Your Steel Building Specialist
Steel Building Buying Guide
Steel Building Buying Guide
Steel Building Basics
Things you need to know when buying a Steel BuildingPre Engineered Steel Building Dimensions
We understand how difficult it can be wading through all the companies out there selling steel buildings. In fact, there are many different types to choose from. What we are here to help you with specifically is pre-engineered metal buildings, also known as "Red Iron" steel buildings. Unlike other buildings that may look similar, the framing of a pre-engineered steel building utilizes I-Beam steel for the main support of the building and steel "Cee" and "Zee" components for the secondary support, then clad with steel panels. This is the type of building that we supply.
To get started working on a quote for a Renegade, there are a few pieces of information we need to know. First up is the Width, Length and Height you want. Typically the width is on the gable end, the length is on the side where the gutters are located and the height is the measurement at the eave. Another vital piece of information is the zip code for your location. The zip code gives us the default values for wind, snow and seismic loads for a steel structures in your location. We use these values to setup the engineering requirements. We still encourage our customers to verify their code requirements with the local authority as some areas may specify different loads.
After getting the basic info for your pre-engineered building, we want to know what size doors you want and where they need to be located. In order to place openings in the correct place, we refer to walls as indicated on this illustration. This is the way the walls are setup in the metal building software. When we have completed your quote, we also typically include a 3D sketch much like this so that you can visualize everything on your prefab metal building.
1:12
2:12
3:12
4:12
Last, but not least, we need to know the pitch you want for the roof. The most common roof pitch for a metal building is 1:12. Now you may be asking, what in the world does 1:12 mean. So the first number is the rise of the roof across the distance of the second number. On a 1:12 pitch, that means that the roof rises 1 inch for every 12 inches across the width of the building. In those terms, a 30' wide symmetrical gable would rise 15 inches from the eave to the peak.
Now that we have the basic information needed to setup your new building, we can get started working on your quote. There are a few other factors that may influence the design. In fact, your project manager may ask a few questions about fitting certain aspects like door heights compared to the eave height. There has to be enough room above a door opening for the track and drum to fit. For instance, a 10' tall door will need almost 2' of clearance above the opening to fit, so the eave height may need to be adjusted for it to fit.
If you take a moment to look at the door vertical clearance illustration, you can see that the brackets place the drum above the framed opening height. This gives you the full clearance of the opening while accommodating the curtain as it rolls onto the drum. The larger the door, there is more clearance required. While this illustration shows most of the considerations, there are other factors that can interfere with the opening and operation of the door whether it is a roll up or panel door.
That's why our building specialists like to have conversations with our customers so we can help determine the most economical way to configure your metal building kit while giving you the features you want.
The next thing we have to consider is the building bracing. It is a crucial aspect to counteract high wind, snow and seismic loads. There are several methods of bracing. We'll go into the most common here, and you can see more details on our steel building bracing page.
The most basic way of bracing a is with cables or rods that create an X between main frame structural members. This option is only available when there are no openings that it may interfere with.
X-bracing doesn't work when you have openings in a wall for doors or windows, so another method of bracing is required. Using a portal frame is useful in this case and provides the bracing needed along with providing space for openings. This method is more expensive as it uses actual I-beams to accomplish the structural requirement.
Another method available is called a wind column. This again allows more clearance for openings to be placed in a particular bay, but does come with some qualifications. Since the column transfers the load into the ground at a single location, the concrete foundation requirements can be hefty. At times, though, this may be the only option available to be able to fit everything in that's needed.
Width, Length, Height, roof pitch, Location, and framed openings - Everything we need to calculate a price for your quote, right? That information does give us most of what's needed. The bigger question is do we have everything setup how you want it designed. While it may seem like this is all you need to get a quote, there are other qualifications and options for your metal building. Usually, a quick phone conversation about your design can allow us to provide a more accurate quote. Let's jump into some additional options that you might want to consider:
Steel Building Options
Bypass Girts
Bypass Girts run along the outside (or bypass) the I-beam column. This means that the base of the column is sitting back 8 inches from the outside edge of the concrete or what we commonly refer to as the steel line. The bracing used is set inside of the girts as well. This is typical for many of the structures we do, but there are times when this may not work for your design.
Flush Girts
Flush Girts run inline (or flush) with the I-beam column. This means that the base of the column is sitting flush with the outside edge of the concrete. The bracing is set inline with the girts as well. Using flush girts can help when there are going to be interior walls by reducing the amount of the column that needs to be boxed in.
Insulation
There are several products to insulate and increase energy efficiency. One of the most popular is reinforced polypropylene laminated fiberglass insulation in 3" (R-10), 4" (R-13) or 6" (R-19) thick blankets. This insulation is installed between the wall panel and the girts, or the roof panel and the purlins.
For areas requiring a higher R-value, we can provide a two layer liner system to give you better insulating performance and long term energy cost savings.
For even more info, check out our insulation page.
Custom Options
Some commonly asked for options to customize your steel building kit are roof extensions and wainscot. Extensions are very aesthetically pleasing, but they can be more expensive than expected. Adding wainscot is probably the most cost-effective solution to enhance the exterior appearance.
Steel Building Terms
Bays and Spacing
A bay is the space between the frame columns. This can be between the main frame I-beam columns on the side wall or between the "Cee" columns on the bearing frame end wall.
"Cee"
"Zee"
Secondary structural members are used in a variety of places.
"Cee" members are used for bearing frame walls (also known as post and beam) as well as framed openings.
"Zee" members are used for wall girts and roof purlins.
