?

Have a plan

An organized steel building project is a successful steel building project. Create a timeline with milestones to keep track of your responsibilities and ensure your steel building will be erected according to a realistic timeline. Ask about the customization process, and plan with your project manager. Don’t forget to continually work with your steel building provider and communicate with them on a regular basis. Organization saves time and money.

Make your move

If your goal is to have the smoothest building project possible (and frankly, everybody should have this goal), you’ll want to identify what time of the year is best to purchase. Spring time is usually the busiest time of the year for steel building providers, so savvy consumers usually lock in their steel order and purchase in the winter, then have all summer and fall to build. The best time to erect a steel building is in the warm weather. You don’t need to contend with bad weather and there’s less risk of your building or foundation being unnecessarily damaged. Of course, many people still purchase in the spring and summer, but those smart consumers who purchase in the winter get to enjoy the rest of the year in their dream steel building.

Still, it’s not too late. If you’re interested in a steel building, you should start to do your research and pick a steel building provider now. Economic experts are forecasting a significant rise in steel prices in 2016, so prices aren’t going to be lower than they are at this very moment. Don’t put off your project any longer, or you’ll be faced with a significant increase in the price of your garage, barn or workshop down the road soon.

Investigate a steel building manufacturer

To ensure you’re getting the best price and the most control over your building project, it’s recommended you buy from a steel building manufacturer. A manufacturer has the capability to fabricate your steel building in its very own factory, not depend on other companies to produce its own product. Ask for a manufacturer who also designs, details and engineers each building in-house, as opposed to outsourcing every aspect of a project. You’ll be able to take advantage of the specialized knowledge a manufacturer has to get the highest quality and most durable building available. Plus, you’ll be able to stay in constant communication and customize your building to your exact specifications. Your other option is a steel building broker. A broker doesn’t manufacture anything other than the contract between both parties. They don’t have their own factory, and sometimes don’t do their own design and engineering work. A broker is basically just a middleman between you and an actual manufacturer. Brokers might take your specifications and shop your order around, and pick what works for them best. It isn’t rocket science – buy from a manufacturer you can trust.

Choose your own accessories

Don’t go for deals where “everything is included.” You want to pick your own accessories out for yourself! Why should you pick out your own doors, windows and insulation? So you know the price of each item! Some companies might choose accessories for you. How do you know if you received the cheapest or most expensive add-ons? How do you know they weren’t cheap, and then ‘marked up’ because you agreed to them sight unseen? Some manufacturers will often provide a project manager who will answer your questions and save you money by showing you actual prices. These Project managers will let you choose what goes into your custom dream steel building.

Get your drawings

Once you receive your drawings by locking in your steel order, you’ll be able to mark them up and fully customize your own building. You won’t always need an architect to design your steel building project. Sometimes, all you’ll require is the humble talents of a civil engineer at a steel building supplier. Now, we’re not trying to take business away from any architects here. Architects provide beautiful drawings and design some of the most intricate construction projects in the world. However, the more lines they draw on paper, the more expensive your project becomes. Skip the expense of an architect by obtaining steel building drawings from your steel building supplier. Preliminary building drawings are usually included in the price of your engineering and drawing payment when you lock in your steel order.

Use the Direct Buy process

If you’re a first time builder, don’t fret! We’ve outlined a typical customer experience for you! Take a look at the steps of the Direct Buy process and integrate it into your plans. Now you’ve read of of the biggest steel building tips and know exactly what to expect, instead of wondering what will happen next. Just by locking in your steel order, you’ve already completed the first 2 steps. Take a closer look at buying a building factory direct!

Be ready for delivery

One major step is to make sure you’re ready for delivery. If your foundation hasn’t had the time to properly cure, you’ll suffer a major setback. Be sure to contact an independent concrete engineer to help you with your foundation. It’s also important to have all the proper tools on site, as well as a forklift capable of lifting 3,000 lbs. to unload the building. Don’t forget to make sure your job site is accessible to the delivery truck. If you don’t plan on erecting the building right away, confirm you employ the right steel building storage techniques so your building remains safe.

