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Wind can be fun. Put yourself in your favorite convertible for a moment. You’re driving down the highway with the top down and the wind through your hair. Sounds like fun, right?

It’s not fun when winds get destructive. In some parts of the country, hurricanes and devastating winds have the potential to cause significant damage to your property. One of the biggest advantages to steel buildings is their durability and capability to withstand strong winds. But the proof is in the engineering of each building.

Steel garage doors could be susceptible to damage from a wind event that is much stronger than what the building was designed for. Armstrong Building Systems rarely, if ever fail because our in-house detailers and designers work with project managers to determine correct wind loads for each building as well as the selection of the buildings’ accessories. We take great pride in being detail-oriented to prevent building failures.

As an important building element, garage doors are required to withstand wind speed and velocities in accordance with certain codes. Because different parts of the U.S. experience different weather patterns, steel garages have different Exposure ratings. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, Exposure refers to the characteristics of the ground roughness and surface irregularities in the vicinity of a building, which influences its wind load. In layman’s terms, wind exposure is the rating in the building code that accounts for wind pressure on a building due to geographical location. That led the American Society of Civil Engineers to come up with three different types of Exposure categories:

Exposure B
Exposure C
Exposure D

Exposure B refers to urban and suburban areas, wooded areas or other environments with closely spaced buildings, usually the size of single family dwellings or larger.

Exposure C indicates open areas with scattered structures and heights of less than 30 feet. This includes the open countryside and shorelines in hurricane prone areas, flat open country and grasslands.

Exposure D refers to flat, unobstructed areas and water surfaces. This exposure category includes smooth mud flats, salt flats and unbroken ice.

Depending on where you live, check with your local and state governments and ask about your steel garage’s wind Exposure rating. If you know you live in an area with high winds, tell your project manager in the design phase of your building. They will be able to create a proposal that best fits your needs, and keeps your steel garage safe and secure all year long.

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One of the biggest benefits to owning a steel building is how easy they are to maintain. However, anything worth significant value should still be maintained with great care. Because of their durability, steel buildings are meant to withstand all types of climate conditions. In poor weather, steel buildings also require very few repairs and they are subject to very little degradation compared to other building structures in poor weather. A steel building will stand for decades if you invest just a little bit of time and energy on upkeep each year.

While steel buildings are incredibly strong and sturdy, they aren’t immune to everything. Steel buildings can be susceptible to moisture, but there are solutions to fix the problem. Extreme rain or snow around your steel building could potentially damage the foundation of the structure. Prolonged exposure to this moisture could cause rust buildup or damage the building if the precipitation weighs enough. An Armstrong Steel pre-engineered building offers pre-galvanized purlins, girts and door jambs which protect against rusting. Galvanization extends the building’s life and keeps your building low maintenance.

That brings me to insulation. When you purchase an Armstrong Building, a project manager will have a conversation with you about insulation and heating your building. Checking your insulation at least twice a year is important to maintaining a suitable temperature inside your steel building. We equip Armstrong buildings with insulation that will prevent excess moisture from entering the building and damaging your possessions. If moisture is allowed to run unchecked, it will weaken the insulation and decrease the effectiveness of the heating and cooling system while increasing your energy costs.

If your steel building is equipped with a heating and cooling unit, winter is the perfect time to perform maintenance. HVAC professionals suggest getting heating work done in the summer, and cooling repairs done in the winter to avoid the need for a summertime emergency. Routine cleaning could have a big impact on performance and energy efficiency. Clean filters and check temperature levels at least twice a year to ensure your equipment is functioning properly.

If you live in an area with heavy snowfall totals, you’re going to want to take care of your steel building. It’s imperative to understand your steel building’s snow load capabilities. Snow builds up on rooftops, and a steel roof could buckle if the snow load is more than the load bearing capacity of the building. A steep roof pitch will shed snow a lot faster than a roof with a gradual roof pitch. Icicles hanging along the gutters of your steel building may look picturesque, but they present big problems. Ice dams can form and can tear off gutters or can ruin the interior of the building. Ice dam removal is tricky. You don’t have to remove the entire dam; just carefully chip away a channel through the ice dam so water will be able to flow through. Make sure the snow is removed from the roof before chipping at the ice dam in your gutter.

Another tip steel building owners forget about is the area surrounding their steel building. Prevent building occupants from slipping on icy walkways. Several deicers are available in hardware stores and keep snow from sticking to the ground and increase the temperature of the surrounding area enough to prevent ice formation. The same rule applies to all surfaces inside and outside of your building.

