ACE Metal Buildings Blog

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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Many of the cost savings that occur when metal buildings are constructed are a direct result of the quality of the material that comprises the roof.  At Ace Metal Buildings, the distributor of choice when it comes to metal roofing is Galvalume.

In production since 1972, with over 20 million tons of product produced in the United States alone, Galvalume has proven itself to be a long lasting alternative to traditional roofing materials or galvanized sheet roofing.  A 55% Aluminum/Zinc alloy, these coated sheet steel roofs require minimal maintenance and are available for both residential and non-residential metal buildings as well as non-metal structures.

Metal roofing in general is an energy efficient and environment-friendly solution when it comes to covering metal buildings.  Most metal roofs consist of some recycled material and at the end of its life, the metal material can be up to 95% recyclable.  These metal roofs can also be retrofit over the existing roofs (both metal and non-metal roofs) of most metal buildings.  The ability to retrofit over an existing roof is a great benefit to users of metal buildings, since disruption of activity is minimal when the original roof does not need to be removed.  Another important aspect of a retrofit roof is the reduction in landfill waste due to the avoidance of a tear down.

Using common fiberglass roll insulation, in either a retrofit or a new roof installation, energy costs can be minimized.  The roof itself experiences far less stress from thermal expansion and contraction, giving it a longer life expectancy.

Galvalume roofing, available through Ace Metal Buildings is available in many attractive colors that are especially appealing to residential sectors.  These colorful alternatives to traditional steel colors generally come with a 30 year warranty and require little maintenance.

The cost-saving factor of installing metal roofing on metal buildings often occurs over the long-term.  While most traditional roofing materials require major repairs or maintenance within an eight to ten year period, recent research and studies of Galvalume roofs provide much better news.  When analyzing 82 roofs, researchers found that the Galvalume roofs (up to 22 years old) were in excellent condition and were expected to last a total of 30-40 years before needing any major maintenance requirements.

The cost savings from energy efficiency, the ability to retrofit and the low maintenance required make metal roofing the right choice – and the perfect finishing touch – for metal buildings. 

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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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