Erect the building yourself

When the big day arrives, you’ll receive all the pieces of your steel building and some easy to read instructions. This is your chance to roll up your sleeves, break out the tool box and build something that will last for generations. Erecting your pre-engineered steel building yourself will save you on labor costs too. People do it everyday and if you can read simple construction plans, you can erect the building yourself.

Ask questions and get answers

You can do as much research as you want, but chances are you’re bound to have some questions. A dedicated project manager is ready to help you at every step of the project, from conception to completion. They’ll gladly answer questions even after your building has arrived too! You’re not alone at any time in the steel building process.

Of course, if you need any more steel building tips, check out the First Time Builders section of the Armstrong Steel Network. Can you think of any tips to land your dream steel building? We’d love to share them!

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Wood and steel buildings are both widely used construction materials but there are many differences between the two. How do you decide on a wood pole barn or a pre-engineered steel building? There are several things to consider when selecting the best-fit building material for your new structure. Whether you are building a garage, workshop, storage facility, barn for livestock, or other personal space, the same five considerations should be made. Consider how strong your building needs to be, how big you plan to make it, how much time you have to construct it, how much you have in your budget, and how much upkeep it will need over time.

Structure Strength

Any occupied building, a home office, a new business, a barn or even your house needs to be durable and withstand your environment’s climate and natural elements.

Steel Buildings

Pre-engineered steel buildings are designed to withstand snowfall, earthquakes, and high winds. For example, if you live in the northern United States, your building will be designed to withstand a heavy snow load. A building in the southern U.S. might not need the same snow load but might have a higher wind load rating on the building. Pre-engineered steel buildings are customized to your unique specifications.

Steel is also impervious to termites and other little critters, and is constantly lauded as the strongest building material on the planet. Steel is considered a non-combustible material. According to the International Building Code, “a noncombustible material will not ignite or burn when subjected to heat.” Steel is permitted in fire-resistive (Type 1) and noncombustible (Type 2) levels on the relative fuel load scale.

Of course, it’s a good idea to have proper fire safety equipment on hand, but should a fire break out, your pre-engineered steel building won’t encourage the spread of fire.

Wood Buildings

Wood buildings, like a pole barns, aren’t as strong as steel buildings. Wood is susceptible to, rotting, bending, and twisting over time. Wood is also at risk of termite and other insect infestations that can cause damage and make replacing wood panels and boards necessary. . Unlike steel, wood is a combustible material and is capable of igniting or burning when subjected to heat. For example, a wood frame (Type 5) building will be the most combustible and will have the least resistance to fire.

Span of Building

The amount of space you need in your new structure as well as the amount of space you have available to work with plays a role in the building material you choose. How many feet will your new structure span? How much internal support will the building need?

Steel Buildings

Steel buildings are practical at almost any span and can extend to 300 feet without any internal columns or intrusive bracing. A steel building often utilizes a clear span design and boasts an “A” frame look. As far as engineering goes, steel building loads are transferred to the foundation from the roof to the walls and then to the foundation without any poles or truss systems. How is this accomplished? They are pre-engineered to fit your specific dimensions! With all of the square footage available, instead of some of the space, you can store aircraft, combines, livestock, hay, and anything else without any special difficulties.

Wood Buildings

Pole barns are usually practical applications when the span is 40 feet or less. If you decide to go past 40 feet, you’ll need an internal column or multiple poles in the middle of the building for support. S Wood buildings usually utilize a truss system as well. Trusses can be beautiful and some are considered to be the height of artistic design, but these poles and truss systems can also take away valuable space inside wood buildings and limit their use. As wood buildings grow in size during the design process, so does the building cost. More wood is necessary to shore up the building to make it possible for it to withstand snow and wind loads.

Building Construction Time

What type of time frame do you have for constructing your new building? Are you planning on having skilled help erecting your structure? There are vast differences between constructing a wood and a steel building.

