Category Archives: Steel Building Kits
Your Worldwide Steel building project: Five things to consider before you start
Worldwide Steel builds are designed to be easily assembled. We also provide dedicated support from your planning phase through your project completion. However, when all’s said and done you’ve a substantial project on your hands. The decisions you make before breaking ground will affect how you feel about your project for years to come. Here are five questions our experts recommend you ask yourself (and come up with good answers for!) before you make any commitments:
- How do I plan to use the building? Seems simple, right? Worldwide Steel building kits are largely comprised of the same components. However, being in need of a house, a garage, an aircraft hangar, a horse arena or something completely outside-the-box will determine what you need from your building kit. As impossible as it may seem right now, it’s a good idea to think about how your needs for the building might change over the years to come.
- Does my steel building need to be purely functional, or are aesthetics important too? With Worldwide Steel Buildings, you are able to customize and make your steel building look as traditional or as custom as you desire. If you just need a structure for storage, you probably won’t spend much time thinking about how it looks. If you’re building a structure for commercial use (where “curb appeal” has value) or as a residence, you want it to look nice. We recommend starting with the easy-to-use 3D Building Designer tool. From there, our team can help you choose features and materials: mezzanines, cupolas, sliding doors, porches and overhangs, to name a few.
- What are the loading requirements in my area? Buildings of all material makeup should be designed and engineered to meet wind loads, snow loads, and seismic specs. These factors taken into consideration during engineering will help insure a long economic life for the building. At Worldwide Steel, we take these loading requirements very seriously. We provide stamped engineered drawings from a licensed engineer in the state the building is being delivered. This validates every building we deliver is designed to its exact local snow and wind requirements and allows us to back your building with a 50-year structural warranty.
- Will I be erecting this DIY or will I hire a crew? Worldwide Steel building kits are manufactured with the DIYer in mind. Our trusses are pre-punched, bolt together easily and have the purlin and girt clips factory welded for construction ease. Your sheet metal attaches to the purlins and girts with colored, self-drilling screws that are flanged and self-sealing to prevent leaks. Every building comes with a step-by-step assembly manual to guide you through the building process from start to finish. Most of our customers can erect without the need of renting a crane or other heavy equipment. Our customers do find it’s easier and quicker to have a three-man team working together once you reach the sheeting stage of construction. When you have people working on different walls, you can finish much more quickly.
- Do I really know how much this is going to cost? When you work with Worldwide Steel, the short answer is always a resounding YES. Unlike some other steel building companies, you’ll know up-front what your final bill is likely to be. We understand how important entry costs and finish costs are to achieving budget accuracy. We do everything in our power to help you stay on budget and get the steel building of your dreams, without compromise. This means our trained building consultants help you design your structure at no additional cost, we offer our structural warranty directly (not through a broker, so claims are handled directly by WWSB). In short, we go out of our way to provide a fair and honest pricing experience from the moment of inquiry.
If you have other questions or considerations, or you just want to talk through your project with a no-BS expert, call the WWSB team at (800) 825-0316.
Using our 3D building designer to imagine your ideal build
So you know you need a steel building. But how do you bring the garage, airplane hangar, winery or greenhouse that’s in your head to life, safely and to code, with all the features and functionality you want?
Worldwide Steel building kits are simple to assemble, but you’re not alone if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed at the idea of designing your dream building. After all, there’s so much to take into account, and knowing where to start can be tough.
“We make our steel building kits foolproof, so you don’t have to be a pro to build one yourself. But if you’re not a pro, you probably don’t have experience with or access to construction or architecture software. That makes designing your own building intimidating,” said Alan Jackson, a building consultant at our Scranton, KS office. “That’s the last thing we want – our steel building kits should be simple and empowering, and you should get exactly what you want and need from them. That’s why we encourage customers to use our 3D Designer.”
The Worldwide Steel Buildings Online 3D Building Designer makes it easy for novice designers to become independent, confident builders.
When you first click onto the Online 3D Building Designer (on a desktop computer or mobile device, with easy operating instructions for either kind of device right there on-screen), you’ll see the image of a simple building, with large directional indicators on the “grass” to help you keep track of how the building will appear on your land.
You can zoom in and out, spin the building around with 360° rotation to check it out from all angles, and even switch between indoor and outdoor views with the click of a button.
