Steel Buildings vs. Conventional Construction

A great advantage of pre-engineered buildings is that they can be relocated if required. Since your building is shipped to you with a complete set of instructions, detailed engineering drawings and a shipping list, you can erect you steel building without consulting a construction company. This also means that should you someday decide to relocate, you can take down your building and erect it elsewhere.

Adding partition walls in a steel building allows one building to be a meeting room, or office and storage facility and another to be a restaurant. Building with steel gives you the ultimate in design flexibility. You can either own one outright or purchase a steel building to rent to others. Your one time cost is regained sooner rather than later when you rent it as mini storage or public meeting space. Steel buildings can be designed with a almost unlimited amount of options.

If you have a need for a new building, don't make a decision until you have explored your options with a qualified steel building manufacturer. The Steel Building Network has reviewed a wide range of manufacturers, suppliers and building industry professionals, and we know that no matter what your intended use, there is steel building system to suit your needs. Getting I contact with the right company to get your questions answered is the first step in having your building needs met.

Overall Heat Transmission Coefficient (U-Value)

A unit used to express heat passage through a complete building section, including air films. U-Values serve as a basis for determining transmitted heat loss. The lower the U-Value, the higher the insulation value.

On The Farm

I don't know of any farm operation that could get buy without barns for equipment storage, feed storage or any other general warehousing needs. Many older farms are now removing old wooden structures and replacing their old buildings with new steel structures. While the old antique tractor may look good in front of the old barn, many are weary of storing precious items in an old rotten structure. Steel is stronger, straighter and will last eons longer than wood. In a home, wood is fine. Houses are designed so that the wooden structural components do not have direct exposure to the elements, but on the farm it is often hard to prevent the outside from coming into the barn.

Recommended Installation Methods of Insulation

Roof insulation rolls are cut to lengths that will cover the distance from eave to eave, leaving a one-foot overhang on each side of the building.

1) Start at the end of the building and temporarily secure one end of the roll by attaching the insulation to the eave strut with double-faced tape.

2) Pull the insulation across the purlins with the vapor barrier toward the building interior. Double-faced tape attached to the opposite end of the insulation will keep tension on the roof roll while the metal panels are being attached over the insulation.

3) Install the next roll in the same manner, making sure the rolls are stretched tight, aligned properly and closely butted.

4) Fasten tabs using one of the methods described on the following page. Any rips or tears must be covered with matching facing tape to ensure a tight vapor seal.

5) Trim excess insulation flush to prevent it from acting as a wick and moving water into the building.

Engineered Buildings

Don't be reluctant to purchase an engineered building because you think that it will limit your options. There are unlimited building styles and configurations to choose from. A person needing a metal church building will most likely want a different construction style than someone looking to erect a steel building horse barn. For this reason, engineered buildings are as diverse as the purposes they are used. If you require assistance in addressing your particular needs and specifications many steel building manufacturers offer design services to walk you through the process, some even offer online design programs.

Most pre engineered metal building manufacturers will have a common design that suits your needs, but never hesitate to ask for custom designed plans. A qualified manufacturer should make no hesitation in designing the exact building you desire.