ACE Metal Buildings Blog

Purchasing land and constructing a retail center such as a strip mall is a large investment. Companies making this type of investment want a solid structure built and value for their money. They want something that will not only look good but last for years to come.

For many smart retail developers, the decision to use metal has been the key to a smart investment. These developers have realized the many benefits derived from metal and the cost saving benefits of erecting metal retail structures.

Metal buildings have numerous advantages over traditional brick and mortar structures and should be considered a viable option when researching options for retail center structures. Following are some of the many ways metal buildings can be advantageous in the construction of retail centers.

Durability

Because metal buildings are so durable and built to withstand all types of weather, fire, and even bug infestations, retail center developers can benefit from a long life span if they choose to construct metal buildings over traditional structures. Even things like mold, mildew, and flooding have little to no effect on metal buildings, making them the perfect choice for retail stores that need to continually keep their doors open.<

Shorter Construction Time

Time is money when it comes to construction. With metal buildings, construction can take a much shorter time than traditional structures. This means a retail center can be up and running in a shorter period of time if a metal building is used. This shorter construction time translates to more money saved and more money earned because a retail center can open quicker with metal building construction.

A Variety of Design Options

When most people think of metal, they picture boxy metal buildings with little to no personality. However, metal buildings offer an array of designs, colors, shapes and sizes to give any metal building a customized look. Metal buildings can easily be constructed to blend in with existing retail structures through use of decorative wood, stucco, brick, glass and numerous other add-ons. The different design and decorative options will have the look of a traditional structure but the feel and solidness of a metal building.

Using metal buildings for retail centers is not only smart but economical. Metal buildings can save retail center developers literally thousands of dollars in the building of a center and then thousands of dollars more because of the long life span of metal buildings. Metal buildings are a smart investment when it comes to retail centers!

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Starting up or relocating a business can often be a time-consuming, arduous process.  Just as when a home is purchased, a business owner must weigh several different options – where will the business be located?  What size building will the company require, both now and in the future?  And, arguably the most important consideration – what kind of structure will the budget allow?

Metal buildings certainly make a perfect choice when it comes to location, these structures can be constructed hassle-free practically anywhere.  Metal buildings also allow for large interior spaces that are flexible and expandable, making future growth a painless process.  Of course, metal buildings also fit the bill when it comes to budget with lower labor costs, shorter construction timeline and even lower energy costs.

But once the decision to take advantage of the attributes of metal buildings has been made by a business, the next question is bound to arise – should the space be leased, or should it be custom built from the ground up?

Many businesses, especially brand new ones with little capital to divert into construction might decide that leasing a building is the way to go.  It is important to realize, however, that few existing metal buildings will have a pre-existing ideal interior layout for another business.  Be sure to factor in costs such as remodeling the interior, and possibly even aspects of the exterior, to suit the needs of the company.  Of course, the biggest “con” to leasing metal building is that at the end of the lease, you will own absolutely nothing.

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Metal buildings gained popularity in the early 20^th century as mostly agricultural structures – a dream to farmers who longed for insect and fire-proof storage for animals and equipment.

In the 1940s, technology was developed that allowed for a 40 foot span – but by the end of the 50s, advanced research allowed for metal buildings to cover 100 foot spans of open space with no columns.

It wasn’t until the 1960s, however, that the metal buildings industry sprang to life with the introduction of pre-fabricated metal buildings.  The appeal of these structures – which were easier to build, reduced labor costs and required little maintenance – is still in evidence today.

If you are shopping metal buildings, here are a few “pros” to consider when weighing this form of construction against typical wood construction.

Metal buildings are fireproof and insect proof.  Like the farmers in the early days, the ability to withstand fire damage as well as termites is a huge selling point for metal structures.

Price of steel vs. price of wood – no contest!  While the difference in savings between wood and metal may not seem significant – consider the long term.  Metal has been proven to last longer and require little maintenance or repair compared to wood framed buildings. 

Coming soon … Why Metal Buildings are Better than Wood Buildings – Part II

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The market for metal buildings is booming, with structures going up all over the country that are being used for a myriad of purposes.  Many of these prefabricated buildings are ready made for the do-it-yourselfer – but for bigger, complex or time-consuming projects, many owners of metal buildings seek a contractor to facilitate the bulk of the work.

As with any type of construction, it is important to cover all of your bases when you search for and hire a contractor.  To insure quality on the job and good time management, a good, trustworthy contractor is a must.  But where do you start?