Then, get designing! Customize your building by altering dimensions, choosing colors and building extension options, adding porches and overhangs, windows and doors, mezzanine bays and more. You can even add objects, like a person, a truck, an airplane or a driveway, for scale, to get an even more realistic idea of how your building will come to life.
“It feels like you’re just playing,” said Derek Kerr, a building consultant at our Peculiar, MO office. “It’s that fun to mess around with. But it’s not just play – it’s planning. The 3D Designer can really help you work through what exactly you need. Sometimes a design you thought was going to work actually won’t … and it’s important to figure that out before you order a building kit or start construction.”
When the building in your mind matches the building on your screen, you can save it, share your design via email, and – best of all – you can submit your design to the WWSB team for a free quote.
“We’re able to take a look at your design and identify any ‘gotchas’ or optimizations that might benefit you, then give you a comprehensive cost for materials,” said Kerr.
Ready to start using the Worldwide Steel Buildings Online 3D Building Designer? You might be surprised at how much you love virtual steel building design.
To get a feel for what some other users have done with the Online 3D Building Designer, check out the Worldwide Steel Design Examples.
Like always, our team is here to answer any questions you run into along the way. Just give us a call at (800) 825-0316 whenever you need an expert ear.
I’m building a steel building … How long will it take?
When you’re planning for a project as large as steel building construction, it’s important to have a good understanding of what’s involved before you get started. There’s too much on the line to get started without knowing the basics: Where you’re going to erect your building, what kinds of equipment will be needed, and who’s going to be on your crew.
Perhaps the most crucial to the success of your project is understanding how long it’s going to take, and what kinds of things can affect your timeline.
Of course, there’s no prescriptive answer to how long it takes to erect a steel building. A simple metal garage or pole barn (say, 40’ x 60’ x 14’) might take less than a week to frame. But what about an airplane hangar, a house, or any other kind of structure that’s much larger or much more involved? Then, the calculations get a little bit more complex, and we recommend you reach out to a WWSB consultant for support.
Overall, however, here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning the timeline of your steel building construction.
Phase construction: Consider everything you need to do before construction begins, and factor in time for that. Finding a crew, grading land, pouring concrete and taking material delivery all needs to be coordinated. After that, you can divide your building schedule into three phases:
- Phase 1: Standing columns and trusses. Plan to devote about 15% of your time to phase one.
- Phase 2: Framing and building out your structure. Plan to devote about 15% of your time to phase two.
- Phase 3: Sheeting the building. Plan to devote about 45% of your time to phase three.
Work together: Especially when it comes to phase three (sheeting buildings), it can help cut down construction time to have a large crew working together. We recommend having three-man teams working together on different walls.
Prepare for delays: No building project is totally immune to Mother Nature. Weather is always, always the primary cause of delays when erecting a Worldwide Steel building. Plan for some inclement weather, even if there’s nothing in the forecast when you get started.
Don’t cut corners: Trying to rush a steel building project can be detrimental to your safety and the quality of your finished project. To stay safe, be sure to always be aware of your surroundings and go slowly when roofing the building. To ensure quality, just don’t rush – especially when putting screws into the sheetmetal (you might miss the secondary).
Looking for more specific specific timeline advice on your particular steel building project? We’re happy to help. Just give our team a call at (800) 825-0316.
Assembling a metal garage in the winter: Five things to know about metal building kits and cold weather
One of the best things about assembling a metal garage from a Worldwide Steel building kit is that you don’t need any specialized experience or training to do it. One of the next-best things is that you can assemble your building at any time of year – even the dead of winter.
Before you break ground, though, here are five things to keep in mind if you’re planning to erect a metal garage over the winter.
1. Pour your concrete before the temperatures drop.
At Worldwide Steel, we install our buildings year-round and encourage customers to do the same. The only factor you should pre-plan is the concrete. You can’t pour concrete in freezing weather, due to the frozen ground. We recommend you pour concrete in late fall before the temperature drops. This allows you to build as your schedule allows through the winter months.
2. Pad your building schedule.
Generally, you should plan on it taking a little longer to assemble a metal garage or other metal building kit in the winter, because inclement weather has the ability to halt your progress for longer. We don’t see this as a bad thing, though! There’s a real advantage to having the flexibility to work on your building as time and weather allows. Because summer vacations, spring and fall farming, yardwork, etc. are all on the backburner during the winter months, you probably have more wiggle room in your free time.
