Foundations

Do I need a foundation for my metal building? - Some people choose to pour a full slab foundation, however if you're planning on leaving the floor in a dirt or gravel condition, concrete piers will do the job just fine. Please contact a customer service representative if you don't plan to pour a full slab foundation.

Can you provide an engineer stamped foundation layout? - Yes, but in some cases your soil conditions play a major role in the type of foundation you can use. Contact our special sales department for more information. If using a local engineer, we will provide anchor bolt plans to aid your engineer in designing the foundation.

Do you supply the hardware to attach the frame to foundation? - No, the anchor bolts are usually supplied by a concrete contractor and placed when the foundation is poured.

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.

Ridge Vent

Ridge vents come completely assembled for ease of installation. Ridge vents supplied by Metal Building Depot are of a low profile design to provide gravity type ventilation. Because gravity ridge vents are designed to allow free airflow, some penetration of water during blowing rains is to be expected. Standard available finishes for the ridge vents are polar white and galvalume. Other colors may be available at an additional cost. Nominal ridge vent length is 10'-0". Ridge vents are available with 9" and 12" throats. Bird screens are provided as a standard. The ridge vents can be ordered as continuous or single units. Exterior parts are 26 gage painted or galvalume. Interior parts are all made of G90 galvanized steel. The substructure consists of 10 gage saddle straps with interior baffles of 24 gage steel. Lifter arms and damper slides are made of 18 gage steel. Manual operation is through activation of a pull bar which is attached internally to bell cranked type lifter arms connected to the damper with Teflon coated pins through the damper slides. Dampers are spring loaded to remain in the open position until the pull bar is operated and locked in the closed position. Dampers operate in a vertical manner. Each vent is opened by a pull chain that extends approximately 12" below the roof unless noted otherwise on the order documents. Other opening mechanisms are available at an additional cost upon special request. Ridge vents should not be placed closer than 5’-0" to the endwall steel line to allow room to properly flash the building. For example, a 90’-0" long building with ridge vents required the entire length should have no more than (8) units. The ridge vents are available with the following accessories:

Advantages of Metal Buildings

LOW COST - Our steel buildings are more economical than conventional methods due to the originating costs and reduced labor. Complete steel buildings are delivered to the jobsite and quickly erected. QUICK CONSTRUCTION - On average, a steel building system can be completed in approximately two-thirds the time required for conventional construction. BETTER APPEARANCE - The appearance of steel buildings can easily be enhanced with stucco, stone, brick or glass. Metal building systems can attain a remarkable exterior that will merge with the ambiance of the building's surroundings. LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION - A suitably insulated metal building can drastically decrease heating and cooling expenses. Insulated roof and wall systems preserve and reassure thermal efficiencies. LOW MAINTENANCE - Extended life materials reduce maintenance, and eliminate troubles such as structural deterioration, rotting and insect damage. EXPANDIBILTY - It is easy to enlarge a building by removing the end walls, erecting new framework and adding matching wall and roof panels. In most situations, the original end wall panels can be reused.

Surface Air Film Coefficient (F)

The amount of heat flow in BTU's per square foot per hour between an exposed surface of a material and the adjacent air. It is the measure of the conductance of heat through the air film that clings to all surfaces.