Sarah’s 60×80 equipment storage building was three weeks from delivery when her contractor called with bad news. The foundation they’d planned wouldn’t work. The soil report revealed expansive clay requiring a completely different approach, adding $18,000 to the budget and delaying the project by six weeks. “Nobody told me I needed a soil test,” Sarah […]
Two business owners, same industry, same building size. Jim chose pre-engineered. Sarah went custom. Both got exactly what they needed, but their journeys couldn’t have been more different. Jim runs an equipment rental business and needed a 60×100 storage building fast. His requirements were straightforward: weather protection, vehicle access, and minimal cost. He selected a […]
Three rejections. That’s what happened to Mike, a contractor from Tennessee, when he submitted his first steel building permit application. The project? A straightforward 40×60 equipment storage building. Nothing fancy. Nothing complex. Yet every submission came back with red ink. The first rejection cited “incomplete structural documentation.” The second flagged “insufficient wind load calculations.” The […]
Is your building ready for winter’s worst? With temperatures already dropping and forecasts calling for a harsh winter ahead, now’s the time to take an honest look at your facility. These five warning signs could mean the difference between a smooth winter and costly emergency repairs when it’s 20 below zero. Last winter caught many […]
Cold weather steel building design requires three critical considerations: engineered snow loads of 40-60 PSF, insulation packages with R-19+ values, and completely sealed building envelopes to prevent moisture infiltration. When these elements work together, steel buildings outperform traditional construction in harsh winter climates. Last February, Jake, who owns a mechanical repair shop in Duluth, Minnesota, […]
After three decades in the metal building industry, I’ve reviewed more facility plans than I can count. But few projects are as personally rewarding (or as complex) as animal shelters, clinics, and boarding facilities. These aren’t just structures. They’re places where scared animals find safety, injured pets receive treatment, and families trust someone else to […]
After spending years helping businesses design and build steel facilities, I’ve learned that the most successful projects aren’t just about strong materials or fast construction. They’re about smart planning. The way you arrange your steel building layout can make or break your daily operations, affecting everything from employee productivity to long-term profitability. I’ve seen warehouse […]
When planning a commercial structure, one of the first critical decisions developers face is the construction method. The two most common systems in large-scale commercial construction are commercial steel buildings vs. tilt-up construction. Both methods are proven, but each has distinct strengths, challenges, and suitability depending on project requirements. Your choice affects not only upfront […]