Metal Buildings for Retail

Every retailer knows the importance of the manner in which merchandise is housed and displayed. In the highly competitive arena of retail sales, appearance can make a tremendous impact on attracting customers and influencing purchasing decisions.

Your retail facility can be enhanced with decorative brick, wood, stucco, glass, aggregate panels, landscaping and signage. A Metal Building Depot Acceptance Corporation dealer can help you with efficient designs and a more delightful appearance, yet stay within your budget.

Strip malls throughout the nation are being built with steel, utilizing the ability to add on or incorporate other fascia items - representing savings of up to 30% over other conventional construction methods. Owners and developers have come to realize that the pace at which a steel building system can be designed, manufactured, delivered and completed, is measurably less than that of any type of conventional construction. The short completion time and overall durability of steel building systems assure a more efficient turnkey project, as well as a quick return on the initial investment.

Gutters & Downspouts

These are generally not required on steel buildings. However, use of these components often enhances the appearance of a building, control drip, splash and drainage.

Gutters and downspouts are an optional accessory that serves as trim. Gutters dramatically improve the appearance of buildings, and we recommend them for most building applications. Downspouts control the water falling from the roof, preventing the water from splashing up on the sides of the building.

On every Metal Building Depot building, die-formed ridge caps are used to cover the peak opening in the center ridge of the building. Some sellers provide a ridge roll cover that must be sealed with closures. Installing ridge roll trim is not an easy task. Over time the exposed foam closures deteriorate and there can be potential leak problems. Our die-formed ridge caps match the panel profile perfectly and are formed to fit the pitch of the roof. Die-formed ridge caps create an almost seamless transition across the roof.

Frame Types

Unlike any of our competitors, we allow you to price all building frame types. Select from Clear-span or Modular rigid-frame buildings. We allow you the full flexibility to choose Gable, Single Sloped or Offset Peak building shape. By far, we offer the widest selection of building and frame types. For options not available through the online system, you will need to request a special quote.

Clear-span Frames - A clear-span rigid frame offers strength and economy. Since no interior supports are necessary, this design is best when you require large areas of clear and uninterrupted space. Factories, warehouses and agricultural buildings are just a few building types that may utilize a clear-span frame building. A clear-span design does have size limitations. As the desired width increases, the frames will become larger and heavier to carry greater loads across the length of the frame. At some point the cost will outweigh the benefit. Even so, clear-span buildings are still effective for buildings as wide as 150' feet and wider in some cases.

Modular Frames - Modular frames use interior columns to evenly distribute the load; reducing the cost of both the frame and foundation of extra wide buildings. The economical advantages become obvious when a building width is about 100' wide or wider. As a result, almost all buildings 100' wide or wider have interior support columns. Modular designs are often used for large factories and warehouses.

Single Slope Frames - Single slope frames have high and low eave heights creating a roof that "slopes" from side to side. To select a single slope design, you specify one eave height and define the roof pitch. Single slope designs are frequently used for strip shopping centers, offices, and RV/Boat storage facilities.

Just about every steel building has at least one framed opening. It is not unusual for buildings to have several openings. Most openings are created for an overhead door, but can be used for the installation of glass fronts or other entries. Most other online sellers offer "field located" framed openings, which require cutting and fabricating on the job site. Metal Building Depot always provides factory-located openings unless your project requires something otherwise.

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?

Structural Framing

All frames are welded on a state-of-the-art computerized submerged welding system. We are capable of producing structural members up to 72" in depth, which gives us the ability to manufacture clear-span buildings up to 150 feet wide! A factory primer coating is applied to protect the beams during shipping and erection.

All framing members shall be shop fabricated for field bolted assembly unless otherwise noted on plans and specifications. All building parts shall carry an identifying mark for easy field identification. Structural framing shall include tapered beam frames, tapered rigid frames, modular beam and columns, lean-to rafters and columns, canopy beams, intermediate columns bearing end frames and end wall columns. Steel used in the fabrication of built-up primary structural members shall have a minimum yield of 50 KSI. Hot rolled primary structural members shall have a minimum yield of 50 KSI. Cold rolled structural members shall have a minimum yield of 55 KSI. Primary framing shall be shop fabricated and include all holes required for attachment of secondary members and bracing. A continuous arc-welding process shall join flanges and webs of built-up welded members. End wall columns and rafters shall be "hot-rolled" built-up "I" or standard "cee" sections.

Connections - All field connections shall be bolted. All primary bolted connections shall be furnished with high strength bolts conforming to A.S.T.M. A-325. All secondary bolted connections shall be furnished with machine bolts conforming to A.S.T.M.-A307.