The reason many people choose to buy an Armstrong Building: very little maintenance in the first place. While your steel building will require minimal upkeep, like any other investment, it still needs attention to preserve its value and appearance. Use these tips to keep your steel building in great condition when the weather turns cold!

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As a first time builder, one of the greatest rewards of a steel building purchase is being able to complete a project yourself, from the very beginning to the very end. I like to say, “from conception to completion.” In fact, customers often tell us that their steel building is the culmination of years of vision, planning, and saving. While every steel building project is different, they all share a common quality; its inception begins with a simple idea, and a call to action. As you begin to picture your steel building project, consider taking these tips into account and be ready for every step of the process.

Know Your Own Budget

This is no secret, and sometimes it’s the most overlooked. Any big project will call for an investment and a budget. It’s important to know your limits and align your expectations with that preconceived budget. Everyone’s situation will be different, and there’s no hard and fast rule on each expense. That’s because several factors determine the price of a steel building, from supply and demand to oil prices and global steel production. Generally, first time builders receive enormous cost savings over traditional construction, and are able to use those savings on accessories to customize their steel building.

Now is the time to think about costs of the overall project. Make sure you budget for your foundation, permits, and taxes. These are all expenses you would normally pay for any type of building, no matter where you decided to buy. At Armstrong Steel, there are no hidden costs involved in any steel building projects. Our project managers will walk you through every expenditure and accessory cost during the approval-drawing phase.

Dimensions

First time builders should begin the process with dimensions of their building in mind. Pre-engineered steel buildings are sold according to their width, length, and height. No two steel building projects are alike, and there isn’t a store where you can go in, pick your steel building, strap it to your car and take it home. Armstrong Steel is in the business of customer service and customization. With so many options, a builder should generally have a framework of square footage in mind before they get started.

Building Regulations

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, “Am I even allowed to build a steel building on my property?” Every city, town and county in the U.S. has regulations that building constructions must follow. We always encourage every builder to find out what your area’s zoning rules are. Some areas require building permits before you decide to build. Our project managers will assist you with these technical drawings during the permit phase of our comprehensive process.

Timeline

We understand time is money, and we’re committed to completing your steel building project as fast as we can, but more importantly, with 100% accuracy. We’ll work with you to set a date for completion and delivery after your plans have been approved, permits checked, and fabrication scheduled. In reality, you determine how long the process takes. It might seem a little extensive, but we have it in place to guarantee you get what you want. It’s your building, and you should have it based on your specifications. Since we aren’t giving you a steel building off a factory line, all things worth doing take time.

Land & Foundations

As with regulations, it’s important to know your land in advance. What are your site conditions? Are there trees in the way or prior excavations on site? What are the soil conditions and what time of year do you plan on building or laying a foundation? These are all great questions to ask yourself and your project manager. Together, you can determine which type of foundation, like concrete, floating or a pier system, is right for your project. Remember, its useless to pour concrete before you have your engineered drawings and preliminary anchor bolt plans should not be used as a guide to pour. Your steel building is exposed to all types of climate conditions and stressors and subject to weather and seismic loads, so you’re not getting a head start or doing yourself a favor by pouring a foundation before you have the correct detailing in place.

Armed with these tips, you’ll be able to ease through the process, and answer any questions that one of our in-house project managers might have about your specific scenario.

Photo courtesy: 401(K) 2012, Jerry, Life of Pix, mn-que

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There’s a lot of information about steel buildings out there. Several misconceptions about pre-engineered steel buildings are keeping you from pulling the trigger, and sadly, they’re not true. We’re here to help you debunk four myths about steel buildings so you can get started on your next project right away.

“Steel Buildings are too expensive.”

Sure, any big project can cost a substantial amount of money, but steel offers the best durability, flexibility, and significant cost savings of most building materials on the market. When you decide to purchase a steel building from a company like Armstrong Steel, you’ll pay a small engineering cost which will not only get designers started on your project, but will secure your steel price. This payment will go towards the total cost of your building. It’s similar to a down payment on a home. Since you’re probably making an once-in-a-lifetime purchase, it can be scary, as well as exciting. It’s a big milestone to own your very own steel building.

