Why Choose a Metal Building?

Today, modern metal building materials, insulation, and finishing options make metal buildings a better choice for many types of buildings such as churches, retail stores, manufacturing plants, sports arenas, and offices. Their primary advantages of metal buildings over traditional construction are that they are cheaper and faster to build. This stems from the fact that much of the work is done at a factory that fabricates the component parts of the building.

The benefits of a metal building come from the construction material itself (steel) and how the structure is built. The combination of metal construction and pre-fabricated components provides three main advantages:

• Cost. Because the labor to put up your building is drastically reduced, you can save 30% or more over more traditional construction methods.
• Speed. A finished metal building can be operating in 60 to 90 days, instead of 6 months or more.
• Durability. Without requiring repainting or other maintenance, metal buildings are guaranteed to last 20 to 30 years, depending on the manufacturer.

Evaluating providers of prefab metal buildings

The selection of a prefab metal building supplier is important: there are unfortunately some less-than-reputable players in the market who will try aggressive sales techniques, insert deceptive language into contracts, and knowingly quote you a price on a building that doesn't meet the building codes for your area.

Watch for sales tricks

High-pressure sales pitches are a problem for this industry. In the course of talking to brokers and manufacturers, you may hear tired old sales clichιs like "This is the last one on the lot" or "MegaCorp just cancelled a huge order, I can sell you their components cheap if you sign today", and other pitches designed to get you to ACT NOW!

Most of the time, these "opportunities" are simply untrue. Do not fall for them: real good deals will be there tomorrow, too.

Building to code

Reputable manufacturers and brokers do not want to sell you substandard buildings, so they often maintain databases of current building codes nationwide. However they won't usually depend on that information.

The best way to proceed is to have the manufacturer or broker list the codes your building has been specified to meet in your contract, then verify those figures with your local officials before you sign the contract. A supplier who wants you to sign a contract before you verify the specs independently isn't someone you should do business with.

How to investigate

Here are some questions to ask of potential suppliers:

• How long have you been in business?
• Do you provide engineer-certified blueprints?
• What kind of guarantees do you offer on your prefab metal buildings?
• How long will it take you to create and deliver my building? (This one is useful if someone pushes a "closeout special" on you - if it is already on their lot, they should be able to deliver it in a couple of days.)
• How do you ensure that my building meets the building codes in my area?
• Do you have a specialty? (Some companies focus on larger buildings, over 50,000 square feet; others may focus on hangars and garages as opposed to retail and other commercial buildings.)

It is worth checking with the Better Business Bureau in the supplier's area to find out if any complaints have been lodged against them. You should also read the contract they provide very carefully.

You should also ask the dealer for customer references, preferably of customers using their buildings in the same way you intend. Even better, if the dealer can provide local references, you'll be able to see the buildings for yourself. When checking references, you can ask questions like these:

• How long have you been a customer of theirs? How many prefab steel buildings have you purchased?
• Would you buy from this dealer again?
• Are their deliveries complete and on time?
• Did you get the right building for your application?
• What could the dealer improve about their operation?

Pricing metal buildings

Estimating prices for metal buildings can be complicated, because there are a large amount of variables that go into each project. Local building codes have a big impact on price: a building in Denver has to be capable of a handling a huge snow load, so it requires significantly stronger components than a building in New Mexico. And extras like insulation and interior panels can make a big difference.

That said, a typical price for basic rigid-frame metal buildings is between $16 and $20 per square foot. This includes materials, delivery, the foundation, and construction. A more finished building may be closer to $20 to $30 per square foot, and extensively customized buildings with brick facades, unusual shapes, or complicated construction can reach $40 per square foot or more.

Materials alone can cost $5 to $15 per square foot. This varies according to size: small buildings cost more per square foot. Materials for a 250' x 120' church building might cost $240,000, or $8/sq ft, while a 20' x 20' garage might cost $6,000, or $15/sq ft.

Foundation costs are fairly standard, usually $4 to $8 per square foot for poured concrete. Remember that GCs may include this cost in their proposals, but brokers and manufacturers of metal buildings definitely will not.

Labor costs will vary widely depending on the size of the project but can range from $3 to $10/sq ft. These costs will be charged by the hour, so increased complexity will drive them up considerably.

Insulation will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a larger building - but as mentioned previously, is a very good investment. It will improve the resale value and soundproofing of your building, in addition to saving energy costs - so it isn't an area to skimp on.

Contract tips

You'll be asked to sign a contract that details the design loads and specifications for the building. As with any major business purchase, you should inspect the contract very carefully before signing it. Here are a few things to look for:

• Substitution clauses. Manufacturers may try to give themselves the right to use different materials if those specified are not available. The idea is sound, but is often used to substitute cheaper materials for those you wanted. Make sure any changes are "equal or greater value" or have to be approved by you.
• Specifics. The more specifics in the contract, the better. The contract should not just list a "10 x 10 overhead door" - prices range from $250 to $1200 on such doors. The contract should list brand names and model numbers, insulation values, locks, coatings or paints, and more. This is another way unscrupulous dealers may try to stick you with lower-quality materials, so make sure every component is detailed in the contract.
• Responsibilities. Since brokers, GCs, and manufacturers play different roles in the process, make the contract details exactly who is responsible for each phase of the project: design, engineer's specification, fabrication, delivery, construction, and inspection.

Steel building buying tips

If you're spending tens of thousands of dollars, a difference of $500 here or there is not significant. The building is going to last 30 years or more, so make sure you get the building you want.

Look closely at good deals.

When two dealers present bids for similar buildings that are thousands of dollars apart, you should investigate the details thoroughly. Chances are that one is not including everything you need.

Verify the building codes.

We can not stress this enough: make sure you get in touch with your local building officials once you have specifications from your supplier, but before you sign the contract. Changes to meet code will always drive your costs up, so to avoid late surcharges, you need to verify that the contract includes all the right specifications.

Get it in writing.