8 Things Most People Don't Know About Metal Buildings

Unless you are heavily involved in the metal building kit industry, there are probably many things you don't know about steel buildings.

If you're a first-time builder, it's okay not to have all the answers.

At CDMG, we take pride in educating our industrial customers so they can make informed decisions about their metal building project.

Most people are aware of the durability of steel and how easy it is to erect steel buildings, but there are some lesser-known facts you should become familiar with before you begin your project.

In the article below, we'll talk about 8 of the lesser-known facts about Pre-engineered & Prefab Steel Buildings.

Table Of Contents

Proper Planning Is Key
Turnkey Options Aren't Always Best
A Broker Isn't The Same As A Manufacturer
The Best Time To Buy Is Winter
Educated Customers Make Better Decisions
Steel Prices Fluctuate
You Don't Always Need An Architect
Steel Buildings Have Many Uses
Always Use An Experienced Engineering and Construction Firm

1. Proper Planning Is Key

Whether you obtain them from your supplier or an architect, you absolutely need drawings to start your steel building project.

A pre-engineered steel building is an engineered building system, and drawings will ensure that your building is in complete compliance with all the correct zoning codes and loads in your area.

You should always consult your county or local municipality to obtain the right codes and loads.

You are ultimately responsible for this information and relaying it to your steel building supplier.

You will have the option to mark up your drawings and customize your steel building with accessories such as doors, windows, and insulation.

After you're finished with the markups, you will receive permit drawings to take back to your municipality.

The last set of drawings you receive will be construction drawings when it's time to erect your building.

2. Turnkey Options Aren't Always Best

In the hands of the wrong metal building supplier, when a salesman hears "turnkey," all they see are dollar signs.

How can the salesman give you an honest price? Have they seen your site?

Do they know where you plan to build?

Have they checked the price of concrete and labor in your area?

Most steel building providers offering turnkey solutions don't always have your best interests in mind.

Unfortunately, these situations often end in disappointment with unforeseen overages.

Work with accomplished steel building professionals, like CDMG, and they will get you the building that fits your needs and budget.

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3. A Broker Isn't The Same As A Manufacturer

When you purchase a pre-engineered steel building, you should be sure you know who you're buying from.

For the best quality building and experience, you should buy from a manufacturer.

A manufacturer can produce its own custom metal buildings, while a broker doesn't manufacture their buildings and will instead take your order and shop it around to the lowest bidder.

When you use a broker, you're giving up all control over your building project.

You have to wait on the manufacturer they choose to produce and ship the building to you.

Doing this makes it harder to make changes to your design, and you'll sometimes have to deal with missing pieces when your building arrives.

4. The Best Time To Buy Is Winter

A savvy customer will purchase their pre-engineered steel building in the winter with the intention to build once spring rolls around.

Your custom metal building installation can happen in the winter, but there's a chance you'll end up spending more money due to various setbacks and added costs due to the weather.

Laying a foundation in winter is also tricky because the moisture from frost or frozen ground can crack your foundation and ruin your entire project.

The concrete for your foundation needs to be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for three to seven days to be sure the concrete maintains its strength and form.

There are ways to do this, but they add up to more labor costs and more money out of your pocket.

The best way to plan your steel building is to purchase in the winter and wait until spring or summer to build.

This usually gives you a break on the price.

5. Educated Customers Make Better Decisions

To make sure you get the best purchase experience possible, you should take the time to educate yourself about pre-engineered steel buildings.

Learn what is needed to erect a pre-engineered building, and make sure you know what purpose your building is going to fulfill.

Are you looking for building packages for commercial buildings, metal garages, or horse barns?

Perhaps you're looking for a pre-engineered metal building kit for government buildings, or industrial buildings? No matter what kind of steel structures you are looking to do it is important to do your research to make sure you get the highest-quality pre-fabricated metal building that is designed for your project.

Getting fully-customizable metal buildings that meet your specific requirements means meeting with a metal building installation partner to ensure that you get the best deal possible.

There are dozens of resources on the internet, including our blog here, that you can use to educate yourself and find the ideal solutions before making a purchase decision.

6. Steel Prices Fluctuate

The price of steel, just like oil and other commodities, can be unpredictable.

In general, steel prices have been on a steady rise, but that could change at any moment.

2019 started with steel prices that were lower than 2018, but it's hard to predict what is going to happen with the prices due to ongoing trade tensions.

In 2020 steel prices began to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A base building package cost more in 2020 than it did in previous years, but the prices of lumber also increased as well during the pandemic.

Despite custom steel buildings costing more in 2020 than previous years, it is still cheaper than traditional building materials.

There are also a number of building benefits when you choose a steel structure, such as flexible building design, shorter construction schedule, and more affordability.

7. You Don't Always Need An Architect

Typically, the specialized knowledge of a structural engineer is all you'll need to design your pre-engineered steel building.

Sometimes using an architect will unnecessarily raise the price of your project.

A structural engineer at a custom metal building company can make any changes to the design of your exact building and typically for much less than an architect.

If an architect is needed, have them design around the steel building design instead of having the supplier design around architectural plans.

Some architects aren't familiar with the engineering or design criteria of specific steel building suppliers.

8. Steel Buildings Have Many Uses

Durable metal buildings can be used for much more than just storage buildings, metal barns, or sheds.

They make great barns for livestock, a prefabricated garage for car enthusiasts, equipment storage buildings, long-lasting commercial metal buildings, churches, recreation centers, aviation hangers, steel mills, and large industrial manufacturing facilities.

A structural engineer and project manager can design your steel building according to your aesthetic needs as well.

They don't have to look like a basic building; they can be made to look like steel or even wood buildings if you prefer.

Here is a list of some of the Most Famous Steel Structures In The World, and some might surprise you.

They are also easy to be expanded in the future if necessary.

You have a certain freedom that comes with a steel building that you won't have with other building methods.

BONUS: Always Use A Custom Steel Building Company

At CDMG, we specialize in engineering and designing metal building packages for commercial and industrial buildings.

Our parent company, STEVENS, offers construction services, and Nucor Building Systems is our steel manufacturer.

We are the number one builder of Nucor steel, allowing us to deliver high-quality and affordable metal buildings to our clients.

Whether you're looking for industrial steel buildings, institutional buildings, or a building system customizable for your business, CDMG is the best choice.

If you're ready to get started on your project, click the button below to get the best metal building quote today!