Armstrong buildings are pre-engineered, which saves you the cost of having to hire an architect to design them. Also, pre-engineered metal buildings can often be assembled quickly, which saves on construction costs, and over the life of the building, they require little maintenance. The most noticeable benefit of an Armstrong Steel Building is the cost savings over traditional brick and mortar construction. As a high volume supplier, we are able to buy thousands of tons of steel at a lower price. We’re not in the market to sell the “cheapest” building, and the “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t apply to us. We offer a Direct Buy Program for people who are ready to take advantage of deep discounts and get a building directly from us, the building supplier.

In terms of an investment which will retain value, there really is no better choice than going with steel. Wooden structures that don’t require a foundation aren’t even considered permanent structures by permitting offices and may cheapen your land value. Brick and mortar structures are durable but require costly crews and construction professionals to build – not to mention the fact that they may take months, even years to complete and are more costly per square foot than steel. Steel buildings maintain value, and often times, increase the overall value of your property.

“Steel Buildings aren’t attractive and limited in design.”

What do you picture in your mind when you first think of a steel building? Do you imagine an old World War II arch-frame shack or a boxy warehouse-looking structure? While those still do exist, steel buildings today are built and specifically designed by you. The truth is you might be looking at a steel building right now and not even know it! There are many new manufacturing techniques and advancements in technology has improved the aesthetic possibilities of steel buildings. Materials are available in many different looks, colors, textures and designs. Our buildings aren’t sitting on shelf in a factory, they are completely customizable to your individual specifications. When you decide to buy, you won’t work with sales people throughout the process. You’ll work with project managers from conception all the way to completion. It doesn’t matter if you spend two hours or 200 hours with your project manager. It’s all included to those who qualify for the Direct Buy program.

“Steel Buildings rust.”

Metal buildings are constantly exposed to the elements, which is the cause of oxidation and rust. Rust is ugly, but more importantly, it can compromise the structural integrity of the building. Galvanization extends the life of your building and is extremely low maintenance. As a matter of fact, every Armstrong building comes with rust through perforation premium warranties – we offer these exceptional 40 and 50-year warranties because we are that confident that your building will remain rust resistant for decades.

“Steel Buildings are too complicated to build.”

This couldn’t be further from the truth! Pre-engineered metal buildings are widely known for how easy they are to put up. We can’t stress this enough – our buildings bolt together with no welding required. Some steel building suppliers include parts that still need to be welded. We take care of most of the work for you. When people ask how hard it is to erect one of our buildings, I tell them, “If you can put together an erector set, you can put together one of our buildings.” Most people are able to erect each building without a contractor.Here’s why: Once you finalize the design of your steel building, you’ll get an easy to follow engineering package. Everything you need to complete your project is in the drawing package. Again, your project manager will be available to answer your questions. We think that’s what separates Armstrong Steel from other building suppliers.

Whatever direction you decide to go, we have an option for you. Check out the First Time Builder section of our blog network, or click here to get started on pricing a building.

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There is nothing like the sound of a choir reverberating throughout a church sanctuary. While some say, “seeing is believing,” when it comes to the spirituality of a congregation, an amazing choir can effortlessly turn the phrase into “hearing is believing.” Now, I’m sure your choral group lets the Spirit shine on Sunday morning, however, are you maximizing their acoustic potential? If your church leadership group is considering new church construction, go ahead and let your choir blow the roof off your old building, and replace it with a church building made from steel.

Because your choir is one of the centerpieces of your sanctuary, it deserves a venue of divine sound quality. But don’t get caught in a trap. Recently, I spoke with a pastor who had been in charge of a church building campaign, and he shared his experience with me.

When his church committee decided it was time for more space to accommodate a growing congregation, he and members of the church staff traveled around their city, and observed different architecture and building styles and determined what best fit their own needs and wants. They compiled a list of likes and dislikes, and brought ideas back to their building designer. The acoustics of the church were a priority, but ultimately didn’t make the top of the list. They thought, while important, it was something that could be postponed until later in the process. So their building was designed with the church leaders’ plans in mind, and the process was expedited to the next phase.

Later, while the church was being erected, the pastor approached the design team, and started inquiring about acoustics and if he should hire an acoustical consultant. He had a mental picture of his choir filling his new sanctuary with musical greetings of the organ and old hymns refreshed in the Holy Spirit. But he was a little too late.

