Building with steel building kits offers a ton of benefits.
They are a popular choice and the cheapest, most durable, largest, and most versatile option for metal structures.
And, they require next to no regular maintenance or routine inspections.
If you show your metal building some love every once in a while, it can last you generations and save you from costly repairs.
Compared to other steel structures, especially wood and steel buildings, they offer the easiest and least challenging option for your building.
To make it even better, steel building maintenance doesn't often require immediate attention.
It's one of the many reasons that business owners are Choosing Metal Buildings For Their Businesses.
So, routine maintenance, done at your convenience, will go a long way to prevent emergencies.
If you do the bare minimum amount of work, your commercial metal building will last for ages.
In the article below, we will discuss several metal building maintenance tips that will ensure you get the most out of your metal building.
Table of Contents
- Start Immediately
- Remove Snow
- Wash The Building Inside and Out
- Check The Insulation
- Touch Up Painting
- Preventative Maintenance
Start Immediately
There are a few basic maintenance tasks you should perform as soon as you get your steel building.
The first thing you need to do is remove anything that's still touching your building.
Tools, ladders, and roof panels may still be leaning against or sitting on your building after assembly.
Make sure everything is put away. You don't want to have unnecessary weight straining the building or obscuring its surface.
After the drill holes get bored in the roof, some metal shavings will remain.
Sweep away the shavings with a soft-bristled broom.
The shavings have a raw surface area and can lead to rust on the metal surface of the roof.
Remove Snow
Snow left on your roof can exert incredible stress on your structure. Check your building's maximum allowable snow roof amount.
If you believe your roof is getting close to having too much snow on it, act quickly to plan for its removal in order to avoid structural damage.
It's hard to determine if you're in danger of crossing the allowable level after the first snowfall.
Keep in mind the density of the snow and how much snow falls with each snowfall.
Try to avoid compounded snowfalls when the snow melts and is covered by fresh powder or rain.
Snow will soak up the rain and prevent it from draining properly. Fresh rain adds to the weight of the snow significantly.
Be cautious when removing the snow.
Know your surroundings, wear proper clothes and shoes, and keep in mind the locations of your skylights or translucent roof panels.
When you start, the first thing you need to do is look around to be sure the roof hasn't buckled. All metal panels and frames should appear normal, so don't proceed if it seems like the snow has undermined any areas of the roof.
Shovel the snow off of the roof from the end walls and work your way to the center, using extreme caution.
Knock the snow off of the eaves, past the gutter.
Remember not to bring your shovel into direct contact with the roof. Take the snow down to where it is a few inches above the roof, and don't go any further.
If you go too low and scrape the roof, it could cause potential damage, leading to water leakage.
Wash The Building Inside and Out
If you perform regular checks and take care of your steel panels, they will last a long time.
Custom steel buildings benefit from solid materials that rarely need to be replaced.
The best way to make sure they last a long time is to wash them on a semi-regular basis.
Dirt and grime can quickly accumulate in your steel building and, if left unattended, can tarnish the surface of your structure and lead to mold or rust.
Give your building a thorough routine cleaning every now and then.
If it doesn't look like it needs to be washed, don't wash it. Just check it often.
If you notice any residue, discoloration, or other signs of dirt, break out your bucket and gentle household cleaning products and get to work.
There are many industrial cleaners available for metal building walls, but there are also some homemade options.
One recipe for a cleaning solution is one cup of ammonia to five gallons of water.
You can use any applicator you want, but large spray washers or a trusty sponge-mop get the job done well.
After the entire structure is washed, rinse your building with a power washer on the low setting or a garden hose with a condenser extension.
If you wash the inside walls, wear a proper air mask to prevent the ammonia in the water from irritating your lungs.
Check The Insulation
For insulated metal buildings, you should be sure that there is no damage or evidence of moisture.
Fissures in your walls can occur for a number of reasons, such as birds or other animals digging holes into your building while making nests.
Any insulation maintaining contact with the air risks water contamination.
Moisture prevents insulation from improperly protecting your building. This results in greater energy required to heat and cool the building, which will balloon your energy costs.
Another concern of wet insulation is when trapped moisture lingers within your walls, the risk of mold and rust increases.
Although not something you need to worry yourself too much about, don’t let a problem like insulation exposure remain.
You don’t want to replace an entire wall.
Touch Up Painting
If you notice a scratch or a minor abrasion during routine checks of your building, it's time for a simple retouch.
It's important to be sure that no aspect of the metal substrate ever gets to breathe.
Moisture exposure leads to rust and mold. Keep a reserve of matching primer and paint to cover any scratches you find.
Always make sure you have the right paint.
Paint comes in a wide range of environmental exposure thresholds.
Make sure your paint matches your needs. For the primer, make sure it will react with your paint to form a perfect sealant bond.
If you need to, ask your building provider which paint and primer to use.
A good coat of paint not only offers your building aesthetic appeal, but is also the best protection from weather conditions, natural disasters, or severe storms.
Preventative Maintenance
Even after doing all of that, your metal building will still require much less maintenance than any other building type.
Performing this preventative maintenance will reduce your year-to-year costs by performing these regular maintenance checks and addressing any minor issues as they arise.
Potential issues won't come around too often, but when they do, they won't go away on their own. That's why preventative maintenance and regular inspections are key.
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I'm Ben Sparhawk, the Content Writer and Marketing Account Manager for CDMG. I write to showcase the work that CDMG does and everything related to the pre-engineered metal building industry as well as their engineering capabilities. When I'm not working on content, you can find me spending time with my wife and children. You can also find me in the gym, trying to better myself, and I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking or checking out local parks.