Roof Snow Load
Building Wind Load
Every pre-engineered metal building is engineered with wind, snow and seismic loads as prescribed by International Building Codes (IBC). These IBC codes utilize the specifics of each location to determine the engineering design. While we have guidelines to go by, it is important for each customer to check with the local building department office to verify what specific Code they require along with the wind and snow loads. Each municipality can require additional loads that may not be known without talking to them. It is imperative to have the correct loads and codes needed to obtain your building permit.
The Bottom Line
We try to give you as much info as possible so that you can be an educated buyer. This applies to not only the metal building kit, but to the entire buying process as well. We simply want to help you get the best steel building kit at the best final price and help you avoid high pressure and misleading practices by some of the other companies out there. That's why we specify everything on our contract so that you know exactly what your buying. On top of that, our bottom line is just that, no hidden fees, no extra costs added on later, just the total that you will pay for your metal building kit. Give us a call or fill out our Quick Quote form to get a free quote. We are here to help.
Property Line / Lot Setback
When you're thinking about what size is going to best fit your needs, you also have to consider what size will fit on your property. Most lots, whether residential or commercial, will have specifications for setbacks along the property line. In fact, in some residential areas, there may also be limits on the square foot size of the building in relation to the main dwelling on the property. For commercial properties, there may even be additional setbacks from road frontage and right of way to consider.
It's better to know up front any limitations to consider rather than running into problems down the road when you try to get your building permit. It's much easier to adjust the size when it's in estimating than if it has already been purchased. We strongly suggest checking your local requirements to make sure you can get what you want before you even start with site preparation.
Local Codes
Each metal building is engineered to the wind, snow and seismic loads for your specific location. While our software gives us good guidelines on what those codes are, there is always the possibility that there could be different design codes based on what your local permit office requires. It is very important for you to check the the local building code for your wind and snow requirements as those can vary by municipality.
Maybe your asking yourself, why does any of this matter, I just want a quote. First and foremost, each pre-engineered metal building is designed and engineered to the specific location where it will be erected. Change location and the loads can change, sometimes drastically. Beyond the loads, it has to fit on your property and meet your local requirements. We want to be your steel building supplier, and we want the process to be as smooth as possible so that you come away with a good experience. That's why it is important to verify any requirements with your local building department.
Steel Building Suppliers
Company Culture
What do we mean by "Company Culture"? It comes down to how a company chooses to do business. Honesty and integrity is how the owner of Renegade does business. We strive to have an accurate quote that reflects everything you asked for including any specific needs. We also work just as hard after the sale to provide excellent customer service. At the end of the day, if there are any issues, we strive to resolve the issue quickly and proficiently to keep our customers happy.
While we can't speak for other companies out there, we can suggest for you to do your research. Some companies are quick to push for a down payment, others don't put the real total on their quote and some simply use sketchy sales tactics to get you to sign their quote then hit you with up charges after the fact. You won't find any of that at Renegade. What you will find is that we like to discuss what you want and need. We may even suggest ways to help value engineer your prefab metal building to get the best bang for your buck. We also want to make sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at other companies.
Your Quote
We put everything on our quote that you are requesting so that you know up front what you are getting for your money. We often talk to customers that are comparing quotes and they tell us that a salesman assured them they are getting something that is not listed on their quote. Since your quote becomes a legal contract once executed, what is listed is what you get, nothing more nothing less. That's why we specify clearly what options come with your prefab metal building.
We also list our actual, real bottom line on our quote. When you see the total on our quote, it includes everything from shipping to tax and includes everything listed as included. Other companies show you a total price, but then you have to add engineering or freight and tax. So their "total" looks better, but their bottom line may cost you more.
Renegade Quote showing true Bottom Line Price of $30,750
Competitor Quote showing "total" price as $28,595 when the bottom line price is actually $30,882.60
Quote Comparison
We sometimes ask to see a competitor's quote. When a potential customer tells us another company has us beat, we want to help them make sure everything on the quote is equal. Sometimes, we could have a colored roof option where the other guys only quoted Galvalume, or their quote is missing some framed openings. Whatever the case may be, we like to help our customers make educated decisions based on companies quoting the same specs. Since we look at quotes all day, it is pretty easy for us to pick out the differences that a customer may not notice. Any way you look at it, we're just helping you make the best choice for your hard earned dollars.
Know who your talking to
We realize it is difficult to know who you're talking to. That's why we have a page dedicated to our team. You get a chance to see a picture of who the people are that make up Renegade from the owner/president to each member of the team. How many other websites give you everyone's contact info? Some competitors don't even tell you who really owns the company. We believe things like that matter so that you are comfortable with who you choose to do business with.
Product Comparison
Certification
Certification for pre-engineered steel building manufacturers comes through the ICC as an IAS (AC472). This accreditation assures you as a consumer that the metal building manufacturer meets or exceeds the International Code Council standards in regards to engineering, design and fabrication processes. Renegade buildings are manufactured in IAS certified facilities.
Standards
In years past, there were wide discrepancies for steel buildings. Some suppliers chose the cheapest materials possible to have the lowest price. Others would pick and choose a couple of standard items but go cheap on others. These days, much of the industry uses similar specs so we would like to share what standards are on a Renegade Building.
- 26 Ga PBR Panels
- Formed Base Trim
- Optional two piece base trim for additional colors
- Framed openings for Windows
- Long Life screws in the roof and walls
- I-beam steel frame
- Fabricated in the United States
The Bottom Line
We know you can buy your custom metal building from anyone. We also know that not all suppliers are created equal. That is why we go to the trouble of providing a comprehensive guide to help educate you on steel buildings, and what makes our buildings (and company) different. We hope you will give Renegade the opportunity to show you how easy the experience can be whether your buying a metal garage, a commercial space, storage space, or a residential structure.