While its very possible to add some small acoustic finishes to a church building, it doesn’t generally make a large impact. Don’t get me wrong, advice from acoustical consultants can help, but the biggest acoustical differences are essentially decided by a building’s size and shape. During the design process is the time to discuss and determine acoustics.

This process could have been avoided if this pastor chose a steel building manufacturer with an in-house project manager, focused on all phases of a church building mission. Providing a plan from conception to completion is a part of the blueprint of our company. In fact, we ask every client how each building is going to be used. I need to understand each factor’s significance and convention from paper to erection.

Insulation also affects the acoustics and sound quality of a steel church building. Insulation has the ability to absorb sound and keep it from moving throughout the building, and it also can decrease the amount of noise coming in and out of the building.

Reducing outside noise is vital because you don’t want your congregation to be distracted by traffic, construction or other exterior sounds. According to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), adding metal building insulation to the metal building construction can reduce noise levels in a metal building by 5-6 decibels. (A decibel is the unit used to measure the intensity of sound.)

To maximize a metal building’s acoustical performance, the NAIMA recommends the wall and/or roof panels should include at least one layer of faced metal building insulation, and one layer of unfaced metal building insulation. Facing is the thin layer of plastic or paper attached to one side of the insulation.

Let your choir be heard the way God intended! What are ways you’ve found to maximize the sound of your singing group?

Photo courtesy: US Embassy Sweden

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How are you doing on your resolutions so far? Every year, it seems like the same scenario. You make a resolution, and don’t stick to it. But this year, you vow to change. This is the year you finally decide to buy a pre-engineered metal building.

You’ve put it off for too long. Whether you need more storage space for your tools, or want a place to tinker with your cars, a pre-engineered metal building is the ideal solution for your building needs.

Even though it’s the beginning of the New Year, why not just call it a resolution? Have you ever met someone that actually stuck to his or her New Year’s resolutions? It seems so hard to commit to an idea, or pledge yourself to get healthier, quit smoking or volunteer more of your time. As you read this, you might be struggling with your own resolutions. According to a University of Scranton study on New Year’s resolutions, 45% of people in the U.S. pledged to make a change in 2013, and the study found that only 8% of those people were actually successful in achieving their goals.

Only a dismal 8%? Why is that number so low? Are people biting off more than they can chew? Getting organized, or spending less doesn’t seem like a herculean task. While different people have different problems with new year’s resolutions, I like to narrow it down to one in particular.

Simply, it’s a weight on your shoulders.

Even if you think you live in a completely stress-free environment, something will weigh you down. Could be a decision, a goal, or any particular situation that troubles you. If you disagree with this statement, then I’d love to meet you and ask you about your secret. As the year begins, it seems like everyone is filled with unrealistic optimism, and they focus on vague aspirations instead of small, attainable ambitions. For instance, if you resolve to eat healthier, you can’t let yourself get derailed after a few desserts! Give yourself a plan to follow, and try to showcase your willpower.

Too often, we look at reasons why we don’t succeed. Well, let’s turn the tables for a moment. What are some of the reasons people achieve their goals? Could it be the motivation? Sticking with the ‘eating healthier’ example, we see people conquering their aspirations because they have the incentive, a personal trainer, or someone to guide them through the process.

Armstrong Steel’s team of building experts, engineers, and project managers will provide plenty of motivation, and help you along the way to reach your goals and get you into your pre-engineered metal building.

We’ll help you muster the effort in the planning and design of your new building. You just have to tell us about your situation and specifications, and then the only ‘work’ you’ll have to potentially do is erect the building.

That’s like showing up on the last day of spin class and being in better shape than the rest of the class.

Let us do the hard part, while you reap the rewards.

This year, instead of a resolution that you might blow off a month into 2015, make yourself a promise to get yourself into your very own pre-engineered metal building. People keep their promises!

Photo courtesy: Walter-Wilhelm

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The New Year is upon us, and I personally can’t wait to get started. There’s something special about this month and it invigorates me. Maybe it’s the feel of a new beginning, or an inherent positive outlook that this month brings along with it. Either way, I’m choosing to embrace it. But I’m not just looking to put life on, ‘cruise control,’ – this is the year I’ll incorporate this philosophy permanently into my life and use it as a symbol all year long.

I think that’s a straightforward approach when it comes to people in any industry. Choosing to have a better attitude about what you do can make all the difference. I’ll walk into work everyday like I have a new lease on life. It isn’t always easy. If you read the newspapers or watch the news, you’ll see lots of differing reports on the future of the steel industry. Will 2015 present a good year for commodities like gas and oil? How will that affect steel prices? Will the market become more or less volatile?