Steel Buildings

Steel building components come to your job site ready to be erected. In fact, many people even choose to erect the building themselves. If you qualify for the Direct Buy process, you’ll receive easy-to-read construction drawings and a general erection manual to help you. Of course, you can always call your project manager (maybe me!) if you run into any difficulties.

Wood Buildings

Once your building supplies arrive at your job site, the erection of wood and steel buildings is night and day. A pole barn arrives on site as raw lumber. It takes a construction specialist time to cut the lumber and fabricate the building on site. Yes, this often means it’s best to hire an experienced contractor to erect your wood pole barn, which is an added cost to your overall project.

Short-Term & Long-Term Costs

When considering your budget and the overall cost of your building project keep short-term and long-term costs in mind. Some building materials may be less expensive upfront but require more maintenance and money in the long run.

Wood Buildings

A wooden pole barn might cost less initially, but typically costs more money to maintain in the long run.? In construction, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. When it comes to buildings that will be occupied and used frequently, it’s important to make an informed decision and consider how long you’ll actually use it. Wood, the primary material that a pole barn is constructed of, is naturally inclined to decay. This means that over time, you will be spending valuable time and money just to keep your building standing.

Steel Buildings

Steel buildings will cost you more than wood to build. Steel is a sturdier and more valuable building material that has less maintenance and upkeep concerns than wood. Rot, decay, bending, warping and insect infestations like termites are not concerns with pre-engineered steel structures.

If you’re thinking long-term, and you should be, then you want your building to be an asset. Not all structures on your property increase your property value. This helps add to your financial portfolio in the long run. Only a permanent structure, generally with a foundation, will raise or maintain your property value. Permitting offices d

o not typically consider wood pole barns to be permanent structures because they do not require foundations.

Building Maintenance

Beyond maintenance concerns with wood rotting, decaying, and warping, both wood and steel structures share additional upkeep considerations.

The superior strength of steel plays a huge role in the upkeep of your building. If your building can withstand the extreme conditions of your environment, it will not need to be repaired as often. Climate, however, isn’t your only worry when it comes to long-term building maintenance. Moisture can also be a problem for both wood and steel buildings. Moisture left unchecked on a cheap steel building can cause rust, however, there are steps you can take to protect your purchase. For example, buy a steel building from a manufacturer that offers pre-galvanized framing and refuses to use red oxide primer. There’s a reason many suppliers offer cheap red oxide primer on the framing of a building, it’s cheap, and the color red hides rust!

It’s even harder to protect the wood from moisture, and along with mold, rot could be a problem if the wood gets wet and remains untreated.

Many first-time builders choose steel for their building projects to ensure a sturdier, longer-lasting structure that can be used for years to come. The affordability and cost of steel building materials may surprise you. Contact Armstrong Steel to learn more about steel buildings and how you can make a steel structure work for your budget.

Photo courtesy: Blair Rideout

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While browsing the internet one day, I came across some wisdom from a prominent self help author. It had something to do with wise people knowing when to talk to experts, and that confidence can only take you so far. I felt this was pretty powerful because, when you break it down… it rings true. We go to doctors when we’re sick. Many people get professionals to do their taxes. We visit Farmers markets for the freshest food if we don’t have the experience to grow it ourselves. Following that line of thinking, we contact steel building manufacturers for the most durable structures on the planet. I’m surrounded by steel building experts every day, and I’d like to think some information rubs off now and again! Are you ready to investigate a steel building for your home or business?

Don’t wait any longer

A steady supply of steel from foreign and domestic markets has meant low steel prices for steel building consumers over the past few years. This isn’t going to be the case for very much longer. In December of 2015, the U.S. imposed a 256% tariff on Chinese steel imports. Overseas markets were desperate to dump excess capacity due to the mothballing of its local markets. In 2015, the U.S. was forced to compete with cheap, subsidized steel from China and India. Now why should this concern you if you buy from steel building manufacturers in America? With the new tariffs in place, 2016 is going to be a boom year for American steel mills, but that almost means they’ll unilaterally increase prices. That translates to a rise in steel prices for your next garage, workshop or barn. Economists and industry experts do not expect these dramatic increases to end any time soon.

