STEEL

BUILDING
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Why Choose Steel?

AN OVERVIEW
OF STEEL BUILDINGS

Steel buildings, often called prefabricated

or pre-engineered steel buildings, have
been popular for decades. These durable
structures are most commonly used as
storage buildings, warehousing units,
airplane hangars, retail store-fronts,
garages, workshops, homes, complexes for
sports, agricultural buildings, and as
recreation centres, but every building can
be tailored to your fit your specific needs.

Modern steel buildings have come a long

way from their simple structured
counterparts of the past.
They’re supremely customizable, and
can be designed to match the aesthetic of
virtually any kind of conventional building.

Explore our guide below to find out why so

many people around the world choose
steel buildings for their next project:
 Our History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF

STEEL BUILDINGS

All-Steel buildings first

became popular in the early
20th century. At this time the
steel industry boomed, it
became the building material
of choice due to its sheer
tensile strength, and its cost
efficiency. Later in the
century, computer software
came into existence that
could effectively design steel
trusses and full buildings.
Such software would expand
the capabilities and utility of
steel buildings. This allowed
them to be designed to
handle different loads, and
even allowing for clear-spans
of up to 300 feet.
Why Choose Steel?

ADVANTAGES
OF STEEL STRUCTURES

Steel Buildings are extremely

cost-effective, easy-to-assemble and
durable. A steel building can be erected in
just a few days without a specialized crew.
All the elements of our steel building kits
are prefabricated and designed before they
reach the site, allowing for an incredibly
painless installation process. Overall costs
of construction can be reduced up to Durable
60% when compared to conventional
structures. Long-Lasting
Steel also offers a superior weight-to-
Easy-To-Assemble
strength ratio, and can support a great deal
of stress without the need for additional
Low Maintenance
support struts or pillars. In addition, steel
does not burn, warp, shrink, rot or crack — Cost Effective
it’s far more structurally
sound than wood. Also, there are no pests Rust Resistent
that can infest steel. You need not worry
Customizable
about bore bees, termites, carpenter ants
or any other damaging infestation. Steel
doesn’t breed mold, and it doesn’t emit
volatile organic compounds.
 Why Choose Steel?

MATERIAL
DURABILITY

Steel is one of the most durable building materials

on the market today. Many people are surprised
to discover that despite its heaviness ratio, it is
actually lighter than timber to carry and transport.
It’s capable of standing up to earthquakes,
hurricanes and storms due to its high ductility. It
doesn’t rotate, distort, warp, divide or buckle. This
means that steel offers an outstanding value for
the cost. Always remember that you get what you
pay for —
as John Ruskin said, “Good things are seldom
cheap, an
cheap things are seldom good.” Steel is the best
investment you can make in terms of a building
material. It’s better than wood in terms of strength
and environmental friendliness. It will add value to
your property and offer the best possible
protection for whatever you wish to store within.
If you’re looking for the best options in steel
buildings, turn to Metal Pro. Contact us today for
more information or to place your order.
Why Choose Steel?

ECO FRIENDLY
BUILDING MATERIAL

Most Steel Buildings are processed using

recycled steel. Steel is one the only
materials that retains all of its properties
when reused and recycled. There’s no
deterioration or weakening in second- or
third generation steel products. In addition,
consider that up to 50 trees can be used to
build a 2000-square-foot wooden
building, whereas if you use steel, the same
building can be erected by recycling six
scrapped automobiles.

Some have criticized the steel industry for

creating carbon emissions. In truth, the
steel industry has been a leader in
developing technologies to create and
further environmentally-friendly methods of
manufacturing. They have reduced carbon
emissions significantly, and
many other industries have adopted
techniques pioneered by the steel industry.
TYPES OF
STEEL BUILDINGS

There are a broad variety of straight-wall

and arched steel buildings available, each
with its own uses. These include rigid Rigid Frame Structure
frame buildings, open web truss, Quonset
Quonset Huts
huts, hybrid buildings, tube frame and
light gage frame buildings. Open Web Truss

Buildings
At Metal Pro, you’ll receive buildings
constructed of AZ180 Galvalume Plus™ Hybrid Structures
Steel. This comes with a 30-year factory
warranty to protect against corrosion. This
Tube Frame Structures
kind of steel also ensures that your
Light Gage Frame
materials will neither deteriorate nor
require replacement. Buildings
 Types of Steel Buildings

