When you’re looking to build a steel building, it’s quite obvious you have choices. You have the freedom to choose who to buy from, when to buy and what to buy. Simple decisions like choosing between Pepsi or Coke, McDonald’s or Burger King, and Chevy or Ford is really just a matter of preference. Each previous choice is relatively similar to each other. But don’t put a steel building purchase in the same category. There is a big difference between steel building manufacturers and brokers – and the difference could cost you.
A broker might refer to themselves as a “contract manufacturer,” but they don’t actually manufacture anything! They are simply in the business of outsourcing. Brokers don’t employ personnel to design, engineer and fabricate a pre-engineered steel building. Instead, the main function of a broker is to take your desired dimensions and shop them around to manufacturers. Think of it like this – Brokers are only working as ‘middle-men’ who want to sell you the cheapest building. They are essentially mediators between contractors, manufacturers, companies, and the customer. They’ll arrange for only the purchase and delivery of the building for you, but might not give you vast options on price. Basically, you’re married to the decisions of a broker. In fact, that’s all some steel building companies can do. They’ll send out for all of the other important aspects that manufacturers can do in-house. You want windows, maybe a roll-up door, an awning or a canopy. You want to put your individual flair into every bit of the design process.
A broker tends to look for the cheapest price, regardless of quality, and that often translates to poorly designed steel buildings, with little or no attention to detail. Brokers rarely concern themselves with anything beyond finding the cheapest structure, and outsource the engineering and design to others. Whether it’s your home, church or place of business, your pre-engineered steel building shouldn’t be afterthought – it should be the only thought. The last thing you need to worry about is the hidden danger of the cheapest price, and whether your building could collapse or need costly repairs in the near future. A broker won’t concern themselves with your long term needs. What happens when your building shows up with missing pieces? Will a broker be able to help? Not at all.
Steel building manufacturers are able to design, engineer and fabricate a pre-engineered steel building because they have their own engineers, detailers and an actual manufacturing facility or factory to fabricate your pre-engineered steel building according to your exact specifications. Manufacturers sell directly to the public – no expensive middleman necessary! Steel building manufacturers have much more control over the entire process of a steel building project, and can assist a customer from conception to completion.
Your project is essentially in your hands when you purchase from pre-engineered steel building manufacturers, because you can have input every step of the way. Once you’re content with a manufacturer who will design, engineer and fabricate the highest quality steel building, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your dream building with a project manager. Do you have a specific design in mind? A manufacturer can accommodate your design wishes. With a broker, you might be stuck with a building they suggest, because they are exclusively an expensive ‘go-between.’ You’re not picking your building. They are.
In addition, a manufacturer will let you choose your own doors, windows, insulation and other building extras. Don’t let anyone “include” those accessories! There’s a reason why contractors and brokers insist on maintaining control over every aspect of the costs associated with any given project, right? That’s where they hide the markups! Letting someone choose your doors and windows for you is like letting someone choose the floors, paint colors, and finishes in your home – sight unseen. You don’t know what you’re getting beforehand because the choice has already been made for you. Pre-engineered steel building manufacturers, like Armstrong Steel, will let you pick your accessories and add-on’s from a catalog. You’ll know exact costs on those extras before you add them to your building.
A helping hand isn’t the only benefit steel building manufacturers can provide. You’ll be able to review plans throughout the process and make changes if you deem them necessary. Engineers, designers, project managers, and the rest of the staff is usually all in one building. You won’t be routed overseas to talk to different people in charge of your project. There is only one place to go, one group of people to handle your project. This is your dream building, you should have the choice to change aspects of it. You still want a choice, right? Don’t downplay the access to engineers and designers either. These steel building experts aren’t all in one place to only to assist customers; they’re always focused on improving and staying up to date with metal building technologies and techniques.
A steel building manufacturer will also offer structural, roof, wall panel and paint warranties for its buildings. A broker may not offer a warranty, and if they do, it may be a minimal warranty. A warranty tells you how much trust a provider has in their product and a limited or short warranty doesn’t exactly elicit a lot of trust.
Buying a steel building is a once in a lifetime purchase, and you want to make sure you do it right the first time. When you look for steel building quotes – be upfront with the company and ask if they manufacture their own product or not. Don’t risk your steel building project to an unknown source! When it comes to YOUR steel building project, you deserve the right to make choices!
Photo courtesy: US Naval Forces Europe
Steel is the backbone of the construction industry and a driver of many economies globally. Its versatility makes it a material of choice for most construction projects. Steel is also lighter and less bulky compared to other construction materials. Moreover, steel is a strong and durable construction material that fits almost every construction project. Here, we discuss the various steel construction methods and designs to help you expand your knowledge of steel application in the industry.
