How Much Maintenance Is Required For A Metal Building?

If you've decided to build a metal structure, you will be happy to know that metal buildings require far less maintenance than most other building materials.

The decision to buy a pre-engineered steel building is like buying a new car.

When you buy a new car, you always want to follow through with routine and preventative maintenance.

You shouldn't neglect the minimal routine maintenance of your steel building.

While maintenance is a necessity for all buildings, including prefab metal buildings, these buildings require much less maintenance than other building materials, which saves you money over the life of your building. It's one of the reasons so many companies are taking advantage of the benefits metal buildings offer for their manufacturing facilities. 

The low maintenance requirements of steel buildings and building accessories are what draw people to them.

However, even though it may seem like metal buildings are virtually maintenance-free, it's easy to overlook basic maintenance tasks.

Your steel building might look alright on day one, but after a while, you'll notice minor problems creeping up if you don't maintain your facility.

In the article below, we will go over a few simple steps required to maintain your steel building.

 

Table of Contents

• The Steel Building Advantage
• Start Right Away
• Was The Building Inside and Out
• Repair Damage
• Annual Inspection Report
• Work With CDMG For Your Next Metal Building
  

 

The Steel Building Advantage

Steel structures offer countless benefits.

They are the most cost-effective, durable, and most versatile option available for your new structure.

And if you already own a steel building, you probably know they don't require a lot of maintenance or upkeep.

As long as you pay attention to a few things, your prefab steel building will last a long time.

Steel buildings offer the easiest and least challenging option for creating and maintaining a structure compared to other building materials.

And steel building maintenance often doesn't require immediate attention.

That means regular upkeep of your structure can go a long way in preventing emergencies.

Unless you suspect a critical structural problem or an emergency repair, most of these metal building maintenance tips can be done performed it's convenient for you.

If you suspect your building might collapse or there is serious danger, call a professional metal building company right away.

As long as you perform the minimum amount of work, metal buildings will last for a lifetime.

 

Start Right Away

When it comes to maintaining your metal building, you need to start right away.

The first time you walk into your metal building, you need to inspect a few things to prevent anything from damaging your building.

Do a quick walk around and make sure nothing is touching the exterior.

Sometimes tools, ladders, or steel panels can be left lying around once a job is completed.

You should put everything away so there's no unnecessary weight on the building that will strain the building or harm its surface.

Next you'll need to check the roof.

Exercise extreme caution while you're on the roof. Check for any metal shavings that have been left behind.

The shavings have a raw surface area and can cause your roof to rust.

 

Wash the Building Inside and Out

Just like your car, pre-engineered metal buildings need to be washed every now and then.

If you take care of your steel panels and your steel frame, they will last a very long time.

The best way to extend the lifeline of these materials and your building is by washing them on a regular basis.

Dirt and grime can quickly accumulate on your steel structure.

If the dirt and grime aren't cleaned promptly, it can damage the surface of your building.

Fortunately, it's very easy to spot and remove trouble spots.

Wash your building every so often, and if the surface looks good, leave it alone.

The trick to maintaining your building is frequent inspections.

If you notice any residue, discoloration, or other signs of dirt, they can be cleaned on the spot to reduce any long-term damage to your metal building.

Several industrial cleaners are available for washing buildings.

Large spray washers are excellent and will make quick work of cleaning your building.

It's a good idea to wear safety goggles while you clean, so your eyes don't come into direct contact with the cleaning solution.

Once you've finished cleaning, rinse the building with a power washer on a low setting.

You'll want to do this every couple of months.

When you wash the interior walls, wear an air mask to prevent the cleaning solution in the water from irritating your lungs.

Make sure the solution only touches the surface you're cleaning.

You can also wash the floors while you're washing your walls.

Or you can develop a rotation and wash the walls one month and the floors the next.

 

Repair Damage

This isn't preventative maintenance, but you should repair any damage, even minor issues, right away.

If you notice any scratches on your steel panels, you should prime and paint them to prevent corrosion.

If you make any repairs, make a note of them, including where the repair was located so it can be checked during your next inspection.

Also, eliminate adjacent building components that might cause scratching again.

A hole in the building envelope should be filled and sealed right away.

A penetration in your building will compromise your moisture resistance, allowing for the potential of moisture damage.

Water in any form is a significant threat to every building of every construction type, including steel.

It is essential to keep moisture out of the walls and the ceiling to prevent water damage.

Moisture can cause corrosion, mold, and bacteria growth.

This will often weaken and warp the surface materials and deteriorate your foundation. 

 

Annual Inspection Report

The best preventative maintenance you can do for your metal building is to perform scheduled annual inspections to identify and solve problems as they occur. 

This will help extend the life of your building, keep it aesthetically pleasing, functional, and virtually weather tight to protect your products, facilities, and personnel. 

Your annual inspection will require a critical exam of the interior and exterior components of existing assemblies, cladding, doors, windows, cranes, and flashing. 

You need to keep a good log of your maintenance work so you can maintain a good schedule and document what steps were taken and when. 

Preventive or corrective maintenance procedures should be designed to keep your building in weatherproof condition to limit moisture exposure.

 

Work With CDMG For Your Next Metal Building

Even after doing everything required to maintain your metal building, it will still require much less maintenance than any other building type.

Business owners that perform this preventative maintenance will reduce their year-to-year costs by addressing maintenance issues as they arise.

Problems won't come around too often with metal buildings, but they won't go away on their own when they do. That's why preventative maintenance is vital.

To see how CDMG can help supply you with a durable pre-engineered metal building, click on the link below.