Know what you want

It’s worth saying, and worth repeating, that an organized building project is a successful building project. If you know what you want or you’re able to figure it out quickly, there is some potential for an accelerated project timeline. Begin by setting a schedule, and include important dates and events. Know the dimensions or rough square footage of the building you want. Speak with a foundation engineer to ensure your concrete is cured before your building is delivered. Examine and sign drawings with your project manager in an efficient manner. These are all things you can do to speed up your steel building project. We haven’t figured out time travel (yet) or a way to wave a wand and have magically have a building teleported to your property, so there is a little bit of patience required on your part. Still, stay in communication and work with project managers and shipping specialists to keep your steel building project on time and on budget.

Investigate buying factory direct from a steel building manufacturer

Shopping with a steel building manufacturer allows you certain benefits, like taking advantage of the Direct Buy process. The Direct Buy process is a simple way to get a steel building directly from a steel building manufacturer, as opposed to a steel building broker. Steel building manufacturers are able to design, engineer and fabricate a steel buildings because they have their own engineers, detailers and an actual manufacturing facility. Manufacturers sell directly to the public – no expensive middleman necessary! Steel building manufacturers have much more control over the entire process of a steel building project, and can assist a customer from conception to completion. Again, manufacturers own and operate their own factory and produce their own product. A broker will sometimes refer to themselves as a ‘contract manufacturer,’ meaning they will not be able to manufacture a steel building. They do not have the proper facilities. A broker will shop your information around and find someone else – most likely the cheapest manufacturer – to fabricate your building. The quality assurance is then left up to the lowest bidder to perform all the checks and balances without even speaking to the customer. Sometimes the design and engineering of a pre-engineered steel building will also be outsourced to a different company. These brokers are purely expensive middlemen, and do not make their own product. Go ahead and ask the company you are working with if they are a manufacturer or a broker, and then choose the right company for you.

Look for In House Detailers and Project Managers

Another benefit you’ll receive from some steel building manufacturers is usually an in-house detailing staff and dedicated project managers. With this staff, a manufacturer can offer you a complete experience without incorporating any outside parties. Your project manager is your official contact during your steel building project and can answer questions, help you save money and even provide assistance once your building arrives at your job site. The in-house staff ensures better communication between engineers and project managers, less confusion and no language barriers. Plus, you’re getting a 100% American made product, designed by Americans, as opposed to outsourcing anything overseas.

Don’t always go for the cheapest price

Every so often, you’ll find the cheapest price to be the best decision. In construction, this generally isn’t true. Most of the time, you ‘get what you pay for’ because cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Take a wood building for example. Wood buildings generally have a lower up front price than steel buildings, but when you purchase a wood building, you’re dealing with an unknown. Wood buildings often require costly repairs relatively early in their lifespans. How much are you willing to spend to treat a termite infestation? What about wood rot? What about general wear and tear, like warped or twisted panels? These aren’t problems for steel. Steel buildings are designed to last decades with minimal maintenance and steel has a natural resistance to the many different elements of nature such as fire, snow, wind and even the sun.

This still rings true with cheaper steel buildings too. Usually, a cheaper price denotes a cheaper product. Instead of obsessing over every connection plate and every detail, the supplier was only focused on volume. What happens when problems arise at a job site when you’re dealing with a cheap product? When holes don’t line up the way a engineer intended, or when pieces are missing, causing costly construction delays, the cheapest building quickly turns into the most expensive building because you have to pay to fix it! As a first time builder, you don’t have the time for this kind of mess. 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! Before you choose the cheapest price, consider the source, pay attention to the details and choose a product that will last for decades.

Do you have any more tips? We’re all about helping every customer get the building of their dreams. Start the discussion below!

Search Results for: project manager

Nowadays, everything you’ve ever wanted to buy is on the internet, and it’s for sale. From cars to clothes and everything in between, it only takes a few minutes to find exactly what you need. The steel building industry is fairly similar. There are several companies, suppliers and contractors that will advertise and market their steel buildings. But how do you differentiate between them?