My advice? Stay the course. Plan your project. Get it done now.

According to the multinational corporation Ernst & Young, the demand for U.S. steel will likely improve on the back of residential construction. The steel industry outlook is better than 2013, and 2015 holds the promise for greater improvement. The report produced by Ernst & Young adds, “American and other global leaders in the steel industry plan to address price volatility.” Really, only time will tell how the market responds to supply and demand, but we can’t afford to waste time watching something out of our control.

Again, I am making a choice to stay confident. That means I’ll still keep my eye on global production or the consolidation of the Chinese steel industry, but I won’t be a slave to it. Armstrong Steel is still dedicated to the customer, the first time builder, small business owner, and contractor. And regardless, Armstrong Steel is subject to American steel production, only, because we only sell American made steel. We’ll use our focus to help you stay on time and on budget.

So how do you go about buying a steel building?

First, ask yourself what you can afford. A realistic price to a farm family is different that what is reasonable to a small business or a large corporation. When you talk to an Armstrong building expert, they’ll help you secure your steel price. That’s the first step towards getting the building of your dreams. You’ll pay a nominal initial payment, and your steel price is frozen in place for up to 90 days.

From there, we’ll send your project on it’s way to our in-house detailing and design team. After about 5-7 days, your project will hit the desk of a project manager. If you take advantage of the Direct Buy process, next you’ll go through several phases including the approval drawing process and the permit drawing process. After those two extremely necessary steps are finished, you’ll release your project for fabrication, and receive a set of construction drawings and an inventory of all the parts to your steel building. All that’s left is for you to take delivery and erect your building!

There is a lot in store for Armstrong Steel. Join us in 2015 and help us build something special. Something unique. Something yours.

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Natural disasters are impossible to predict, and we constantly have to deal with the aftermath. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimated that 220,000 people in the U.S. were displaced or removed from their homes due to natural disasters in 2013. It’s a startling fact when you put it in global terms; 22 million people lost their homes due to flooding, hurricanes, drought, and tornados – and the IDMC estimates that’s three times more than war.

How do people protect themselves financially against disasters of this magnitude? One of the most common ways is insurance.

You might wonder as a first time builder, “How do I protect myself and my investments against something so unpredictable?” Steel buildings are one of the the best construction materials to stand up to Mother Nature. We’ve discussed the extensive benefits of Armstrong Steel Building systems in our past blogs. Steel buildings are more durable and cost less than traditional construction, offer numerous design options, expand and assemble quickly, and can be engineered to span long distances with no interior support beams. Convinced yet? Well, there are more benefits to consider. But one significant, and lesser-known advantage to steel buildings, that’s usually an afterthought, is the possible savings on insurance.

Insurance companies acknowledge the durability and lifespan of steel buildings and many times, offer customers savings and rebates. Think about the decisions you make in the buying process. If you factor insurance costs into the equation, choosing a building just got easier.

Why do people need building insurance? If your building is financed, your lender is going to require it. Most basic insurance policies are in place to protect a building from the elements, fire, flood and even vandalism. Mother Nature, however, has proven herself to be quite powerful on many occasions, and sometimes even destructive.

Insurance premiums on pre-engineered steel buildings also depend on the typical weather conditions of a specific area. Cities on the East Coast might have more flood or hurricanes and necessitate more coverage of that type, while Californian cities falling along the San Andreas Fault Line are susceptible to earthquakes. These two geographic areas require different coverage. It’s important to insurers that these buildings are engineered to withstand these types of conditions. The less likely a building will need structural repair after a storm hits, the lower insurance rates will be.

Steel buildings are also extremely resistant to fire, and insurance companies also recognize that advantage. According to the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, insurers follow a building rating system for fire resistance. The more fire resistant a building is, the more cost effective it is to insure. To determine a fire insurance rate, a building is first classified according to its construction. Those classifications, which the MBMA says could include variations, range on a scale from class 1-6, depending on the building components, and how they respond to fire. Class 1 buildings are considered the ‘most combustible’ while class 6 buildings fall into the ‘least combustible’ category.

Steel buildings usually fall in the noncombustible category, which is class 3. However, you can work with an Armstrong Steel in-house Project Manager to make the building more fire resistant with internal protection like a sprinkler or fire detection system, and those types of actions could have an effect on your insurance rates, as well.

