Perm Rating

The perm rating, or permeance, is a measure of the amount of water that passes through one square foot of material per hour. The lower the perm rating, the more effective the barrier. A facing material with a perm rating of 0.1 or less is considered excellent. Anything with a rating above 1.0 is not considered a vapor barrier.

Constructing a Large Steel Building

Have you considered all of your steel building options? There are many types of standard buildings to choose from, but they are not the only option. Buildings can be finished with a multitude of options and accessories. Your land and location will control some of the parameters of the kind of structure you need. Aside from these factors you can make the choices based on your preferences. Windows, skylights and panel styles can be individually selected to comprise a personal metal building kit.

Pre-engineered metal building plans are just the starting point from which you can select options and accessories. Configuring your building may sound like a small deal, but it determines the type building you will purchase. Not every large steel building is intended to be a large shop. When you work with the manufacturer you can customize a structure with a polished look and feel. Regard your steel metal building as a low cost alternative to traditional construction.

Trim and Gutter

The trim on a steel building serves two essential functions, to close transitions and protect the building from the weather. Trim also adds to the appearance of a building. Our sculptured trim gives the building a refined, quality appearance. Trim covers corner and edge areas of a building. For instance, eave trim creates a transition from the roof to the sidewalls and roof to endwalls.

Most metal building companies often supply "box" or generic trim pieces. This trim routinely has to be modified to fit, as it is created as multi-purpose - and does not fit well on standard panels. We fabricate each profile to match the design of your steel building. We do a lot of work in the shop that will save you headaches in the field. We hem all exposed edges of our trim so it installs easily, fits neatly, and looks great for the life of your building. Our trim is easy to install and adds to the look and the integrity of the building.

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.

Base Condition

Every metal building has some type of base connection along the building perimeter, allowing the connection of sheeting. This "base condition" determines exactly how the panels connect to the foundation. To prevent water and pests from entering the building at the base, panels extend below the finished floor of the building. Online design and pricing systems allows users to choose from a number of different base options.

Standard Base Angle - Our system defaults to a standard base angle condition. This condition consists of a single angle member, attached to both the wall sheets and the slab. Please note that the standard base condition requires that the slab be formed with a 1½" sheet notch to allow the sheets to extend below the top of the slab.

Deluxe Trim - Deluxe base trim is another option for buildings with concrete slab foundations. Deluxe base trim combines base angle and trim into one piece, providing all the benefits of base trim and base angle. Deluxe base trim is only available in burnished slate color.

Base Girt - The base girt option is designed for buildings that sit on piers rather than a full slab. A base girt system does not rest on or attach to the foundation. The base girt attaches to clips on the columns about 6" above the foundation. The base girt provides a great connection for liner panel.

Base Channel - The Base channel is a "cee" shaped section that runs the perimeter of the building connected to the floor. It is most commonly used when a liner panel, or interior wall, is going to be installed. The "cee" section provides a pre-positioned connection point for inside panels. This approach requires a sheet notch in the slab (for an alternative, see the combination of base channel and base trim below).