First, you’ll do your research by looking at tons of educational material. When you’re ready, you’ll submit your information for a price quote. This is a common industry standard. Pre-engineered metal buildings are, like the name suggests, engineered structures for your specific location. While you might see approximate prices that vary from one company to the next, your cost will vary based off several factors, like dimensions and location of the building, the climate of the region and the elements your structure must endure, plus supply and demand. Steel is a commodity, just like oil and gas, and even global production of the metal, along with the current market conditions will affect your overall price.

Another big influence on overall cost will be the company from which you purchase. Not every steel building is created equal, and not all companies are alike, either. Of course, different companies will offer a different product, and that’s expected in a competitive market. But there’s a huge difference between various suppliers, and you should know the difference between a steel building broker and a steel building manufacturer.

What is a steel building broker?

A steel building broker is essentially a middleman between you, the potential builder, and a steel building manufacturer. A broker will shop your building design around and award it to the highest bidder, while paying little attention to quality. Many times, they’ll buy the cheapest building, regardless of who makes it, mark it up, and pass the engineering and design to others. Brokers are often times only in the business of outsourcing and finding the cheapest price to maximize their own profits.

Potential pitfalls of purchasing from broker:

Trapped – You might be stuck with the dimensions or design from a broker. Since brokers might not employ in-house engineers or detailers, there might not be an opportunity to make changes to your building.
Costs will increase – Brokers will up charge your total cost to regain the time and energy spent researching your options. Plus, you’ll be married to the decisions of a broker without seeing the actual cost of the building or the actual itemized accessories, like doors and windows. Don’t let someone choose your accessories for you!
Little to no warranties – Because brokers don’t actually manufacture anything, they can’t guarantee another company’s product. If a structural problem were to arise after a year or more, most likely, they won’t be able to help. Just because their logo is on the peak box, doesn’t mean it’s their product. It’s extremely common for brokers to replace the peak sign of the manufacturer and replace it with their own.
Cheap product – Once again, since a broker doesn’t manufacture the building, they don’t have to disclose where they bought it from. A cheap building will be riddled with defect, have poorly welded parts, framing that doesn’t line up, or they are delivered with missing parts. Cheaply fabricated buildings might cost less, but those costs will almost always exceed the amount you save, especially when it comes to long term maintenance, repairs or replacements.
Not American Made – Many brokers are partnered with foreign steel companies behind the scenes. While you’re talking to a company who operates in America, ask them specifically where they get their steel. Foreign steel is usually cheap and may not be structurally sound. Why? Foreign steel from China or India isn’t held up to the same standards or rigorous testing that American steel is subject to on a daily basis. Just because they have an office in the U.S. doesn’t mean they aren’t secretly and knowingly using an inferior foreign product.
Skip the middleman – Why pay someone to do work you can easily accomplish yourself? Don’t be fooled; there is a big difference between the business of selling buildings and making buildings. Armstrong Steel is not a broker, and has become America’s preferred metal building manufacturer by fabricating our own buildings in our own manufacturing facility. Quality matters.

Benefits of Buying from a Manufacturer

When you decide to buy a steel building directly from the factory, you’ll get the best price and you’ll have input on your project every step of the way. If you choose a steel building manufacturer, like Armstrong Steel, you’ll get to work with a project manager to design and customize your building to your exact specifications. A steel building manufacturer will also offer significant structural, roof, wall panel and paint warranties for its buildings. A broker may not offer a warranty, and if they do, it may be a minimal warranty. A warranty tells you how much trust a provider has in their product and a limited or short warranty doesn’t exactly elicit a lot of trust.

Steel building manufacturers are able to design, engineer and fabricate a pre-engineered steel building because they have their own engineers, detailers and an actual manufacturing facility or factory to fabricate your pre-engineered steel building. As we’ve reiterated, manufacturers sell directly to the public – no expensive middleman necessary! Steel building manufacturers have much more control over the entire process of a steel building project, and can ultimately assist a customer from conception to completion.