Insurance premiums and cost savings will vary from one building to the next depending on several factors, like building function and its setting. Make sure to speak with your insurance provider if there are any special or extra circumstances you’ll need to plan around if you live in a potential disaster zone.

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If you’re reading this right now, there’s a good chance you have some questions about the Direct Buy Process, and how to steer yourself through a steel building purchase. It’s our desire to help you with every part of the process, ultimately guiding you to your dream building.

To make it easy on you, we break down the entire procedure. In a recent blog, we talked about what approval drawings are, how you use them, and your role in the approval drawing phase. It’s a great read for people with questions and is a step-by-step process for how to proceed directly after your purchase. If you just pulled the trigger on your new investment, I recommend you start reading about the approval drawing phase first.

Many people want to make changes to their building, and customize it to their specifications. This is where the Direct Buy Process is extremely useful. Buying a building direct isn’t just about taking advantage of the price of the steel, but also to mapping out where you would like the doors and windows to go; whether or not you might want insulation, and having a hand in managing the process and getting what you want.

After you finish marking up your drawings and the revised approval process is completed, you will move to the permit drawing phase. What are permit drawings, you ask? Permit drawings are an engineer’s detailed site plan of your building, submitted to your county for review and permitting, or your bank for financing. These plans are usually required by your local zoning or permitting offices to guarantee a building is structurally sound, and that the building has been engineered to adhere to required codes and regulations.

Here’s the best part: We provide these drawings for you. All you have to do is take it to your county for the proper permits.

At this time, your area’s local government will review the design, and make sure all the zoning regulations, codes, and building loads are correct. This is a vital step. Building codes exist to ensure the safety of the people using them, and to preserve the building integrity over its lifetime. Armstrong engineers must design each individual building to the unique conditions of each part of the country. For example, a building in Texas won’t have the same snow load capacity as a metal building in Michigan. Each building needs to withstand the elements, and must be engineered to do so properly.

An in-house Project Manager, like me, will work with you in this phase. It’s one of the top features of the Direct Buy process. We realize that many customers are familiar with this step, and don’t need our help. Also, while we’re working on your permit drawings, its time for you to develop idle hands. Don’t make a huge blunder by pouring a foundation or releasing your building for fabrication before you have secured your permits. You might think you’re saving time, but you’re not.

Once your permit drawings are approved, you can sign your fabrication release form. The next set of drawings you will receive are construction drawings, which describe how your building is erected.

Check back later as we continue to break down each step of the Direct Buy Process, or read more about it here!

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The perfect workshop has many uses. It’s the ideal man cave or ‘lady lair.’ For the car enthusiast, it’s extra space to hunker down and put more concentration on alternators, drive shafts and transmissions. For the carpenter, it’s a place to work on wood and other crafts. It’s definitely a place to store your tools, lawn equipment and that plastic jungle gym you keep telling your kids you’ll set up once the weather gets warmer. It can be all of these things, and much more.

Your perfect steel workshop begins with a steel building. It’s durable, costs less than conventional construction, and you can erect it quickly and easily. With the ability to engineer a steel workshop directly to your unique specifications, you can have what you want, exactly the way you want it.

Let’s go beyond steel. How do you plan for the perfect steel workshop? What goes into the process of starting a project with nothing, and finishing with a masterpiece? A steel workshop requires a lot of the same considerations as a residential or commercial building would. You’ll need to think about your interior and exterior space needs. What will your steel workshop rest on? Preparation is crucial when it comes to pouring your foundation, especially in the winter time.

Start thinking about your own bottom line. We’re talking about budget. Do your research, and find out how much the ‘shell’ of your building will be, and determine your costs. You might want to add doors, windows, and other accessories depending on your building’s function. This is another huge benefit of a steel building. It’s a high quality structure that’s easily assembled and tailored exactly to the user’s desires.

What will you use your workshop for? Make sure you leave yourself enough space to practice your favorite hobby while also storing your tools and equipment. Will you be accommodating cars, motorcycles, bicycles, or heavier farm equipment? Make sure you pick your dimensions according to the gear you already have.

What’s the operative word in ‘workshop?’ Even though you’ll have your fun moments in your steel workshop, you know you’ll be getting some serious work done. Don’t forget about a workbench, cabinets, counters and plumbing. Another important feature of your workshop should be a ventilation system. You’ll be working with wood and sawdust, or around paint fumes. Having the proper ventilation system to circulate the contaminated air is smart and health conscience. Consider installing plumbing and equipping your building with a sink or bathroom and drainage in the event of floor spills for easy clean-up.