3. Worldwide Steel can withstand the weather.
Even if you’re expecting extended periods of below-freezing temps this winter, our steel kits can handle it. There’s no need to be concerned about leaving an all-steel building kit out in the cold – it’s just a non-issue. That said, we do recommend you try to keep prolonged snow and moisture away from the pre-assembled steel components as much as possible.
4. Stay safe.
Mother Nature always is a factor in construction. You definitely need to be careful of ice and snow when you’re building, and completely avoid attempting any roof work if there’s ice and/or snow in the air or on the ground. The biggest weather concern during the winter, though, is wind – just like during the rest of the year. Always take the proper safety precautions when erecting a steel building kit, no matter the season.
5. Take advantage!
Really, there are no disadvantages to planning a WWSB build in the winter. As long as you get your concrete done early, you can spend the winter assembling your building at your leisure. Not to mention, pricing is usually better in the winter – not only for the building kit itself, but for any workers and subcontractors you hire, as well. Think you’d still rather wait for a sunny day to build your metal garage, or didn’t pre-plan and get your concrete poured before the frost? Worldwide Steel offers a program called “Winter Works” that allows you to buy a building now and not have it delivered until spring.
Want to learn more? Give us a call at (800) 825-0316 or request a quote online.
Construction Company Kudos
You don’t need to specialize in steel building construction to put up a Worldwide Steel Building. Just ask Scott Tallman, president of Tallman Construction, a general contractor in Idaho Falls, Idaho. “It’s a user-friendly solution that doesn’t require any special equipment or tools,” he says. “My guys had no problem putting it together. Everything went very smoothly from start to finish.”
Scott designed and constructed two steel buildings for Sun Rain, a client of his that grows and distributes a variety of potatoes. One of the structures required a constant temperature between 48 and 52 degrees, meaning a poly-foam insulation had to be applied to the entire building. Fortunately, Scott was able to do so thanks to the versatility of the Worldwide Steel product.
Beyond versatility, Scott says he chose Worldwide Steel over other manufacturers because it offered both better pricing and better service. It’s why he’d use Worldwide Steel in the future along with recommending them to others. “We definitely had a great experience with the product and the staff. I’d work with them again in a heartbeat.”
Scott Tallman is one of many satisfied Worldwide Steel Buildings customers. Learn what others have to say by visiting worldwidesteelbuildings.com. Then try out the free 3D Design Tool to map out plans for your steel building.
Got Questions? We have answers.
If David Olsen had a question, Worldwide Steel Buildings had an answer. It’s why the do-it-yourselfer was able to successfully assemble his own multi-purpose steel building on his property in Boulder, Colorado. “Whenever I needed help during construction, Worldwide Steel was always there for me,” says Olsen.
Olsen required assistance early on after his local municipal building department asked him to modify foundation plans. He reached out to his Worldwide Steel customer service representative who quickly provided adjustments to meet requirements. Later on, Olsen experienced some minor material snafus that were easily remedied by Worldwide Steel.
“Their responsiveness made a world of a difference,” notes Olsen. “I was able to count on them throughout the project.”
Olsen leveraged one of Worldwide Steel’s predesigned packages and utilizes his 2,000-square-foot facility as a garage, shop and storage facility. He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Worldwide Steel to others. “They offer a hard-to-beat combination of product and service. I’m really happy about how my building turned out.”
Find out what other customers have to say about Worldwide Steel Buildings by visiting worldwidesteelbuildings.com. Then try out the free Worldwide Steel Buildings 3D Building Designer Tool.
Spark Your Imagination
Get a clearer picture of the steel building in your future with a little help from the satisfied customers of Worldwide Steel Buildings. Now available on our website are design examples created by our customers (with our popular 3D Building Design Tool) that served as the springboard for the steel building of their dreams.
You’ll feel inspired to take your design to the next level by viewing the plans of others whether you’re thinking of building a garage, workshop, house, barndominium or commercial building. Worldwide Steel Buildings hopes to help people get over the design hump by simply sharing the work of others.
“Sometimes it just takes a little spark to the imagination to complete a building design,” says Jeff Snell, president and CEO of Worldwide Steel Buildings. “And what’s great about our 3D design tool is that it provides a clear vision of the buildings that’s swirling inside the heads of our customers.”
