Before you Buy

Do you know the company you're doing business with? Is the supplier a member of the Better Business Bureau? Do they have a record of dealing honestly? Can they refer you to satisfied customers? Is the physical address to the company available? Can you visit them at their offices? Are they a real company with a history of quality manufacturing? Are they Active Members of the AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) Do they post any affiliation with any steel building association? Do you know what you are paying for? Does the steel building contract give line-item prices? Will you receive comprehensive set of erection plans? Are you getting written 30-year paint and 25-year Galvalume Plus® warranties? Does the contract specify 26 gauge panels? Does their roof panels include a "purlin bearing" leg? Does the roof system have an Underwriters Laboratories Class 90 rating? Are you being supplied with premium fasteners with a lifetime red-rust warranty? Will your steel building have a sculptured trim package? Are all the clips welded to primary structural components? Are the framed openings factory located? Does the supplier have the ability to engineer a custom design? Will you receive an 80+ page fully illustrated erection manual? Does the supplier have an in-house customer service department? Does the supplier actually manufacture what they sell? Do they process and produce all their drawings in-house? Do they ask you to sign a contract and pay a deposit before you know the total cost?

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.

Roof Extensions and Overhangs

Extensions can improve the appearance of a building but will cost more. Roof extensions add "curb-appeal" to some buildings, but will take more time to complete the erection of the building because of the amount of extra covering trim. Extensions can also help a building merge in better in an environment of conventionally constructed buildings in commercial areas. An overhang offers you some protection from the rain and shade from the sun. These options can be important when you receive many visitors to your building, by offering shelter from the elements.

We offer two types of roof extensions: (1) Gable Extensions for endwalls (2) Eave Extensions for sidewalls. Using our system, you can easily and quickly design and price buildings with overhangs up to 5' on any or all of the walls. When in the Building Accessories section select Roof Extensions.

Building Permits/Codes

Do I need a building permit to build my metal building? - You will almost always need a building permit. On occasion you will not need a permit to build but you should ALWAYS check with your local building inspector before purchasing a metal building.

When I call my building inspector what should I tell them? - When you get in touch with your building inspector let him know what you're planning and you should be able to receive the information you'll need to get a building permit for your new metal building.

What do I do if I need permit drawings? - We supply the permit drawings to you after you have committed to buy a metal building from us. We will not begin fabrication or shipment until you have completed the approval process. See the Approval Process section of our website.

What about building codes and loads? - Every metal building that we ship is engineered to comply with regional building codes, wind load and snow load requirements (as stated on your plans). When you start designing your metal building, make sure to review your building code specifications very closely. Since there can be varying requirements within regions - you will need to confirm the codes by contacting your local building official. MetalBuildingDepot.Com is not responsible for confirming codes.

Commercial Buildings

It is said that close to 90% of all new commercial construction is a steel building system. The ease of construction makes a new steel building system more attractive to builders and owners alike. From carwashes to skyscrapers steel has, and will continue to lead the way. Steel buildings are great for workshops or manufacturing facilities, classrooms or church buildings, metal buildings are fast replacing less adaptable building systems. Today, more than ever our world is growing faster and more competitive. Architects and professional building designers are becoming more aware of the benefits of steel from a construction and economical standpoint. As new steel building systems are introduced, we see the bottom line improving on construction projects of all kinds. The ease of construction and versatility makes a steel building attractive for a variety of uses.