Steel buildings are a cheaper and more reliable means of expanding your ever growing business. The cost of erecting metal buildings is up to a third less than those with typical construction products like wood and brick. The design possibilities are flexible to meet your specific needs. Steel building manufacturers provide units that can withstand natural conditions in your region, such as fires, heavy winds or ice.

In addition to those advantages, the design structure of metal buildings allows for easy expansions as your business continues to grow over time. For those that may be uncertain as to how using steel buildings will work for your business, consider the following options:

1. Prefabricated steel buildings are useful for quick erection or expansions of places of worship.

2. Ample space and functionality is available in using steel buildings for industrial businesses.

3. You can use steel building kits to put small storage facilities on the same property as your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase steel buildings for sale for building a place of worship

Using a steel building for your church can not only save you money but can also give you more space for the price. Keep in mind that doors, window and insulation are options when purchasing a steel building, so you need to adapt your budget appropriately.

I recommend: An article from Christianity Today explains the benefits of using prefabricated buildings, including steel, for church organizations. Visit Olympia Steel Buildings for a list of metal buildings for sale.

Build commercial steel buildings for your factories or distribution centers

Steel buildings are great, budget-friendly options for companies that need factory space or a distribution center. For example, a company that sells textbooks would need a warehouse with a lot of space available to store them in an organized fashion, so that employees can pull books from shelves and pack them for shipment. Steel buildings would be perfect for such an establishment.

I recommend: Warehouse Buildings provides an explanation of various steel building structures for warehouse needs. Capital Steel Industries explains the design and planning process for the steel structures it provides for warehouses and distribution centers.

Use onsite steel storage buildings to store excess items

Many businesses need a place to store merchandise, files, unused office furniture and excess supplies. While you can rent an offsite storage unit, it makes more sense to have your own storage building on site, so that you have quick and easy access to the items contained within. You can also build it to suit your specific needs, rather than dealing with a unit that is too large or too small. Plus, if you ever relocate your business, you can take your storage building with you.

I recommend: Visit Article Alley for information on the benefits of steel storage buildings. MetalBuildingDepot offers steel building prices through a quick quote by location or design wizard or by requesting a custom design.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider steel frame buildings with a rigid I-beam design. These facilities don't have support beams in the middle of the interior, which maximizes usable space.

Metal and steel buildings were once primarily home to storage facilities and aircraft hangars. But today their business uses range from workshops to retail stores and much more. Record numbers of small businesses are opting for prefabricated steel buildings because they provide an affordable alternative to traditional construction.

These durable, virtually maintenance-free structures cost up to 60 percent less than traditional building construction. In addition, they're customizable and can be erected far more quickly than conventional buildings. Metal buildings can be an affordable solution for many types of businesses, including:

1. Retail stores.
2. Storage facilities and warehouses.
3. Distribution centers.
4. Commercial offices.
5. Automotive shops or car dealerships.
6. Manufacturing facilities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider all the costs of a prefab steel kit

If you buy a steel building 'kit', be aware that the kit is only one part of your total cost. Be sure to calculate expenses like permits and land preparation.

I recommend: OlympiaBuildings.com offers customizable and modular buildings for retail stores, storage buildings, warehouses, offices, automotive buildings and more.

Design your building

A key benefit of steel buildings is that they can be designed to fit the specific needs of your business. Whether you need car bays for an automotive repair center or cubicles for an office environment, your building can be designed with those needs in mind.

I recommend: Many steel building suppliers also offer design services. Prices at SteelBuilding.com include the design, drawings and materials for the basic structure. View sample drawings by downloading "steel building sample drawings" from AmericanSteelMfg.com under the "steel building construction info" heading.

Accessorize to make your building just right

Steel building kits may not come with insulation, doors, windows, skylights or vents.

I recommend: Find accessories to complete your steel building at Steelwise.com or HeritageBuildings.com. Both are major suppliers of steel buildings.

Avoid the tin can look

Just because you're using steel doesn't mean your building has to look like a tin shed. Steel panels come in a number of colors, and your building's façade can be outfitted with a different exterior finish, including brick, wood, stucco, block, concrete and more.

I recommend: Allied Steel Buildings provides a number of exterior finishes as well as custom designs that can give your building a unique look.

Snag a building on sale

Many suppliers offer specials and sales from time to time. If cost-cutting is your goal, these specials may be the best option.

I recommend: USBuildingsDirect.com offers weekly specials on its Web site.

Erect your building

Even if you choose a prefab metal building kit, you'll still need the expertise of a general contractor to put it up. Look for one who has experience with steel buildings.