When you buy directly from a manufacturer, you also know in advance the quality of the product, and the qualifications and standards to which the supplier must adhere. Of course brokers buy from a manufacturer, but how do you know your building will come from a reputable one?

Don’t trust your next steel building project to an unknown source. Choose a trustworthy steel building manufacturer and get the steel building of your dreams!

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Are you building in 2016? Is it important to you to ‘build green?’ Look no further than a pre-engineered steel building. Maybe you’re interested in becoming LEED certified or are just trying to increase your energy savings. No matter what your reason is, steel is the most efficient way to ‘go green.’

Saving Resources

Do you know how many trees are cut down to make a steel building? Zero. Do you know how many gallons of water it takes to grow a steel building? Yep, you guessed it. Zero. The same obviously can’t be said for wood buildings. Wood building suppliers will harvest an area of a forest and then replant trees for harvest once they’ve grown. While this is a great practice, how long does it take a tree to grow? According to the United States Department of Agriculture, trees they harvested in the Bighorn National Forest were fully grown and replaced in 20-40 years and were 20-30 feet tall. Trees they harvested in 10-20 years ago were 10-20 feet tall and trees they harvested 10 in the last 10 years were saplings to 5 feet tall. This doesn’t seem like an efficient turn around for me. It could take 20-40 years before we have fully grown trees to replace harvested trees for wood buildings. Climate change aside, those trees aren’t around to provide oxygen for us now.

The steel industry reduced the amount of emissions they produced by 67% in the years leading up to 2005, according to the American Institute of Steel Construction. That’s a long time ago, but they had until 2012 to reduce emissions by 5.2% according to initiatives like the Kyoto Protocol. A 67% reduction shows me the entire industry is behind the green movement. In fact, according to the World Steel Association, a total of $1 billion has been spent by nations around the world working together to lower emissions from steel production.

Recycle

The first two sections go hand in hand. Reusing and recycling materials means we don’t waste further raw materials making more products. It also means we have less waste sitting in dumps. Did you know steel is 100% recyclable? Iron, which is one of Earth’s most abundant elements, is mined and refined into steel. We have a resource with a practically infinite lifespan. That’s right, once we are finished with a piece of steel, we can melt it down and use it in another steel project. This goes for any kind of steel application, including cars and pre-engineered steel buildings. Steel is the most recycled industrial material in the world. According to the World Steel Association, for every tonne of steel recycled over 1,400 kg of iron ore, 740 kg of coal, and 120 kg of limestone are saved. Just by recycling the current steel we have, we’re expanding the life of iron on the earth.

Energy Savings

A pre-engineered steel building is great for reducing your energy costs. In fact, if your pre-engineered steel building is built to LEED standards, you’ll use 30%-60% less energy, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Your energy savings only increase when you install the proper insulation to keep your pre-engineered steel building’s temperature regulated. The less airflow and temperature loss your building has, the less money you’ll spend on regulating the heat or the air conditioning. Steel buildings can incorporate alternative energy solutions like solar, wind and geothermal energy to further reduce your energy bill. Painting your roof a lighter color will absorb less heat than a darker color which will require you to cool your pre-engineered steel building less in the summer.

Strength and Longevity

Pre-engineered steel buildings are engineered (of course) to withstand heavy winds, snowfall and seismic activity in your area. In addition, they will last a lifetime with very minimal maintenance. In fact, steel buildings are now a mainstay in government buildings, which require higher or strict construction standards on every project.Wood buildings, like pole barns, don’t have this luxury because wood doesn’t have the durability steel does and it’s affected by many more factors like wood rot, mold, termites and a fire threshold ⅕ the temperature of steel. When panels warp and twist every couple of years, they must be replaced to guarantee the structural integrity of a building. That’s not true of steel panels, which don’t rot, crack or twist. Steel panels are manufactured to last decades without needing to be replaced. Wood building owners could find themselves performing costly repairs should they be affected by any of those fairly common circumstances.

