20 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Steel Building

Understanding the purpose of your steel building is the first step in your decision-making process. Are you constructing a workshop, a storage facility, a garage, or even a home? Each use case has different requirements. For example, a garage might need oversized doors, while a workshop might require additional ventilation or lighting. Do not skip this essential step of going through these questions to ask before buying a steel building!

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Pro Tip:

One of our clients built a steel building as an agricultural storage unit but later converted it into a shop. Planning for future adaptability can save you money down the road.

2. Is Your Location Zoned for Steel Buildings?

Before you start dreaming about your new steel building, check local zoning regulations. Some areas have restrictions on the size, appearance, or even the type of buildings allowed.

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Steel Building:

• Does your location have height or footprint restrictions?
• Are there setbacks you need to consider?

Reaching out to your local zoning office or contractor can clarify these rules upfront. Not sure we are happy to help just contact us all our buildings are engineered to comply with local building codes and regulations. We’ll work with you to ensure your structure meets all requirements.

3. What Are the Specific Climate Requirements?

Steel buildings are tough, but they must be designed to handle your local weather. From snow loads in cold climates to wind resistance in hurricane zones, the right specifications are crucial.

Example:

Most of our metal buildings go through 4 seasons, making sure the foundation is set up correctly and also having insulation to insulate from the cold.

4. What Are the Dimensions You Need?

Determining the correct size is crucial. While it’s tempting to go smaller to save money, underestimating your needs can lead to regrets.

Questions to Consider Before Buying a Steel Building:

• How much usable space do you need?
• Will you require additional height for equipment or vehicles?

It’s better to go slightly larger than to outgrow the space within a few years.

5. Do You Need a Custom Design?

Steel buildings are known for their versatility. You can customize layouts, roof styles, doors, and more. Think about what features will make your building functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Popular Customizations Include:

• Skylights for natural light.
• Insulated panels for climate control.
• Overhead doors for easy access.

Use our 3D Designer to get your design and specifications!

6. What Building Codes Apply?

Compliance with local building codes isn’t optional. Codes can dictate everything from the type of foundation to the load-bearing capacity of the structure.

Pro Tip:

Choose a steel building dealer that provides engineered drawings. These documents ensure your building meets code requirements and helps you secure permits.

7. Who Will Handle the Installation?

Decide upfront if you’ll hire professionals or tackle installation yourself. While DIY installation can save money, it’s a labor-intensive process that requires precision. However we highly recommend using professionals to avoid any costly mistakes of having to redo it later.

Things to Know:

• Professional crews often complete installations faster.
• Errors in DIY assembly can lead to structural issues.

8. What Type of Foundation Will You Need?

Your foundation is literally the base of your building’s success. Different buildings require different foundation types, such as slabs or piers.

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Steel Building:

• Is your site level, or will it need grading?
• Are soil tests required to ensure stability?

We’ve seen projects delayed because clients underestimated foundation preparation. Budget accordingly.

9. What Kind of Steel Is Used?

Not all steel is created equal. High-quality, galvanized steel offers superior strength and corrosion resistance. Be sure to confirm the material’s quality with your dealer.

10. Does the Price Include Everything?

A low quote might seem appealing, but it’s essential to know what’s included. Shipping, insulation, and customization can quickly add up.

Key Costs to Clarify:

• Are shipping fees included?
• Does the price cover doors, windows, and other accessories?

11. What’s the Warranty on the Building?

A good warranty is a sign of a reputable dealer. Most steel buildings come with warranties on materials, but specifics vary.

Ask About:

• Rust resistance guarantees.
• Structural warranties.

12. How Long Will the Process Take?

Steel buildings are faster to construct than traditional buildings, but you should still plan for the timeline.

Phases Include:

• Design and customization.
• Shipping and delivery.
• Installation.

Use our 3D Designer to get your design and specifications!

13. What Maintenance Is Required?

One of the benefits of steel buildings is low maintenance, but some upkeep is still necessary. Regular inspections and cleanings can prolong your building’s life.

14. Are Energy Efficiency Options Available?

Insulated panels, reflective roof coatings, and solar panel compatibility can make your building more energy-efficient and reduce long-term costs.

15. Is Customer Support Available?

Choose a dealer who offers strong post-purchase support. Whether you have questions during installation or years later, good customer service is invaluable.

Conclusion

Purchasing a steel building is a significant investment, and asking these 20 questions before buying a steel building will set you up for success. At The Luna Crew, we specialize in helping homebuilders and investors design and build steel structures tailored to their needs. Our expertise ensures you avoid costly mistakes and build a structure that stands the test of time. Also check out our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page if you don’t see your question answered!

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The process for choosing and buying a steel building may seem daunting, but the fact is, it’s really rather simple; easier than buying a car or even a piece of complicated electronic equipment. While it takes some preparation and research, the right company, like Armstrong Steel, will do most of the work for you. Choosing someone like Armstrong Steel makes your job easy, leaving you to be creative in the design process.

Some customers don’t know what to ask, or may feel embarrassed to ask certain questions. It’s important to feel comfortable through this process; your building is a big deal. To help open a dialogue of communication, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common questions and answers you need to ask as you begin the exciting process of building your dream garage, workshop, barn, sports facility, home for your growing small business, etc.