I recommend: Small businesses and individual business owners make up more than half of the clientele at Bob Moore Construction Inc., which has worked extensively with steel buildings, including prefabricated types.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When two dealers present bids for similar buildings that are thousands of dollars difference in price, investigate the details. One may not include everything you need.
• •  Verify the building codes. Contact your local building inspector once you have the specifications from your supplier, before you sign the contract.
• •  The best times to buy steel buildings are in winter and summer; that's when sales are slow and you're likely to get a better deal.

Consider steel buildings for sale if you’re looking to expand your business location. Whether you need space for an office building, a distribution center, or even just a storage facility, steel structures are much easier and more affordable to install than traditional construction materials.

Steel buildings basics provide for various ways that you can save money and design a structure that meets your needs. As you consider steel building prices, construction costs and design details, keep these general steel buildings benefits in mind:

1. Steel frame buildings offer optimal protection from the elements.

2. You will save money on construction and insurance costs with prefabricated steel buildings.

3. Steel building kits can include frontage bricks or rocks for better curb appeal.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Steel buildings will protect you from common environmental conditions

Engineers design steel buildings to withstand typical conditions for your area, such as severe rain, ice and even high winds. Additionally, you will never have to worry about termite infestations since wood isn't part of the building construction. If you use nonflammable steel, you can protect your property from major fire damage as well.

I recommend: Visit Living Steel to find the benefits of using steel over conventional materials for your building needs. According to The New Steel, metal buildings are recyclable and provide for health benefits since they can’t get termites and won’t rust.

Save money by using commercial steel buildings

Using steel buildings for your construction needs will save you money in a variety of ways. First of all, steel buildings are far cheaper than typical wood, masonry, stone or brick buildings of comparable design. Purchasing pre-engineered steel structures can save you nearly a third of the cost over conventional construction labor expenses. Additionally, using steel structures will save you significant amounts on insurance premiums.

I recommend: BuyerZone lists the typical process of a steel building project, as well as the cost benefits. BuildingsGuide.com offers a building cost estimator that can give you a better idea of steel building prices.

Add aesthetic appeal to metal buildings with stone or brick

If you're concerned about the lack of curb able that most steel buildings have, then you'll be excited to know that, if your budget allows, you can add stone, rock or brick to the outside of your steel building in order to give it more aesthetic appeal. A building that's cheaper and stronger and looks good can really be a great investment for your business.

I recommend: About Steel Buildings offers information on aesthetic innovations in steel buildings. Learn more about frontage facings, such as rock, from General Steel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Steel building manufacturers can assemble a building ready for expansion in the future. To save more money, consider starting with a building that meets you current needs and expanding later as your business grows. Another option is to purchase a preassembled structure from metal buildings for sale and expand as needed.

Steel buildings can be an affordable way to create a new office or storage space. Business owners, however, want to know what they're purchasing before they sign on the dotted line. Does the building use a standing seam metal roof or coated and crimped sheets? Are they willing to purchase a pre-engineered steel building or a steel building kit? Some people may worry that buildings made of steel are ugly, but through the use of custom exteriors, a steel building can be every bit as attractive as other types of buildings.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Standing seam metal roof

Standing seam roofs are made from metal panels that interlock with each other. The connection point, or seam, is slightly raised, allowing water to easily run off.

I recommend: BobVila.com explains standing seam roofs and how to install them.

Custom exteriors

Business owners use custom exteriors to improve the look of a steel building. For example, they may choose to use a custom stone exterior, which makes the building look as though it was built from stone.

I recommend: Anthem Steel describes how you can improve the façade of your building by using custom exteriors.

Mansards and parapets

Mansards and parapets also improve the exterior of the building. Mansards are an architectural element that is used to improve the front of the building, while parapets are a wall-like structure that can be used for storage.

I recommend: Learn more about the uses of mansards and parapets from General Steel.

Steel building kit

A steel building kit is for smaller steel structures, such as storage sheds. The building is delivered in pieces and the customer can easily put it together.

I recommend: SteelMaster describes steel building kits and has several pictures on its website.

Pre-engineered steel buildings

A pre-engineered, or pre-fabricated, steel building is made off-site at a factory, then delivered to the permanent location to be assembled. It is larger than a steel building kit and requires professionals to assemble the building.

I recommend: The Steel Building Guide talks about pre-engineered steel buildings and how you can save money by purchasing one.

Coated and crimped sheets

Coated and crimped sheets are often used to build the walls of steel buildings. Coating the steel makes it less corrosive and easier to paint. Crimping means that the sheet has slight grooves along its length, which improves its strength.

I recommend: See a description of coated and crimped sheets, along with pictures at Alfa Steel Building Solutions.