So take a look-see at the other building designs today to get inspired for tomorrow. Go to https://www.worldwidesteelbuildings.com/design-examples/.
Try out the free Worldwide Steel Buildings 3D Building Designer Tool.
Buildings That Last A Lifetime
With a 50-year warranty from Worldwide Steel Buildings, Adam Fike has a feeling that the two structures on his 10-acre property will be around for a very long time to come.
“I anticipate that both buildings will outlive me,” says Adam, who resides on 10 acres in Spring Hill, KS. “I wanted a product that would last a lifetime so I decided that steel was the best way to go. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about wood rot and other costly maintenance issues.”
Adam also liked the idea of lower upfront costs. Early on he learned he could save a bunch of money by choosing steel over wood for his two buildings – one of which is a 24’ x 30’ structure that he utilizes to operate his residential painting business. The shop provides materials storage in addition to space for spraying out cabinets and doors.
His other building is 40’ x 40’ and is used for a light farming operation. It serves as home to cows, goats and horses as well as storage for hay and equipment. For both buildings, Adam chose to go with off-the-shelf packages provided by Worldwide Steel, which still provided room for some customization.
“I was really amazed at how easily everything came together,” claims Adam. “The building components are manufactured like well designed puzzle pieces.” He was also impressed with the customer service at Worldwide Steel from start to finish. “Everyone I worked with was really knowledgeable and respectful. It was just a great experience overall.”
Get going on the steel building in your future by trying out the free Worldwide Steel Buildings 3D Building Designer Tool.
Mother Nature Flexes Her Lungs To No Avail
She huffed and puffed … but big, bad Mother Nature still couldn’t blow down the stout and sturdy Worldwide Steel Building amidst a windstorm in Texas.
“We had ferocious 80 mile per hour winds come whistling through in March, but our steel warehouse stood up to the storm without a problem,” explains Garry Jones of Dumas, Texas, a town of 15,000 tucked away near the far north border of the Lone Star state. “It’s a strong, robust structure, which is one of the reasons why we decided to go with Worldwide Steel. We need a lot more durability in this part of the country.”
Affordability also played a major role in Garry’s decision to go with steel for his nearly 4,000-square-foot building, which houses pool tables, Touch Tunes jukeboxes, electronic dartboards and other amusement games for his business, JJ’s Vending. Other building materials were far more costly and would have forced him to build a much smaller – and less durable – warehouse.
Steel rose to the top, along with Worldwide Steel Buildings, who Lisa Jones (Garry’s wife) discovered online while researching potential companies to design and manufacture. According to the Jones’s, they were pleased with the entire Worldwide Steel process from start to finish. “I’d highly recommend them to anyone,” notes Garry, who along with a couple friends assembled his warehouse. “We were always in the know throughout the project thanks to the staff … just a pleasure to work with the whole time.”
Need an affordable, durable building like the Jones’s for your personal or business use? Then, get started with the Worldwide Steel Design Tool today. Exclusively at WorldwideSteelBuildings.com.
Steel Gets The Green Thumbs Up
A little knowledge can go a long way when weighing the pros and cons of a steel building, according to Mark Bockelman, owner of Bockelman’s Landscaping and Garden Center in Fowler, Ohio.
“Unfortunately, some people are afraid of steel because they don’t know enough about it,” explains Mark. “But steel is really an excellent option for buildings because it’s durable, versatile and affordable. I recommend it – and Worldwide Steel Buildings – all the time.”
Bockelman knows firsthand the value of steel after deciding to use galvanized steel framing (manufactured by Worldwide Steel Buildings) for the greenhouse he and his teenage daughter, Leah, assembled in 2017. The 24’ x 40’ structure, which features corrugated walls and partially corrugated roofing, still looks new today despite the naturally wet environment.
Bockelman credits the custom galvanization he requested from Worldwide Steel Buildings for protecting his greenhouse from rusting and pitting. And that’s important to him, not only from a long-term structural standpoint but also in regard to business growth. As a retailer, he needs his greenhouse to look good on all levels.
“Offering a clean and pristine shopping environment is meaningful to our customers,” says Bockelman, who’s been in business for over 30 years. “It’s one of the keys to our success.”
Get started on designing a steel building for your business or personal property by utilizing the free 3D Building Designer Tool at WorldwideSteelBuildings.com.
