Category Archives: steel building
Meet Your Steel Building Consultant: Kevin Paulsen
There are a lot of things that set Worldwide Steel Buildings apart from the competition.
Our 3D virtual steel building designer, the quality of our materials, the ease of erecting our steel buildings and our 50-year structural guarantee, to name a few.
But when you’re starting a steel building project, even if it’s not your first, you probably want some reassurance along the way. Confirmation that you’ve thought the design through, that you’ve measured your needed square footage correctly, that you aren’t forgetting any key elements that would be a pain to add in post-construction. And once the trusses start going up, it’s comforting to know there’s someone you can call – someone you can trust – if you have any questions along the way.
And that’s where Worldwide Steel really shines: our team. Our trained building consultants, ready to help you design the building of your dreams and see it through to reality. Our steel building experts across the country are happy to guide the construction of your new steel building from the brainstorming process right up until the installation of the last screw.
One of those team members is Kevin Paulsen, who started working at Worldwide Steel’s Colorado location on New Year’s Day, 2018.
“I grew up around construction,” Kevin says. “My dad used to be a builder, so much of my general knowledge comes from that. Before joining Worldwide Steel Buildings, I was an Area Manager for Pepsi and Coors in Wyoming. Then I moved to Denver and began working for a different steel building company.
After my experience with them, I did not think I would come back into the steel buildings world. After meeting Jeff Snell and Warren Bott, I knew that things were being done the right way here and could see myself being a part of their team.”
Here’s what Kevin thinks sets WWSB apart from the competition:
What is unique about Worldwide Steel building materials?
“You’ll often come across a competitor that says they provide steel buildings. But in actuality, it’s all wood framing with some steel siding. There’s no comparison in quality. Worldwide Steel has different truss designs that really tailor to whatever needs the customer has. When you switch over to the competition, that are truly just steel building providers, they can typically only provide one type of steel building: a rigid frame design. I say “providers” because there are many places out there that are brokers and they don’t manufacture their own product. At WWSB, customers know exactly what they’re getting and where it’s coming from.”
What’s the Worldwide Steel difference in terms of customer satisfaction?
“I think that we do a great job as a whole when we’re helping our customers. We have a lot of very knowledgeable salespeople who work with the customers from conception to completion of the project. Behind every building consultant, there’s a lot of support, as well. We have a wealth of information and are able to help with anything a customer may need, thanks to our great customer and sales support staff, detailing department, management, and ownership. You can take that out to the shop, too, where the components of every building are made. The individuals out there take pride in their work and do a great job of making a customer’s dream building come to life.”
For Kevin and the rest of the Worldwide Steel team, customer satisfaction is the driving force behind all their hard work.
“I don’t think that I could name one favorite project,” Kevin says. “I really love when my customers are happy and start sharing project pictures with me. I have customers that will forever be friends. That is what makes what I do the most satisfying.”
If you want the security of knowing your steel building materials are of the highest quality, manufactured right on site, and backed by the support of knowledgeable building consultants like Kevin, you want to work with Worldwide Steel.
Whether you have questions about how to get your steel building project off the ground (figuratively or literally), or you’re ready to start breaking ground, our team is ready to help you. Give us a call at (800) 825-0316 to discover what’s so special about working with Worldwide Steel Buildings.
Metal Building Construction Site Safety Tips
Worldwide Steel building kits are designed with a focus on construction site safety tips, targeting those eager to independently erect their new metal building or with help from a small crew of construction workers, friends, or a local contractor. Recognizing the challenges faced by construction companies, our construction process is streamlined and user-friendly, acknowledging the potential hazards in construction projects, and is suitable even for those outside the professional construction industry. With just a bit of common sense, the right equipment, and some extra hands, you can manage the entire build by yourself. Remarkably, most of our customers find no need to rent heavy machinery or other heavy construction equipment.
Our metal building systems are crafted to simplify construction and help prevent accidents, fatalities, and near misses. The trusses are pre-punched, our sheet metal attaches to purlins and girts with self-drilling, color-coded screws. We provide a comprehensive step-by-step assembly manual that doubles as a safety training guide, emphasizing safety procedures and ensuring workplace safety throughout the construction work and building process.
However, it’s vital to remember that ease of construction doesn’t equate to a lack of potential risks. Working with large, heavy sheets of metal and tall steel beams means adhering to safety measures, safety plans, and site safety rules is critical. Here are a few safety precautions we deem essential:
1. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Proper protective gear, including safety vests and harnesses, can significantly reduce the risk of injury on a steel building construction site. Essential items include:
- A hard hat: Everyone on or near the construction job absolutely must wear an OSHA-approved hard hat, all the time. Even if you’re not actively building, there is always a risk of head injury due to falling objects.