Easy Expansion

Expansion and improvement is what drives people. You shouldn’t be limited in your pursuit of success because of your budget, or the desire to stay green. Pre-engineered steel buildings are easily expandable. We already know steel is an incredibly green material in itself, but when you take advantage of the fact a steel building won’t require the amount of work a wood building does to expand, you’re making steel just that much greener. When you erect a wood building, the wood arrives to the job site in the form of raw lumber which requires on site alterations. These alterations extend the project’s timeline and could raise your energy bills significantly if you use power tools. A pre-engineered steel building arrives to your job site ready to be assembled and only requires common tools to erect. Your pre-engineered steel building expansion can be finished in half the time as a wood building expansion and won’t raise your energy bill like a wood building expansion.

A pre-engineered steel building is your best option if you want to go green in 2016. If you’re interested in going green, just ask your project manager about your environmentally friendly building options.

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As a first time builder, you know there’s a lot of information on metal buildings out there. What effects the price of steel? How do permits work? How do you find a concrete engineer? With all of these different questions, it’s tough to know where to start.

A metal building system is just what it sounds like, a system of pieces which are designed to fit together. Many people compare it to a giant erector set.

Of course, you want to get acclimated to the parts and components of a metal building system. We’re in the business of education, since we cater directly to first time builders, small business owners, pastors and church leaders and their families. A metal building system contains primary framing, such as columns and rafters. Purlins and girts are classified as secondary framing. Sheeting, fasteners, trim and roofing round out the rest of a metal building system.

Columns are vertical main member pieces used to transfer loads from the main roof beams, trusses, or rafters to the foundation. Rafters connect to columns and, in layman’s terms, are the main steel framing that supports the roof system. To get the most space for your buck, it’s smart to incorporate the clear span design in your metal building because your rafters will connect to a column at one end and to another rafter at another end to create an “A” design. This eliminates the need for a truss system. The clear span design is a multi-functional design used for storing airplanes, hay, horses and anything else which benefits from uninterrupted space.

Purlins are horizontal beams which connect to your rafters and help transfer roof loads to the primary framing of rafters and columns. Girts, similarly to purlins, connect to columns to improve strength and durability for wind loads. Fasteners connect the different pieces of your metal building system together. Don’t reach into the leftover screws, nuts and bolts box when erecting your metal building because if you use the wrong fastener, you could open yourself up for the possibility moisture leaking in and causing rust on your metal building. Only use the correct fasteners provided by your steel building suppler to prevent rust from forming and weakening your metal building.

Sheeting is the outside walls of your building. Your metal building’s sheeting should overlap to provide a moisture tight seal. You’ll have a choice of color options for sheeting and all standard colors come with a 40-year warranty. Premium sculpted Trim provides an added layer of protection from moisture and energy leakages along with raising the overall appearance of your building. The roofing is what covers the top of your metal building. When shopping around for a metal building, be wary of “one size fits all” packages because they can often require onsite alterations which delays construction time and will often detract from your metal building’s appearance.

Those parts are all included in your metal building system purchase. Other important parts you’ll need in your metal building system include foundations, windows, doors, insulation, gutters and downspouts. Your project manager will know where to find the best deals and offers on these products.

A foundation is the substructure which supports your metal building. Your foundation is usually a concrete slab or pier system, designed by an independent civil engineer. Doors and windows may seem to be run of the mill features, but are important when it comes to security and energy control. Reinforced doors could be necessary if your design calls for it or you live in a hurricane risk area. Roll up doors will give tractors, cars and other machinery the space to enter your metal building. Windows can be used to provide natural light and lower your energy bill. Insulation will regulate the temperature of your metal building and can be incorporated to meet LEED certifications. Gutters and downspouts protect your building and parking lot from stagnant water and are an important defense from moisture for your building. Remember: Doors, windows, insulation, gutters, downspouts and vents are all considered accessories to a metal building system. You can add any accessories to a metal building system, because they are completely customizable!

If you’re interested in learning more metal building terms, or want to soak up more information, be sure to check out our resources section!