Monthly Archives: February 2016

A metal equipment shed with a white exterior and gray roof.

When you invest in personal belongings, such as hobby materials, agricultural supplies, automobiles, or even a push lawnmower for your yard, it’s crucial to protect them adequately. While equipment sheds might seem like a necessity only for agricultural or commercial enterprises, when you design your own storage shed plans, you can transform even a simple backyard shed into precisely what you need, embodying your unique equipment shed ideas.

One-size-fits-all particle board storage sheds, often found premade alongside metal garage kits at your local big box home improvement store, rarely offer the best solution. They’re unlikely to meet the specific needs of your farm equipment, garden tools, and property. Plus, they’re not necessarily cheaper or easier to get onto your property if you’re looking for a long-lasting solution.

For Ultimate Customization, Look for Metal Equipment Shed Designs

Worldwide Steel Buildings provides DIY design and build capabilities for everything from garden sheds, including she sheds and lean-tos, to farm sheds and larger commercial equipment sheds. These structures, serving as the perfect DIY project, can be installed in any shape or size with a wide variety of amenities, making it simple to tailor the storage shed to your particular requirements.

You control every aspect of your shed, from the square footage (length, width, and height) to the materials list and building components. Consider these equipment shed ideas for customizing your DIY shed:

  • Size: Plan your metal building to suit not only your current needs but also future ones. Whether it’s accommodating a growing business, making room for retirement hobbies like woodworking or auto restoration, or simply ensuring it fits your property without violating HOA rules, the size and design, including a possible two-story layout with a lofted second floor, can be crucial.
  • Purpose: The purpose of your shed dictates many features. If you need storage space for wood pallets or weather-resistant tools, you might not need HVAC or electricity. However, for power tools or dual-use spaces like a tiny house, these are essential considerations.
  • Metal Roof: Choose everything from the color to the pitch of your metal shed roof. Options like an extra-large overhang for outdoor storage or extended eaves for water management can be significant, especially in areas prone to standing water.
  • Doors and Windows: Tailor doors and windows to your needs, whether it’s a sliding barn door for a simple machine shed or a roll-up garage door for larger equipment. Windows can vary based on the amount of natural light desired, with strategic placement for functionality, like doubling as a door in a chicken coop.

Even if you’re new to construction, you can build your own shed. Worldwide Steel’s customers often start as beginners and find success with our precision-engineered, pre-punched trusses and easy-to-install girts.

Why Choose Steel For Your Shed

Steel is versatile and durable, making it ideal for equipment sheds. Its ability to be roll-formed into precise shapes allows for unique designs necessary for various building requirements. This versatility gives metal sheds an edge over wood sheds, which are more cumbersome and limited in flexibility. Steel’s durability means it won’t bend, warp, or twist, providing long-term protection to your equipment. Its resistance to weather-induced shrinking or expanding minimizes leaks, an essential factor in comparing equipment shed designs. Worldwide Steel stands behind its products with a 50-year structural warranty, covering everything from small DIY projects to large-scale storage buildings.

Your investment in machinery, landscaping equipment, or personal hobby equipment deserves protection in a well-designed equipment shed. Designing your own shed, from blueprints and building plans to paint colors, is the answer, ensuring your belongings are thoroughly safeguarded.

Contact Worldwide Steel for Customized Metal Equipment Shed Solutions

Understanding and addressing your diverse storage needs is central to the design of your custom equipment shed. Whether it’s for tractors, gardening tools, or your hobby equipment, each item represents an aspect of your life and work that deserves protection and care. In designing your own equipment shed, you’re not just creating a building; you’re crafting a tailored solution to keep what’s important to you safe and accessible.

Embarking on this DIY project with Worldwide Steel Buildings is a step-by-step journey that empowers you to bring your vision to life. From conceptualizing a she shed or a machine shed to accommodating larger equipment like tractors, each phase of the process is an opportunity for personalization and creativity. Our 3D Building Designer tool aids you in visualizing each step, ensuring that the final product aligns perfectly with your expectations.

Are you ready to take the first step toward building a shed that meets all your storage needs? Contact Worldwide Steel today to start exploring a wide range of equipment shed ideas. Call us at (800) 825-0316, try out your ideas in our 3D Building Designer, or request a free quote online. Together, let’s build a shed that’s perfectly tailored to your life, both for today and for the future that awaits.

A metal building designed and built by Worldwide Steel Buildings

When you look at an old home, the design and architecture are probably the first things that jump out at you. The intricate detailing and now-quirky components are often beautiful, sometimes strange and occasionally just baffling. But sure enough, the durability and lifespan of the property are always what we find most impressive. After all, if the structural integrity of the building wasn’t there, the beautiful details would have disappeared decades ago. It’s the historic construction and solid building material that allows these buildings to stand the test of time.

You’ve heard people say “They don’t make them like they used to,” I bet. Changes in our economy, technology, priorities and culture have led to definite differences (read: low-quality workmanship and cheap construction materials) in many of today’s mass-produced buildings. And it’s sad but true. Traditional construction today compared to traditional construction 100 years ago is certainly lacking. Is it still possible to erect a beautiful, thoughtful wood building today? Absolutely. But it won’t be quick and it definitely won’t be cost-effective. But don’t give up! There are new building techniques and building designs available that are always durable (even backed by a one-of-a-kind warranty that guarantees them to stand strong for 50 years, even when put up against harsh working conditions and extreme weather) and attractive, and are also quick to build, cost-effective and low-maintenance. 

