The choice to buy a steel building is not a decision you should make lightly. You are going to be putting a significant investment into this building and, in turn, your business or property. Therefore, you must exercise due diligence when researching prefab steel buildings and selecting one to place on your property.
Here are a few of the most common mistakes customers make when purchasing steel buildings. Talk to an experienced truss manufacturer in Arkansas ahead of time, and consider these mistakes and learn from them so you do not end up repeating them:
Pouring a concrete foundation before you actually have building plans: It’s understandable to be excited about getting the job started. But you would be amazed at how many times customers decide to go ahead with pouring a concrete foundation before they actually have plans for their steel building to refer to. It’s understandable to want to speed up the process, but ultimately, pouring the foundation could actually waste you a significant amount of time and money. Steel buildings are going to be subject to wind and weather forces, and your foundation needs to meet certain specifications to be safe for your particular project. By pouring your concrete before you have the plans, you run the risk of adding a step to the process: ripping out part or all of the foundation and starting over. That’s an absolute killer to your budget right there.
Getting your building equipment delivered before you’ve obtained a permit: Getting a permit to erect the building on your property should be one of the very first steps you take, before you even order the equipment you need to get the project done. Again, by getting your equipment delivered before you have approval, you run the risk of wasting a huge amount of money. If the building inspector or city official decides not to grant you the permit, you are likely stuck with a large amount of building materials and equipment that you can no longer use. You are solely responsible for the permitting process—your prefab steel building or truss manufacturer in Arkansas is not responsible. Your steel building has likely been engineered for your specific location, so once you have the materials, there is really no turning back. Do not make this mistake!
Buying materials from companies that do not have engineering departments: Whenever possible, you should work with manufacturing companies that have in-house engineers, or at least a long-term working relationship with local engineers. Many of these companies outsource their engineering and detailing overseas, which means that you will never have the chance to speak with or meet the individuals who are designing your project. Having this sort of working relationship with your engineer is extremely beneficial for your project.
These are three of the biggest mistakes you can make when preparing to erect a prefab steel building on your property. If you have any questions about ordering or designing steel buildings or are looking for more information about the variety of services we provide, we encourage you to reach out to today to Adams Truss, Inc., your trusted steel truss manufacturer in Arkansas.
If you’ve never built a steel building before, there are two main things you should know: one, it is not nearly as difficult as you probably think it is, and two, you should probably still visit other steel or metal building projects near you just to get a good sense of how they work. Doing so will give you a better idea of ways you can save time and money once you begin your own prefab steel building project.
When you get the materials for your prefab steel building, they will be accompanied by some extremely detailed assembly instructions. These instructions are there for a reason; you should follow them to the letter, and read them thoroughly several times before you get started with your project.
Here are some tips for steel building construction in Arkansas using prefab materials:
Work safe: Create a “work safe plan” before you even begin the project. Safe work sites not only protect everyone working on the project, but also help to keep costs low. Improper handling of building materials or equipment could lead to significant injury or death, whereas doing the project right will keep you safe and give you a better end result.
Portion the project: Divide the job up into a variety of smaller individual jobs, and assign each of these tasks to small teams of workers. This will make the job go quicker while also ensuring each task has the appropriate amount of attention dedicated to it.
Use experienced workers: People who have training and experience in assembling prefab steel buildings will work faster, will take their safety extremely seriously and will ultimately create a much better building. They will also require less instruction and supervision, saving you a great deal of time.
Bolt pieces together before you raise them: Attach as many component pieces together as is possible and safe before raising them. This will save you a great deal of time, as it’s far easier to bolt these pieces while they are still on the ground.
Have all needed tools and equipment on hand: Give your workers everything they need to get the job done safely and efficiently. This is certain to make the project go much more smoothly.
Have a drainage plan: You never know when a big rainstorm is going to hit and potentially damage your construction site. Have proper drainage all over your work site to prevent water buildup during and after construction of your steel building.
Build the project in sections: Similar to how you portion the project among different workers, you should also focus on specific sections of the project one at a time rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. Work from one end to the other.
Follow these tips for putting together prefab steel buildings, and you’ll find that you will drastically limit your construction costs and keep yourself and all of your workers safe throughout the project. For more information about obtaining prefab steel buildings and handling steel building construction in Arkansas, we encourage you to reach out to us today at Adams Truss, Inc.
Whenever you are ordering or purchasing custom roof trusses, you must already have a design in mind with accurate measurements. Manufacturers of custom roof trusses typically offer a number of different designs for various types of buildings. Usually you are going to want to go with a design that the manufacturer has in its selection, but if custom designs are necessary, you should have an accurate drawing of the design to ensure it is built to your exact specifications.
Here are a few tips for getting the most out of a custom roof truss for steel building construction in Arkansas:
Always measure correctly: The first and most important measurement you need for a roof truss is the width of the building, from the outside of one load-bearing wall to the outside of the opposite one. Determine exactly how much overhang you want in the roof, and make that a separate measurement. Then, determine the pitch of the roof, and make sure it complies with your local building codes. Pitch is the amount of rise in the roof for every 12” of length. Areas that get heavy snowfall during the winter should have a pitch of no less than 4/12.
