We know choosing the right metal building can be overwhelming. Indaco Metals is here to make it easy!
For nearly 30 years, families, businesses, and building contractors alike have chosen Indaco Metals for their metal buildings, metal roofing, and carports, including our complete all-metal truss and rigid frame building packages.
Whether you're planning to purchase from Indaco Metals or another provider, when considering the purchase of a steel building there are a number of factors that need to be included in your decision -- let's walk through the most important questions:
What is the building for?
Metal buildings can last for a very long time, often longer than our lifetimes. It can be helpful to think about what we -- whether "we" is a family or a business -- need the building for now as well as how our needs might grow or change over time. Planning your purchase to meet your needs in the long-term can make your dollars go further, and keep you satisfied with the investment much longer.
Determine what kinds of equipment will need to come in and out of your building -- You need to determine if regular walk doors are sufficient, or if overhead doors are needed. If overhead doors are required, the type (roll-up or sectional) and number need to be ascertained. Knowing what kind and what sizes of doors and windows and where you want them on the building will help you select the right size building.
Please note - Indaco Metals building kits do not include doors or windows, but we do have lists of recommended suppliers and builders.
How big should my building be?
In most gabled steel buildings, the maximum door clearance is at least two feet below the eave of the building. For instance, if you need a 12-foot clearance through a door you need to plan for a 14-foot eave, at a minimum. The best gauge is to figure out how much room will be required in the interior height of the building. Warehouses and some manufacturing facilities need to allow for taller storage areas and bigger heavy machinery clearances.
Deciding the Square Footage of the Structure
What will be stored inside? will vehicles or equipment need to be able to move in and out of the building regularly? How much space is needed for those items to navigate within the structure? If you're not sure, one of our knowledgeable sales representatives would be happy to go over your needs with you and make recommendations.
Will you need to expand in the future?
Before you buy, think about whether you plan to expand in the future; it could change your buying decision now. Once the width is determined on an I-Beam building, that dimension is “set in stone” because of the support structure. That said, most I-Beam steel buildings are expandable lengthwise by removal of the end-walls. Check with the steel building manufacturer or supplier you are considering purchasing from to see if future expansion is feasible.
Can I have a two-story metal building?
If you are considering a two-story steel building, it is important to note that steel I-Beam framed buildings need at least a 22 foot eave height in order to comfortably accommodate a second story. The loading characteristics that need to be engineered into the building in order to accommodate the interior mezzanine can be expensive, so if you are under a strict budget for your building project you may want to consider a single story building with the additional required square footage on one level. That said, we are happy to help you undertake a storied project.
I want my building to be aesthetically pleasing. Is a metal building a bad choice for this?
I-Beam steel buildings have changed in recent years in both function and design. The ugly metal boxes that once represented steel buildings are now largely gone. Sidewall and trim applications are now improved. With the use of Silicon Polyester paints, steel roofs can be painted to be more aesthetically pleasing. Most steel building manufacturers and suppliers also offer premium quality options that include simulated brick, rock, stone, and stucco finishes. With the proper use of accessories and options a steel building cannot be distinguished from its traditional counterparts.
Steel buildings can now be fabricated to almost any shape, size, and dimension as opposed to the limited “cookie-cutter” offerings of the past. This includes everything from circular sports complexes to hexagonal fellowship halls and other configurations that can now be fabricated to specific requirements. For example, many steel buildings that require uniqueness of design are enhanced with the use of mansards and parapets on the roof applications.
What is the ideal roof pitch?
Steel buildings can be configured to include roof slopes from 1:12 to 6:12 pitches. Remember, though, that the steeper pitched buildings are generally more expensive because more steel is utilized in the roof make-up. The use of a steeper pitched roof is highly recommended for moisture drainage and as a preventative to “ponding” complications. Higher precipitation areas of the country should strongly consider the application of a standing seam steel roof. A standing seam roof, however, is more expensive than the screw-down roofs that normally come standard with an I-Beam framed building.
Can steel buildings really be a do-it-yourself project?
Some steel building companies offer buildings that are supposedly “do it yourself”. This is a correct statement in a number of instances if the building is small – as in a garage or storage shed. Larger steel buildings usually require the involvement of a qualified erector or general contractor. Make sure by talking with the building supplier before you buy the building that the building is truly a “do it yourself” project, if so represented. If the building size requires professional installation, ask the supplier about qualified erectors in your area. Know the price of the erection of your steel building before purchasing it.
Paying attention to these factors will go a long way in selecting and purchasing the correct steel building for your next project.