- Boots: Always wear sturdy work boots with good ankle support and no-slip rubber soles for optimal safety, preferably steel-toe.
- Gloves: Protective gloves are crucial to guard against lacerations from sharp sheet metal.
- Goggles: Again, make sure they’re OSHA-approved and essential for anyone using a drill or a saw to protect from flying particles and electrical hazards.
- Masks: Recommended when working with hazardous materials, insulating materials, or wood trim.
2. Eliminate as Many Fall Risks as Possible
We prioritize safety by recommending that as much work as possible is done on the ground. If you do as much assembly as possible at ground level, you can then lift and install the components (like walls and roof panels) once they’re complete. For the times when you absolutely need to be up high (every job has these, of course), you can continue to mitigate your risk by using personal fall arrest systems and guardrails when working at heights to minimize the risk of falls. Things like ladder safety and avoiding roof work in windy or slippery conditions can also go a long way.
3. Communicate with Everyone Working on the Project
Whether you’ve hired help or just convinced your buddies to help you raise the walls on your steel building, everyone on-site needs to take the project seriously. Ensuring everyone on the construction job is aware of safety hazards, understands safety procedures, and knows how to properly use construction equipment is paramount. Keeping emergency numbers and a first aid kit available is also essential.
4. Keep the Job Site Clean
A tidy worksite, free of hazardous materials and with clear exit paths, is a safe work environment. Regular cleaning and maintenance of construction equipment also play a crucial role in worker safety.
5. Admit When You’re Out of Your Depth
Recognizing when tasks require professional expertise, especially in work areas prone to electrical hazards or where complex excavations are involved, is crucial. Safety culture in construction involves knowing when to call for professional help to ensure safety and quality.
Additional Tips for Construction Site Safety
Beyond these fundamental safety measures, it’s important to foster a safety culture among everyone involved in the project. Regular safety meetings and discussions can help reinforce the importance of adhering to occupational safety protocols.
Another key aspect of maintaining a safe construction site is the regular inspection and maintenance of tools and equipment, including scaffolds and electrical equipment, to prevent electrocution or other safety issues.
Finally, a well-thought-out emergency response plan, including procedures for dealing with various types of emergencies, is essential.
For more detailed guidance, our Steel Building DIY Instructions are invaluable. Available with every metal building kit and for preview before purchase, they offer a comprehensive overview of the metal building construction process.
We at Worldwide Steel are committed to your safety and success. For assistance, guidance, or to share your building ideas, contact us at (800) 825-0316. Let’s safely bring your vision to life with some fun and creativity!
Steel Building Kits Into Greenhouses: Let’s Get Growing
If the supply chain issues brought on by recent global events have you thinking about ways you can become more self-sufficient by growing your own vegetables and crops (or the warmer weather and sunshine brought on by spring have you craving freshly-grown fruits and ornamental plants), and you want to give your plants more protection from the elements and local wildlife than a standard garden provides, it’s time to start thinking more seriously about building a greenhouse. Greenhouses allow you to grow vegetables and crops, fruits and ornamental plants that wouldn’t normally thrive in your climate year-round, and with Worldwide Steel, they’re easier to build and maintain than you might think.
Before you start building your greenhouse, however, you have a few choices to make:
Choose your purpose: Are you planning to grow for personal use, or for production, on a more commercial scale? Vegetables, fruits, flowers or other plants? While Worldwide Steel Buildings’ focus is primarily on production greenhouses, for both hydroponic and non-hydroponic grow facilities of all types, we are able to manufacture greenhouse buildings in all shapes and sizes. Our custom steel greenhouse building kits can be adapted to any climate, conditions and purpose.
Choose the optimal location on your land: Careful greenhouse site selection lets you optimize its productivity. In short, you want to choose a location that allows the most sun exposure. “Your plants need at least six hours exposure to sunlight for photosynthesis. The process is necessary for plants to grow healthy and bear fruits or flower. The best sitting direction largely depends on the season you want to grow plants,” says Garden Nurturing. If you plan to grow year-round, choose an east/west-facing ridge. “Lining up the ridge of the structure to run east to west maximizes light interception especially during November to January. The direction will help crops heat up more quickly after cold nights.” If you plan to grow crops primarily during summer, choose a south-facing ridge, as this direction will “generate an equal amount of light to each side of the structure and help reduce too much heat temperature.” It’s also important your site has access to electricity, water and heat.
