Six Factors to Begin Your Metal Building Project

Six Factors to Begin Your Metal Building Project

Any metal building project involves examining a number of issues and several important decisions before the building project can commence. There are six essential factors described below that you will need to look at and make a decision on.


The first consideration is your budget and how much money is available to fund your project. Many people fall into the trap of having enough funding for the initial phase of the project, but not having the resources to see the building through to completion. Consider a small building, initially, if your funding is limited. You can expand the smaller structure into a larger building as your funding allows in the future. The purchase of cheap, flimsy, metal “economy� buildings is not advised. These buildings can quickly turn into repair and/or maintenance nightmares. Always purchase the highest quality metal building you can afford so as to minimize your long term maintenance expenditures.

A standard base building package for most metal buildings does not include accessories or components. If you will need doors, windows, or insulation, these are considered options and therefore entail additional costs. These items need to be purchased separately from the base building package, so budget accordingly. Calculate the quantity and price of all the accessories that you will require first, before you purchase the building, to see if you will be able to afford it. You need to know the exact height of the metal building that you need. In order to determine this, figure at least two feet in height more than your tallest door or entrance clearance requirement.

Preparation of your building site is rarely done by the erector. You need to budget site preparation into your project as it is your responsibility. The site needs to be level and cleared of all foliage. The best bet is to contact a local landscaping company that has done this type of work before if you cannot find the resources or time to do it yourself.

You need to make sure that there is enough space at your job site for the dimensions of your new metal building. Metal buildings afford the ability to expand but you should not cut your size requirements at the outset and complicate your square footage requirements by growing “out of your building” a lot faster than expected. Know your design and space requirements initially and budget accordingly.

The end use of your metal building is also important. If you need a column-free interior environment for your building, you should choose a sturdy I-Beam clear-span framing system. This type of construction affords up to 300 feet in width, but it is a more expensive system. If you want to save money, consider a multi-span metal frame system. This construction system involves the use of interior support columns, but it is less expensive. These six factors are very important to the successful completion of your metal building project.