Know if you want finished or unfinished ceilings: Trusses that are installed in buildings that are to have unfinished ceilings do not need to bear any weight on the bottom cord. However, if the ceiling is finished, you must also consider the weight of the drywall, fixtures and any other materials when ordering and designing your truss. You should be sure to list all potential additional materials that could affect truss weight in your specifications.
Know how many trusses you’ll need: The spacing of trusses depends on your local building codes and your exact building plans. They might be spaced every 16”, 18” or 24”. Therefore, you should measure out the length and width of the structure to determine the spacing and the amount of trusses you’ll need. If you do not meet local building codes, an inspector will shut down construction until you change your design to be in compliance, so it’s important to get this right the first time around to avoid this sort of inconvenience.
Order your custom roof trusses far in advance: Custom roof trusses take a while to make, as they must be built to your exact specifications. Therefore, you should order the trusses a minimum of four weeks in advance of construction, but preferably more. Ask your manufacturer for an estimate of how long your order will take well before you actually place the order, so you can make sure you’re setting yourself to meet your schedule.
These are just a few tips to help you better understand how to order custom roof trusses for your steel building construction in Arkansas and the types of factors you should have in mind. For more information about the services we provide and how you can order custom roof trusses from our company, contact us today at Adams Truss, Inc. We look forward to answering any questions you have.
Are you looking at building a new steel garage, barn, hangar, warehouse or other type of storage facility? If so, you’re going to need a supplier for your equipment. But how exactly do you go about choosing a truss manufacturer to get you the equipment you need?
Here is some information from a longtime truss manufacturer in Arkansas:
Search for experience: The more experience a truss manufacturer has, the more you can trust in the company’s quality. A truss manufacturer that has been in business for decades, for example, is more likely to provide you the equipment you need to your exact specifications, and has likely built up a reputation for quality in the region already. You should also focus on companies with experience in your particular type of job. While a company might have decades of experience, that doesn’t mean they create trusses for every single type of building project.
Analyze the business’s reputation: Look for recommendations for truss manufacturers in your area and see which names come up the most often. You can use web searches to find reviews and testimonials, or you can ask around to other people or businesses who have recently built their own barns, garages and hangars to see which suppliers they used. A combination of years of experience plus an outstanding reputation usually means you can place your trust in the company.
Consider costs: While the cost of steel trusses and building equipment will not and should not be your only consideration, it can certainly help you make your decision when weighing a variety of options. You should not compromise too much on your budget. You know exactly what you can afford, and it’s not worth blowing way past your budget simply because you want a specific company.
Consider DIY ease: Some companies offer DIY steel building kits that give you all of the equipment you need to get a building set up yourself (or maybe with the help of a friend or two). These kits have materials that have already been measured and cut to exact building specifications. If you feel comfortable with taking on such a project and have analyzed the manual and instructions, going this route can save you a lot of money. Therefore, working with a company that offers these DIY kits could be your best choice in this situation.
Look for great customer service: You want to make sure your steel building job is done right, which means you should feel comfortable in talking to the customer service representatives and other employees at the company about the progress of the job, any setbacks that have occurred and any questions that might come up in the process. If the company suffers from poor communication or does not seem particularly approachable, you might consider looking elsewhere.
At Adams Truss, Inc., we are proud to have more than 60 years of experience as a truss manufacturer in Arkansas, and to have continually provided outstanding customer service throughout all these decades. Contact us today with any questions you have about our work.
If you’re in need of more storage space on your farm or property, it might be time for you to consider building a new barn or garage. Of course, this is easier said than done if you are operating on a limited budget. There are, however, some ways for you to get the job done while saving a bit of cash in the process.
Here are some tips for saving money when building barns with steel trusses in Arkansas:
Use DIY steel building kits: If you’re really strapped for cash but want a good-sized, functional barn, you can look into a selection of DIY steel building kits. As the name suggests, these kits give you everything you need to put up a steel barn yourself. All of the materials are already measured and cut; you just need to tighten the bolts with a cordless drill, and make sure all aspects of the building are erected according to the specifications in the manual. Typically this process only takes a few days and the help of a couple friends. No previous carpentry or framing experience is required!
Reconsider the spacing of your columns: If you don’t want to go the DIY route and are going to build a traditional barn, then you need to carefully consider how it’s designed. Certain elements of the design can lead to higher costs, such as columns. Builders often space columns between six and 12 feet apart. The wider you space these columns, the less expensive your structure will cost, because you don’t need to get as many columns and trusses to hold it up. All it takes is some smart engineering and design work to figure out how to space out your columns and reduce the amount of trusses you’ll need to safely hold up the building.
Use durable materials: You’re going to be tempted to save money up front by purchasing less expensive materials. However, in the long run, you need to consider maintenance and repair costs. If you choose materials that are built to last, then you’ll be able to leave your barn alone without making significant repairs for much longer, saving you money in the long run.
Add wainscoting: Wainscoting is often overlooked when talking about barn construction, but it is important for any post-frame building such as a barn. These steel panels are placed all along the bottom of a building, and typically in a different color than the rest of the barn siding for aesthetic purposes. Though the wainscoting adds to your upfront costs, it makes the building significantly more durable, acting as a buffer if you should accidentally hit the wall of your barn with your equipment, such as a truck, tractor or lawnmower.
These are just a few tips to help you save money when building a new barn with steel trusses in Arkansas. For more information about these tips and the variety of services and products we provide, we encourage you to reach out to us today at Adams Truss, Inc.