RIGID FRAME
STRUCTURES

Rigid frame structures are also called I-beam buildings or red iron buildings. They are most
commonly used for industrial and commercial applications. Rigid frames are set on piers
or footing, and are often situated on optional
concrete slabs. Trusses are normally placed on 25- to 30- foot centers. Erecting these
kinds of buildings requires heavy equipment, as the trusses are bolted together before
being lifted and put in place.
Secondary framing members on a rigid frame building are made of large C’s or Z’s, and are
placed every five to seven feet, and sheet metal is connected using stitch screws, where
there is no available secondary framing. The problem with rigid frame structures comes in
that while they can be designed to withstand many snow and wind loads, their shallow roof
pitch can create zoning issues, unless the buildings are on industrial land. These pitches
are generally between 0.5:12 and 2:12, and the frames are available with clear-spans of up
to 300 feet. They can, however, be erected quickly and are available in a broad range of
colors. Depending on the manufacturing, some drilling and field welding may be required.
These buildings are best for sporting arenas and other large commercial uses. They are
exceptionally cost-effective as non-insulated, large buildings, but if they aren’t insulated,
they might sweat, which can cause dripping and condensation inside.
Types of Steel Buildings

QUONSET
HUTS

Quonset huts are also called arch buildings. They

possess a curved or rounded shape, and are best
known for their use as military barracks. However,
today they are used in just about every application
you can imagine, including garages, barns, hay
storage, livestock shelters, and even
residential homes. If there’s a type of steel
structure with virtually limitless possibilities, it’s
the Quonset hut.
They are usually less expensive than other
varieties of steel buildings, making them perfect
for do-it-yourself projects or for those in need of
an outbuilding fast without putting an undue
strain on their wallet.
These buildings have a wide variety of available
options in terms of size, type of steel, thickness,
tensile strength, and coatings. Most come with a
rust warranty ranging up
to 30 years, and like other kinds of steel structures
they can be finished to look like a conventional
building if you
like.
Types of Steel Buildings

HYBRID
STRUCTURES

Many steel buildings on the market today are

hybrid buildings. They combine the strength of
an open web truss, and combine it with lumber
to create a wood secondary frame. This offers a
unique, cost-saving versatility to construction.
The secondary frame eliminates issues of
condensation and creates a natural thermal
break. The primary web truss frame still
maintains the strength benefits of this form of
building. Some people prefer wood for the ease
of custom interior finishes, and appreciate how
easy and inexpensive it is to insulate these
buildings. In fact, these hybrid structures are
unique in that they can be insulated either when
erected, or in the future. It’s an outstanding
alternative to a pole building and features rigid-
frame wood trusses
combined with heavy steel frames spaced 25
feet apart, and a secondary framing comprising
five- to seven-foot centers. It shares the same
limitation of an open web truss, that it has a
maximum clear-span of 100 feet.
Types of Steel Buildings

OPEN WEB
TRUSS BUILDINGS

The open web truss construction style was first created in the 1950's. It’s
commonly seen structured around a bar joist in large retail stores because
of it's strength. When used in this fashion, they make buildings much easier
to construct. The roof pitch for these structures ranges between 4:12
and 3:12 in general, but it can be designed to support a pitch of anywhere
between 5:12 through 12:12 without sacrificing any truss integrity. In fact,
the ability to have steeper roof pitches allows these buildings to adhere to
residential zoning conditions much more easily. The overall weight of
building materials in an open web truss structure tends to be heavier than
in other steel buildings, but the placement of the secondary framing on two-
foot centers, and the close bay spacing of the trusses results in unparalleled
strength and rigidity to stand against snow and winds. The steeper roof
pitch also allows for multi-floor structures for storage, living space, or the
height for heavy equipment like hoists and automobile lifts.

Such designs tend to have stiffer standard deflections than other types of
steel buildings. Windows and doors can be located during construction for
perfect arrangement, and the style allows for superior strength and bay
spacing. If there is a limit to an open web truss design, it’s that there is a
100-foot width clear-span. If more space is required, however, half-trusses
and self-supporting overhangs can be added to accommodate such needs.
 OTHER TYPES
OF BUILDINGS

Tube Frame Structures

These buildings, in general, are used for carports, garages and RV covers. They
are, however, seeing increased use in fabric buildings. They are constructed of
galvanized steel or aluminum, tend to be very lightweight, and are appreciated
by budget-minded consumers in need of a storage shed or inexpensive
garage. Fabric buildings on tube frames are often used for riding arenas and
grain storage areas. However, they tend to have shorter warranties and don’t
carry the same strength as other varieties of steel structures.