1. How can I get the cheapest steel building?

There are two main factors to help you get the best possible price. Flexibility on your part with regard to timelines for delivery and design is a huge way to help keep your costs down. While most times we can work within your deadlines, giving us the option to ship your building with other buildings heading to your area, not requiring your Project Managers to research permits and codes by a certain deadline and giving our designers and engineers time to build in efficiencies will lower costs.

Certainly, having a prepared job site will also keep costs low and speed up the process. When your job site is ready in advance to receive your building, and your building can be delivered at any time, you will lower the over-all cost of your steel building. Don’t let a building salesman select your doors and windows for you. Selecting your doors and windows from a direct pricing catalog is smarter!

But cheaper is not better. In construction, you get what you pay for, and many times the cheapest building is cheapest because the component pieces are not fitted properly. Many companies design for minimum standards to save production cost, which may include minimum load requirements in your area, when your building could be much bigger and stronger. Design and engineering aspects may not be planned out properly. And, if you do not know enough about the steel building company you buy from, you may wind up with shoddy building materials for the price of top-notch ones!

2. Do I need an architect to design my steel building?

The conservative talents of a structural engineer are likely all you will need. A fancy roof or an intricate door frame looks great on paper but can cost thousands of dollars in engineering and construction. A few design lines here or there will quickly add up. These are the types of creative options that will take your easily erected project from the affordable category of ‘pre-engineered’ – to the high-cost category of ‘custom-design.’ We always remind people that a good structural engineer can make all the design changes you’ll ever need.

Indeed, if you can imagine it, a structural engineer can do it.

That doesn’t mean that you need to skimp on aesthetics. Ask your project manager about adding beauty elements once the important part of the process – locking in your steel order – has been completed.

Armstrong employs a team of detailers and engineers who are experienced in the design process for creating a sound steel building. Your Project Manager can help you through the ‘finishing’ process (where you can choose colors, custom finishes like polyurethane stone, stucco, brick or slate finishes or even alternate roofing options). Additionally, your Project Manager will help you keep the cost of finishing low but delivering aesthetic value. You see a lot of steel buildings every day but may not know they’re metal because they’ve been finished, creatively.

3. How can I get a price on a steel building?

Have you considered all the factors that go into constructing a steel building? The design, engineering and logistics required for purchasing a pre-engineered metal building can add up. Pre-engineered metal buildings cost a bit more than a tuff shed or a lumber package at the hardware store. There are no set prices on sizes like you’d be accustomed to at Home Depot.

There are snow loads, wind loads, and seismic factors unique to every job site which in turn affects how the building is engineered, fabricated and ultimately how much the building will weigh. Weight equals cost! For this reason, our building pros do quite a bit of leg work on your behalf contacting your city and/or county building officials to make sure we provide you with an accurate proposal.

This also means that we need to speak to you directly to ask a series of questions specific to your property and location. Many customers want to do this part of the process online or through , but in order to be completely accurate and expedite the process of providing you steel building prices, a short call is always our best option.

4. Who will build my metal building?

A quality steel building is delivered pre-cut and pre-drilled, so there is no on-site modification required. Every building comes with a complete set of erection instructions and erection drawings and they are designed to be easily read – by even a novice in construction. Most customers choose to erect their building themselves and other than a fork lift or cherry picker, no special tools are required. In fact, most times you can get everything you need at your neighborhood hardware store.

Some customers don’t feel comfortable with completing the erection process on their own – you have the ability to choose your own contractor.

5. What kind of steel is used in my steel building?

When it comes to steel, thicker doesn’t mean stronger – in fact – it only means more expensive. Some steel is designed for building use, other steel is poured for component pieces (like railroad ties and I-Beam or H-Beam) used in large building projects. Some steel is cast to provide rigidity, as in rebar or as a skeleton for concrete, like in dams.

There is no reason to pay for that kind of steel. In fact, you actually want your building to have some ‘give’ as that provides for better long-term integrity in the wind, when your building ‘settles’ or if you live in an area with seismic activity.

Optimal steel panels are 26 gauge, full-hard, high yield strength panels with close rib spacing. Most steel building companies only provide little over half this quality. It is important to get the right kind of steel to ensure your building weathers the test of time.

6. What if I have questions while I am building my metal building?

Give us a holler! While you are building your metal building, you can ask as many questions as you’d like. The most important part of the process is getting your building erected. Naturally, you may have questions during this time.

Is it possible to speak to the person who designed my building? Am I doing this right? How is that corner supposed to fit together? Walls don’t stand up on their own, how do I even get started?

Make sure that you ask any and all questions that may arise. Erecting your metal building is a big task and you want to make sure you get it right the first time. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that may seem silly or dumb. Oftentimes, these questions are the most important and aren’t dumb at all. If you have never erected a building before, you are not an expert on the subject. It is perfectly reasonable to ask the experts questions!

At Armstrong Steel, our Project Managers, literally, have to walk only a few feet to reach the detailing & engineering department, which means you will get immediate attention for your issue. Our logistics and freight teams are steps away as well in case you have questions like where to store your building if you are not ready to build and the cheapest way to get your building shipped to you.

We understand that time is money, and we don’t want to waste yours.

The process isn’t complicated at all. As we mentioned, you probably have to make more decisions and take more risk when you buy a car. Most of the legwork is done by a team of experts who are trained and equipped to make the process remarkably easy. For more information and more questions and answers that you should be asking before you buy your steel building, download the 9 things you absolutely need to know about steel buildings.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Steel Structure Construction.