How to Buy a Steel Building

How to Buy a Steel Building

There are three main things to look for when purchasing a steel building system: high quality, excellent service, and of course, a competitive price. 

HIGH QUALITY- Not all steel buildings are the same. Ask if the supplier has any buildings in your area that you can take a look at, to see their finished product. 

A high quality manufacturer engineers a building to exacting standards, using automated CNC controlled machinery and robotics thought the entire manufacturing process. 

Some features that indicate a high quality steel structure are: 

The manufacturer is certified through the AISC-MB. This assures that the company has faced thorough engineering and production audits by independent inspectors. 

Structural warranty- 50 years indicates a manufacturer who stands behind their product. 

Paint warranty- Quality steel buildings come with a finish that should last 20 years, maintenance free. 

Solid I- beam construction for the columns for the sidewalls and roof rafters? (Material used should be minimum 50,000 and 36,000 p.s.i.) 

26 gauge 80,000 psi. strength sheeting- highly resistant to dings and dents. (29 gauge is actually a thinner, lesser quality steel.)

The building comes with anchor bolt setting plans, approval drawings, and building plans stamped by an engineer certified for your state. These should be provided shortly after receipt of deposit for the building.

Click here for more info about purchasing a quality building. 

SERVICE- Although many manufacturers create an excellent steel building, quality service is equally important. Carefully review the services of each metal building dealer before you work with them. 

Some things that indicate quality service are: 

No pressure to sign a contract; rather, the emphasis is on meeting customer’s needs instead of making a sale 

Your phone calls are returned promptly 

Delivering the building on time, as promised 

Utilizing automated CNC controlled machinery and robotics throughout the manufacturing process 

Computerized design and erection drawings to facilitate easy assembly 

Willingness to educate the inexperienced customer with all the information they need to proceed with both purchase and installation of the building 

A bill of materials to expedite delivery 

Helping the client by providing a foundation design service 

Helping the customer research and find the appropriate building codes for their area. 

And, last but not least, check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no complaints against the manufacturer you select

PRICE- Lower price has always been one of the main attractions to using prefabricated metal buildings. Both the purchase price and construction costs are significantly less than for ordinary types of construction such as wood, brick, stone, or masonry. Because each steel building is specially engineered to have all components fit together exactly, and because the components were cut, drilled and prepped (painted, sealed, etc.) in factory, the cost of assembly is greatly reduced. 

The skill level and amount of labor needed to erect the steel building is also considerably less- some purchasers even do it themselves. Construction costs might be reduced by as much as 50% as compared to a conventional building. 

How do you know you are getting a good price?

Once you have all the specifications (dimensions, numbers of framed openings, doors, windows, other accessories) and know the building code requirements for your area, you can start comparison shopping to get the best price. (Each locale has its own building codes that must be followed, and most areas also require a building permit.) But, how do you know you are actually getting a great price? Here are some things to be aware of… 

When price shopping, make sure you’re comparing buildings with the exact same specifications. Some suppliers give cheaper estimates, but they might not be offering all the same features and quality materials. (For instance, 26 gauge steel is the recommended quality, 29 gauge is much thinner and will not hold up as well.) 

Know that steel building quotes only include the building itself. All accessories including doors, windows, gutters, vents, insulation, and exterior finishes will be priced separately. 

Find out if the cost of delivery is included in the quoted price, and if the building will be shipped separately or on a truck loaded with other buildings to other sites. 

Take detailed notes while doing your price comparisons. 

Many factors impact the price of a steel building, including time spent by engineers and estimators, sales staff, as well as the differing costs of the building materials themselves. 

The prices will change whenever the price of steel changes- only by putting down a deposit can you lock in the quoted price. 

A “steel building kit” will be much cheaper than a custom design.

Building code/load requirements will also have an effect on the price.