Light Gauge Frame Buildings

Light gage frame buildings are most often used for light utility storage or mini
storage areas. Such buildings are generally comprised only of secondary
framing members, which are screwed together to form a truss system or walls.
If a foundation is used, it is generally a simple slab. Some packages are
designed to go up very fast, and they’re extremely cost-effective. Their
limitations are that they have very low clear-span widths, there are limited
options available, and they don’t have the tensile strength of other forms of
structure.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER
WHEN PLANNING YOUR BUILD

There are many things to consider when Building Timeframe

you’re undertaking any new building
How soon are you going to need
project. These include:
your building? Traditional wood
framed buildings can take a year or
Your budget, your time frame, your
more to build, while steel buildings
aesthetics, the design you want, the
can be designed and assembled in
supplier you use, warranties and much
anywhere from four to six weeks.
more.
This is still a fairly long lead time, so
if you are going to need the use of
Aesthetic Concerns your building within the next
One of the greatest advantages of steel couple of months, you should start
buildings is that they can be designed to your order process as soon as
fir virtually every aesthetic. possible. However, the construction
If you’re looking for a single steel building process is exceptionally fast. They
design with a wood, brick, stone, stucco or are designed to go together by
siding fascia, or you’re looking for a simply lining up the components
custom complex that requires and attaching anchor bolts to the
architectural or engineering support, we structure. Experienced contractors
will help you to work out exactly what you and "do-it-yourselfers" can erect
need, and make sure it gets done within steel buildings quickly and easily,
your time-frame. We have over 30 years of using the step-by-step erection
experience building custom steel guides and assembly drawings to
buildings, and we are confident that we help you understand the entire
can create the building of your dreams. process.
 Functionality
Of course, you’ll need to be absolutely clear about what you need out of your
building. Make a note of the exact dimensions you need — length, width, internal
area, etc. Will you eventually need to expand the building? What doors and
windows will you want? How large will they be and where will they need to be
situated? What function will they serve? Do you need walk doors? Overhead
doors? Ventilation windows? Large windows for lighting and view? Do you need
insulation for the building, and how will it be heated and cooled, if at all? What
roof pitch do you need?

Consider all of these factors and others to be sure your design meets your exact
needs. One of the greatest benefits of a steel building is that it can be designed
exactly to your specifications.

Design Requirements
Before you place your order, check
local building codes. While most
Budgeting Your Purchase
steel buildings can be created and
When creating your budget, there are a
designed to suit just about any
number of factors to consider. There
building code, it’s important to
will be land costs, the costs of building
know the regulations and statutes
permits, labor costs, the cost of the
you need to follow. In addition, local
building package itself, insulation costs,
codes may limit your options in
and the costs of building. The base cost
terms of budgetary considerations
of erecting a building will range from
and what’s practical. Once you’ve
$6 to $11 per square foot. Creating a
educated yourself on building
foundation will run between $4 and $9
codes, snow and wind load
per square foot, and the cost of
requirements and the like, you’ll
erecting the building can run anywhere
need to determine whether you’re
from $3 to $10 per square foot.
going to build it yourself or hire a
Accessories and incidentals can run
crew. If looking to go the DIY route,
anywhere from zero cost to up to 30%
you’ll need to make sure that your
of the total building cost or more.
building is designed for DIY
construction.
Why Metal Pro?

WARRANTY AND
COST CONSIDERATIONS

While steel prices fluctuate constantly, if you work

with a reputable dealer, like Metal Pro, you will always
receive price protection and remain informed of all
cost reasoning in an honest manner. This will ensure
that the delivery of your building occurs on time, and
on budget. These buildings are prefabricated
and certified by an in-house engineer before leaving
our warehouse, allowing them to be assembled
anywhere with ease, requiring less labour to erect.
In addition, you won’t be surprised by hidden costs or
delays in construction. The process of erecting a steel
building is fast, efficient and easy.
Another concern is warranty. Steel buildings come
with a broad range of warranty options, and you’ll
want to ensure that the warranty you receive is
among the best on the market. All of our building kits
come with a standardized 30-Year Complete Warranty.
In addition, you should always be sure that you get
your warranty in writing to back up the promises
made. All of your designs, drawing and warranty
information will be electronically sent upon order
completion.
Why Metal Pro?

CHOOSING
THE RIGHT COMPANY

There are tons of steel building manufacturers on the market

today, and far too many use pressure tactics and dishonest
tricks by their salesmen to close a deal. They might try to pass
off a canceled building as an outstanding deal that you can get
if you buy right now when, in fact, this is just a trick to get an
unwanted product off their hands.

In reality, if a company is pushing a canceled building on you,

the question you should ask is "why are they saddled with
canceled buildings to begin with". In addition, if a company
waffles on delivery time, that’s a red flag. You should always
be given information about the complete package you’re
getting, including framing, sheet metal, trim, closures, framed
opening materials, and fasteners. If you’re also buying doors
from the company, make sure you have complete information
about the kind of doors you’re getting before finalizing your
purchase.

Certainly you’re interested in the cost, but that shouldn’t ever

be your first consideration. Putting cost ahead of other
questions will often result a final product with which you won’t
be satisfied. There are many different options and styles
available with steel buildings, and you need to ask the right
questions to get the best results. In the end, always
remember that you get what you pay for, and going with a
discount provider almost always results in receiving a
substandard product.

For more information, or to get started designing your new

steel building, contact Metal Pro Buildings today!
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