Choose the size of building you need: The scale and variety of plants you plan to grow will drive most of your greenhouse square footage decisions. Consider than usually, 40 percent of a greenhouse floor area is needed for aisles and walkways. Work aisles should be at least 18 inches wide, and it’s often recommended to save space for a three-foot to five-foot main aisle down the center of your greenhouse (and potentially around the perimeter as well, depending on its size) for carts and hauling in larger plants and materials.
Choose your glazing material: Glazing is the covering around your greenhouse frame that lets sun and heat in while keeping the elements out. Glass is the most traditional glazing material, but it is also the most expensive and the most fragile. Plastic sheeting is inexpensive, but deteriorates quickly. Worldwide Steel Buildings generally recommends polycarbonate glazing, because it’s less expensive than glass, is lightweight but durable, and retains heat better than both glass or plastic.
Choose your manufacturer: Worldwide Steel custom greenhouses can be designed to your exact specifications and come with a 50-year warranty, so you can rest assured that they will stand the test of time. Because our columns and framing are made from 100% steel, our buildings aren’t susceptible to wood rot, insects or other elements. Main frames can be delivered in traditional galvanized steel or painted with a choice of secondary framing in galvanized tubing or wood. Worldwide Steel Buildings’ greenhouse design allows wider column spacing then the standard 5′-6′ spacing, giving you more space and light. Our complete framing kits allow you to use the solid or transparent glazing panels of your choice, and we can coordinate directly with our polycarbonate panel supplier if you’d like a more complete custom greenhouse package.
It’s the perfect time of year to start designing your steel greenhouse. We can help you put together a structure that fits your needs now and for decades into the future. Give us a call today at (800) 825-0316 – our experts will help you get growing.
Home Sweet (Steel) Home: Living in a Metal Building
Homeownership has long been a major part of achieving the American Dream. Yet, as decades pass, the goal of owning a traditional home can seem less attainable due to financial constraints, limited choices due to urban sprawl and developer monopolies, and the significant environmental impact of constructing a wood building residence. However, a growing trend among cost-conscious and environmentally aware homeowners is turning the tide: living in a metal building, particularly a prefab barndominium.
More and more people are discovering the smart choice of constructing their dream home with metal building homes. A Worldwide Steel metal house is not just a steel structure; it’s a cost-effective, high-quality solution to residential needs. Here’s why:
Metal Building Homes are Cost-Effective
Building a metal building home with a Worldwide Steel kit significantly cuts costs. The national average build price for a metal building home is $70-90 per square foot, making it a more cost-effective choice compared to $110-130 for conventional wood construction. Additionally, these metal building kits are designed for quick assembly, saving homeowners money during the build process. The DIY-friendly nature of these kits means even those with limited building experience can put together their living space with ease. Long-term savings are also considerable since a residential metal building requires low maintenance, is less prone to infestations, are fire resistant and offers durability against weather conditions like snow loads and high winds, unlike traditional wood buildings. These metal frame buildings are also protected against mold, mildew and corrosion.
Customize Your Metal Home
Forget the cookie-cutter model homes; with Worldwide Steel, you can design a metal building with living quarters that reflects your personal style. Our open-concept designs, multiple roof pitches, and various color options allow for a customizable living space. Our Online 3D Building Designer tool empowers you to create your own floor plan, ensuring that your metal building home is truly your dream home.
Metal Homes Are Energy-Efficient and Environmentally Friendly
Metal building homes offer unparalleled resilience and versatility. They’re designed to withstand severe weather conditions without warping, splitting, or succumbing to pests like termites. Furthermore, their energy-efficient nature ensures your living space stays comfortable without excessive heating and air costs when insulated correctly. From an environmental standpoint, the building materials for a 2000 square foot steel house are equivalent to about six junk cars, as opposed to the 40-50 mature trees needed for a comparable wood building, making it a green alternative in building types.
What Sets Our Steel and Metal Homes apart?
Many companies offer metal building with living quarters, but they’re often just wood-framed buildings with metal siding. Worldwide Steel buildings are genuine metal structures, providing the full range of benefits from durability to energy efficiency. Our buildings feature a clear-span design, eliminating the need for interior load-bearing walls and maximizing your living space.
Choosing Worldwide Steel means partnering with a team of experts dedicated to ensuring your satisfaction with your metal building home, from the design process through metal building construction to the many years of enjoyment it will bring. If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of a prefab metal building as your dream home, or if you want to dive into the specifics of DIY metal building kits, call us at (800) 825-0316.