Remember to consider these issues and ask these questions during interviews with potential contractors:

What is their experience?  Ask how long the company has been in business, and ask for references.  Many contractors who handle the construction of metal buildings will have portfolios of past projects for you to browse.  Don’t forget to ask if you can have the contact information of the client’s featured in the portfolio. 

Do the have the appropriate certifications?  Is the contractor in question insured?  Does he have relevant certifications and/or licenses?  Does he have any professional affiliations to speak of?  What are their standards of safety?  Do they have any OSHA certifications?

Will they research relevant codes and procure the proper permits for the construction site?  Improper or lack of permits can cause a shut-down of the job – finding a contractor who has a working knowledge of the codes and permits in your area can keep the construction process moving at an efficient pace.

What about their staff and subcontractors?  Ask about the workers who will be showing up on the site – how much experience do they have?  If the contractor has offered to find subcontractors for elements such as plumbing or electrical ask if he has worked with them before and can guarantee the quality of their work.

Will they provide a written estimate?  Keeping to a budget is a difficult task on any construction site, but given the relative ease of erecting prefabricated metal buildings, the contractor should be able to give you a good-faith estimate and keep expenditures close to that figure.

Construction of metal buildings is a task that should not be taken lightly.  When hiring a contractor to manage the project, asking relevant questions before you sign the contract helps insure that the process will proceed with few problems.  If you do your homework to find a reliable contractor, the structure will be ready for use in no time.

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Let’s face it…the cost to purchase materials and then build a workshop, home addition or a garage can be expensive. But, if you’ve had to struggle with a home that’s too small, an overcrowded garage or having your vehicles exposed to the elements because of no garage at all, you know the extra space a residential building can give you is invaluable.

Still, the cost of building a traditional wood residential building can be high. A high price coupled with the problems that accompany wood structures can make the decision of whether or not to build a residential building an easy one — an easy one to pass up, that is.

The alternative to spending a lot of money and/or having to deal with the numerous hassles associated with wood is to build a residential metal building. Unlike its wood-based counterparts, metal buildings provide extra space without the extra expense or the extra headache. These structures are a great solution to your storage problems and much easier on your bank account.

Metal buildings have a variety of uses such as garages, workshops and even home additions. There are also many different styles to choose from so you can customize your metal building to enhance, not detract, from the overall look of your home.

Another benefit to having a metal building as opposed to a wood structure is durability. With wood, the threat of storms, wood destroying insects, and fire are serious and real dangers. But with metal buildings, these risks are eliminated. Metal buildings provide a strong, solid structure which can stand up to termites, fire, and Mother Nature.

Cost of metal building material is also less than wood. The savings you realize when opting for a residential metal building can make quite a difference when compared to the traditional wood residential building. You’ll not only be happy with the space your metal building will give you but the savings you’ll realize will make you feel good about your investment for years to come.

If space is what you need, consider a residential metal building. You’ll love the affordability, ease and durability a metal building will give you along with the added room you need to make your home more livable and less crowded. Take a look at all the options available in metal buildings, make an informed decision and be prepared to enjoy the extra space that a metal building will provide.

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When envisioning a metal building, many people picture the same image – a gigantic garage-like structure with little aesthetic appeal and absolutely no charm. Well, get ready to change that mental picture, because metal construction has come a long way.

While more industrial looking edifices are still readily available – the metal prefabricated buildings of today are not only as cost-effective as ever – they are adaptable in appearance and use. These days, retail business, churches, even residential homes are built of metal – and in some cases it’s impossible to tell what building material was used in construction. Options available to customers today include the ability to dress up a building with stucco, add a more traditional material such as brick and/or stone as well as add windows or decorative glass.

Most metal buildings can be completely custom designed and built to specification at the manufacturer, thereby saving money in construction costs on site – but still providing customers with a beautiful, modern building in the end.

Metal buildings may give the impression that their interiors must be cold and uninviting, but nothing could be further from the truth.Using traditional building materials and sheetrock, it is virtually impossible to tell that a home or building interior is constructed of metal.

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Ace Metal buildings manufactures, not just distributes commercial metal buildings. We provide 3 sets of Engineered Drawings at no special cost to the customer. Building Plans are rated to 130 MPH wind load with Engineer’s Seal. We provide foundation Plans with Engineer’s Seal. Not just recommendations like other companies.

Why buy a metal building? You can’t build or buy out of wood for the price we have listed made out of steel. Steel I-Beams & Metal Panels don’t burn or rot. Termites would starve in a Metal Building

1. http://www.acemetalbuilding.com/
2. http://www.acemetalbuilding.com/commercial.htm

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