Conventional steel fabrication is the traditional method of constructing steel structures. The process involves designing, measuring, cutting, bending, and welding steel plates and sections to create the desired structure. Conventional steel fabrication can happen at the construction site or in a steel fabrication shop. However, most contractors prefer fabricating the steel at a shop and transporting the finished product to the construction site for a faster and safer installation process.
Fabricating at a shop enhances efficiency by reducing wastage and onsite construction time. The construction cost also goes down when fabrication happens in a shop, due to increased efficiency. A factory set setting allows the application of advanced technology and the use of automated machines, lowering labor costs. Onsite conventional fabrication, on the other hand, is labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Bolted steel construction is an advancement of conventional steel fabrication. In bolted steel construction, the bulk of the work is done in a fabrication shop. Steel components are fabricated off-site, and transported to the construction site, where they are bolted together to create a structure. The factory setup enhances fabrication efficiency since the shops have the right working conditions, including lighting, technology and the absence of weather anomalies.
Once the fabrication and painting are finished, the steel components are transported to the construction sites using trucks. The size of the steel members is, therefore, dependent on the transporting truck/trailer. Flatbed trucks and trailers range from 20-40’ in length with options for oversized loads being available with added cost. The added trucking cost can outweigh the uptick from field fabrication, therefore, the cost for oversized loads may be the best option.
Many construction firms prefer bolted steel construction due to its quick installation time and lesser field welding requirements. Moreover, bolted steel construction is cost-effective compared to conventional steel fabrication. These advantages make bolted steel construction a preferred method for the construction of industrial buildings, warehouses, and other large structures.
Light gauge steel construction uses thin steel sections that are cold-formed into shapes in a shop and assembled on-site. This construction method is popular for residential and small buildings, especially in areas with high seismic activity. It’s possible to create walls similar to wood framing with this type of construction. Several benefits of light gauge steel make it a preferred construction material for many projects.
The steel sheets are galvanized to prevent rust and corrosion, which enhances its durability. Unlike wood, steel is more resistant to pests, mold, and fire, which enhances its longevity. It is also stronger than wood and can withstand tremors during seismic activities. Moreover, light gauge steel is less bulky and more flexible than wood, which paves way for enhanced designs and modifications.
Another advantage that makes light gauge steel better than wood in construction is its environmental friendliness. Steel can be recycled or reassembled into a new building. The use of light gauge steel instead of wood also preserves forests, which reduces global warming and climate change.
In modular steel construction, complete building modules or units are fabricated in a factory and assembled on-site. The modules are constructed in standard sizes and shapes that are easily stacked to create a variety of building designs. These modular units may be fabricated into complete rooms or parts of a room. They can also be fabricated into highly serviced units such as washrooms or elevators shafts.
A notable advantage of modular steel construction is the speed of building erection. Since the prefabs are fabricated in a factory setting, contractors are only required to transport and assemble the units on-site. The rapid installation allows onsite assembly of 6-8 units per day. Modular steel construction is also cost-effective. Repetitive manufacturing, which is typical of factory settings creates economies of scale that reduce the cost of production.
Steel frame construction is a type of construction that uses steel to construct the structural framework of a building. The skeleton frame made of steel columns and beams supports the building’s weight and loads. The steel beams and columns are prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site. Steel frame construction has several benefits over other structural construction methods. Steel is lighter and less bulky than other construction materials, such as concrete. Using lighter materials for the structural framework reduces the foundation cost and the overall construction cost. Steel is also stronger and more durable than other building materials, and can withstand earthquakes or harsh weather conditions.
In composite steel construction, steel is combined with other materials, such as concrete or wood to create structures with improved strength and stiffness. Several advantages of using composite steel make it a viable construction option for a structural framework. Composite steel is cheaper than non-composite steel components as you’re able to lighten the amount of concrete used by adding rebar, adding strength and reduces the overall construction cost. Composite steel frames are also lighter, which lowers foundation costs. Moreover, composite steel enhances environmental sustainability by reducing the amount of material used in the fabrication process. A reduction in the amount of materials used in construction reduces the carbon footprint of a construction project.
Pre-engineered steel construction is a modern building technique that uses pre-designed and pre-fabricated steel components that are assembled on-site. This construction process produces buildings that meet specific project requirements for commercial, industrial, and agricultural applications. The pre-fabrication is done in a shop setting using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software. Technology application helps manufacture steel components that can be customized to meet specific requirements of a construction project. Moreover, the shop setting used for pre-engineered steel construction makes the process cost-effective and aids the construction of strong and durable buildings.
RK Steel plays a critical role in many of RK’s construction projects. Our steel construction experience and expertise set the foundation for fabricating and installing structural and custom steel. Contact us today to learn more.