One big misconception about steel buildings is that the outside has to be made of steel. Any kind of facade or exterior finish can be added to the outside of your workshop, assuming the weight of the finish is accounted for in the design process. Propose a different surface to your project manager if you want a distinct outside finish.

As you continue the planning process to your perfect steel workshop, it’s imperative to think about not only your present needs, but also your future needs. Workshops made from steel framing will last multiple decades, if not longer. You’re most likely to have a steel workshop sit on your property for as long as you own it, so you want to mull over your options. This doesn’t mean you have to outfit your workshop with the best technology now, but design a place for it, if necessary, if you think you might use it in the coming years. You’ll most likely install lighting and electricity to run your tools, but even if you only have battery-powered gizmos now, maybe in the future, you might need a place to plug them in.

You can accomplish all your goals with a pre-engineered steel building. From the basics to the more advanced developments, your perfect steel workshop is waiting to be erected, and finished with tons of possibilities.

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There comes a time in every company’s lifespan when the owners and leaders need to make hard decisions. It happens all over the country everyday, and it even happened to us a few years ago. As our company started to grow and our workforce expanded, it was apparent a new setting was needed to help us move to the next level. Armstrong Steel needed a new facility, one with more offices for project managers, more space for our growing in-house engineering team, and more room for our employees. It was extremely apparent everyone needed to collaborate without literally sitting on top of each other.

Does this sound like your situation? Are you running out of workspace for your employees? Are you in the process of building your fleet of trucks and don’t have a place for them? Maybe you are operating a successful home-based business and you think it’s time to move to a new location. Perhaps you should look into the cost of a metal building.

This isn’t a project you need to rush into quickly. Grow too fast, and your business might not be able to control all the increased costs. But if you grow too slowly, you might miss out of some valuable openings in the marketplace.

First, determine all the reasons why you think a move to a new facility would be beneficial. Accurately assess your facility needs and what you need to do to maximize your effectiveness. Will there be cost advantages to moving to a new facility beyond the money you’ll save by erecting a metal building? What additional costs will you incur? Think about extra equipment costs or financing. How do you plan to pay for your metal building?

How much does the change cost? – Look into getting multiple estimates of how much a move would cost you. If you ditch the rent for building ownership, you won’t have to worry about playing a lease every month. Instead, you gain equity as your own landlord.

Does this mean there are no additional costs other than the building? No. Sadly, change can have costs associated which a new location can’t constrain – collateral changes, for instance – new business cards, letterhead, and signage; advertising, and even the cost of the move, itself. You’re going to need trucks, man hours to move, and set-up time, which could mean lost business. But if you’re smart and plan ahead of time, the losses or expenses you experience will be more than made up for with a renewed vigor, a new energy, and a boost to your momentum.

You’re likely thinking about expansion so you can serve more people. Will this expansion into a metal building expose you to a new customer base, while allowing you to keep your old clientele at the same time? Will you still be able to offer the same quality of service? You’ve built or are still in the progression of building a brand, and you need to be able to provide the same superiority to which your customers are familiar. Here’s a small business story I like to tell about customers. After a consumer leaves your store, hangs up the phone after they speak with you, or closes their web browser after visiting your website, would you say they’re done with you?

Absolutely not!

Your business, or any business for that matter, isn’t an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ operation. The way you interact with consumers, whether it is directly or indirectly, affects how they think of you. An expansion should foster and strengthen the relationships your company has already made and make your business more visible and appear like it’s growing. People tend to buy from businesses they think other people are also buying from.

Some of the previous decisions can be made based on the location of your expansion site. Think about the new community. Is it located in a big city, or a small town? Can people get to the new location easily? Are there plenty of able-bodied people willing to join your workforce, and can they travel easily to and from the expansion site? Your new location must be at a strategic location that makes your business profitable, as well as rewarding to your employees.

A new business facility comes with a lot of work but has its fair share of rewards, like the ability to control your costs, expand and serve more customers while increasing your profitability and visibility.

Don’t let the process of expansion scare you! You can complete a successful expansion into a metal building if you allow yourself to make a game plan and analyze all the risks first!

Photo courtesy: Startupstockphotos, AlexanderStein, joergelman