We are speaking, of course, of metal and steel buildings. Unfortunately, some people are wary of the durability and strength of steel structures, primarily due to their ease of construction and low cost. They assume that because steel framing can be erected quickly and relatively inexpensively, it’s likely to fail just as quickly. But the exact opposite is true — metal structures give you the best of all worlds. You get the strength of steel combined with the value and ease of prefab, precision-fit framing systems. 

Steel buildings are made of the strongest metals on earth, and are designed in a way that allows the building to stand up to absolutely anything you could throw its way: they’re fire resistant, impermeable to termites and other pests, not prone to corrosion or water damage, dependable in the face of high winds and natural disasters, and provide excellent energy efficiency. When all these benefits combine, they add up to a building that can last just as long as the antique homes we admire today. 

At Worldwide Steel, we’re strong, vocal proponents of this and many, many other benefits of steel buildings. And why wouldn’t we be? The more proof of quality you have, the more confident you can be. Seeing these buildings in action is enough to calm any nerves. This is why our steel and metal building kits come with a 50-year structural warranty directly from the manufacturer. It is our promise that your building will be designed and manufactured to meet your specific building codes and withstand the test of age, whatever that may include.

Metal buildings also offer better sustainability than wood framing materials (yep, really!) and unmatched versatility, perfect for everything from outdoor storage to residential homes. Steel buildings are ideal for all sorts of needs, from barns and stables to garages, workshops and commercial buildings. The steel buildings are available in a wide variety of sizes and designs, functioning as commercial and residential properties just as easily as an airplane hangar.

Whatever building projects you’re considering, a metal or steel building kit can meet your purposes and meet them well. When you opt for a metal building, you know you are finding a budget-friendly solution to your building needs—one that will last a lifetime without issue.

For more information about Worldwide Steel building systems, construction processes and midwest-manufactured materials, give us a call at (800) 825-0316 or request a quote online.

A steel building with snow covering its roof and surrounding the building

When it comes to constructing steel buildings, understanding and planning for heavy snow load is imperative, particularly in regions known for significant snowfall. The termheavy snow load” refers to the weight of snow and its impact on buildings, which can vary depending on the type and amount of snow, as well as the structure’s design. Worldwide Steel Buildings recognizes the critical nature of this issue and prioritizes the design of metal buildings that can confidently withstand these challenging conditions. This blog delves into the importance of considering heavy snow load in the construction and maintenance of steel structures. We will explore the potential effects of snow accumulation on steel buildings, key design considerations to ensure structural integrity, best practices for maintenance, and the importance of adhering to building codes. Worldwide Steel Buildings is committed to delivering steel structures – from metal garages to large-scale storage buildings – that meet and exceed the demands of heavy snow load environments.

What Snow Means For Your Building Needs

Heavy snow loads can pose serious risks to steel structures. The weight of snow accumulation, especially during blizzards or heavy snowfall, can lead to potential structural damage. This includes stress on trusses, eaves, and the building roof. Safety concerns for occupants cannot be overstated, as the risk of collapse or damage increases under heavy snow load. Additionally, the economic impacts due to damage or downtime can be significant, especially in commercial storage buildings or steel garages.

The good news is that steel and metal buildings from Worldwide Steel are built with what it takes to handle the heavy and harsh snow pile-ups required in each area of the country. In fact, it is found that metal and steel buildings may actually be better suited to handling higher snow loads than traditionally framed homes.

Key Considerations for Designing Steel Buildings in Heavy Snow Load Areas

In designing buildings for areas prone to heavy snowfall, Worldwide Steel Buildings considers several key factors. Structural reinforcement is a crucial aspect, including the use of sturdy trusses and robust building kits. Roof design, particularly the pitch, plays a significant role; a steeper roof pitch can help reduce snow buildup, enhancing the building’s ability to shed snow. Professional engineering evaluations are essential to ensure compliance with building codes, considering factors like ground snow load, wind load, and roof snow load.

Best Practices for Maintaining Steel Buildings in Heavy Snow Load Areas

Proper maintenance is essential for steel buildings in heavy snow load areas. Effective snow removal strategies and the use of specialized equipment can prevent issues like ice dams and excessive snow accumulation. Regular inspections are important for identifying and addressing damage or wear, especially after the winter season. Proactive maintenance, backed by the comprehensive warranty offered by Worldwide Steel Buildings, is vital for ensuring the longevity and safety of metal structures, including garages, carports, and larger buildings.

Conclusion

Snow is the heaviest and most dangerous when it is compacted. If you live in a climate where compacted snow could develop, then it is important to take weather precautions under consideration when building your structure. Compacted snow is heavy due to the layers of ice that form in between the layers of snow. Be educated about the weather risks in your area and know what you need your building to stand up against when making your choice of materials. Steel and metal buildings can be used for garages, workshops, and residential and commercial needs, and are easily insulated to make the inside just as comfortable as the outside is sturdy. 

Recognizing the importance of heavy snow load considerations in the design and maintenance of steel buildings is crucial. Worldwide Steel Buildings is dedicated to providing structures that are not only capable of withstanding the challenges of heavy snowfall but are also designed with safety, longevity, and efficiency in mind. We invite potential clients to consult with our team of building specialists and experts to benefit from our extensive experience in creating durable, reliable steel buildings for various needs and environments.

Are you planning a new building project in an area with heavy snowfall? Don’t let the winter weather catch you off guard. Contact Worldwide Steel Buildings now to discuss your project needs. Our team of building experts and specialists are ready to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring your structure is perfectly suited to withstand heavy snow loads. When the snow does fall, you want to rest assured that you have the strongest building design in the business. From small garages to massive work equipment sheds, you can get the confidence you need that you have a solid building that will stand up no matter the weather.

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