Steel structures have grown in popularity in the business sector lately. Almost 80% of all the new constructions are steel buildings. That’s great news, as metal structures are not just practical but also environment-friendly structures. Thanks to its benefits such as low maintenance, high endurance, and energy-saving features. Here, we are going in-depth about how metal barns are, in particular, useful and convenient in commercial areas.
Perks Of Picking Metal Barns For Business Applications
Construction Timeline
Most of the raw materials are designed in the factory itself before shipping. That means a small team can erect the entire metal building. This saves labor costs and money on labor insurance. Besides that, it takes about a few hours to days to install a small structure, but the larger ones can need up to a week, depending upon the complexity of the building and no. of labor.
Fast assembly means a business can use the metal building sooner to generate revenue. That’s a good deal, don’t you think so?
Monthly Recurring Expenses
A business has to manage a myriad of expenses. These expenses are often large and cumbersome to track, from employee salaries to monthly expenses on rent, utilities, insurance, and taxes. To make things easy, metal barns come with low maintenance.
For starters, you don’t have to call for monthly pest inspection & eradication, spend a lot on repair & replacement, or pay a large amount on insurance fees. Yes, that’s right. Insurance companies can charge you up to 30 to 40% less on insurance fees as a commercial steel barn is a reliable and non-combustible structure.
In addition, you can further decrease your energy bills by getting LEED-certified metal barns that are energy-saving. Not only are metal structures environmentally friendly and save energy, but they can also benefit you via tax credits from the government.
Open Layout
Almost every business needs a structure with less obstructing interiors to have complete freedom for floor planning. A metal structure designed to be a clear span could offer maximum use of the available square footage. So, you, as a business, can fully utilize the space. Lands are getting expensive anyway, so why not use them to their fullest potential?
With metal barns, you can get up to 300 ft. wide clear spans with no internal support columns eating your space. So you can install sub-sections for offices, create storage space, or install a mezzanine floor for extra storage.
Hard-Wearing Structure
The metal structure is durable and robust, with high tensile strength. It does not bend, twist, crack, or break easily. That’s because steel is not affected by day-to-day weather conditions or seasonal changes.
Because it is non-combustible, a certified metal can resist fire for a few hours. Fire safety is the primary concern for warehouses and other storage facilities. In addition to that, certified steel is resistant to rusting, which makes it last for decades without the need for repainting.
Design Flexibility
Do you want no internal columns in your commercial building? Do you want your metal building to have an extra floor for storage? Or do you need extra space as a lean-to for parking? All of these questions can be answered by one metal building.
You can choose the desired length, width, and height up to 40 ft. Some steel builders also offer more than 10 colors to match your existing property. Even external looks are customizable by adding a modern façade option. You can give it a traditional or a new innovative contemporary look.
Eco-Friendly Material
Steel is 100% recyclable material. They can be reused multiple times without losing their structural strength and durability. So, the chances of entering a landfill are low. Moreover, over 90% of the water used during steel production is returned to the original source cleaner. All of this reduces the environmental footprint.
These are some key points that you as a business must consider in favor of steel buildings. The only problem with steel is that it rusts when it comes in contact with moisture. But, this problem is fixed using painted metal, galvanized steel, or weathering steel.
Some Examples Of Metal Barns’ Dimensions That Businesses Can Use
| Metal Building Details | Size (in ft.) (width x length x height) |
| Agricultural metal barn | 48 x 31 x 12 |
| Raised center barn | 44 x 40 x 12 |
| Commercial building | 40 x 40 x 12 |
| Fully enclosed metal barn | 64 x 60 x 16 |
| All vertical commercial metal building | 60 x 65 x 16 |
If you wish, you can create your custom metal building design using a 3D design tool. Some metal dealers offer this service. Generally, a finished metal structure costs $18 to $30 per sq. ft., but it can be $40 per sq. ft. or more, depending upon the complexity of the structure.
In comparison, commercial wooden frames cost $18 to $45 per sq. ft., let alone the cost of the finished building. Worth mentioning is that a single story will cost less than mid-rise or high-rise.
Some Business Applications Of Metal Barns Are:
E.g.1: Agri-Business: Storage & Shelter
Almost all farmers and ranchers need a place to shelter their livestock and store farm tools, machinery, and vehicles.
E.g.2: Aero-Business: Hangar & Manufacturing
Airplanes are large structures that need storage, repair, or inspection. That’s where a clear-span barn can be helpful. They offer column-free space. Further, manufacturing facilities can also use the metal buildings to produce and test individual parts before assembling them.
E.g.3: Retail Business: Stores & Outlets
Retail stores and factory outlets are places that require goods storage areas as well as places where customers can browse the items. You can divide the metal structure into a storage section & and a selling area.
E.g.4: IT Industry: Office & Data Centers
Metal barn structure can be used as a data center that needs a large area where computer equipment can be kept under controlled temperature. It can be used as an office space. It has been found that environment-friendly buildings can increase the productivity of employees.
E.g.5: Medical Field: Clinics & Hospitals
Medical facilities need daily cleaning to maintain hygiene. Some metals, like copper, have been found to resist the growth of microorganisms. Hence, a metal structure can be used to construct clinics and hospitals. It is fast to install and can become operational as soon as all medical equipment is ready.
E.g.6: Food Industry: Cold Storage & Restaurant
Perishable items like medicine and packaged food must be kept at regulated temperatures, or they will go bad. A metal building is handy here. You can install an insulator to regulate indoor temperature easily. Similarly, metal structures need low aftercare & do not attract pests. Therefore, a restaurant can benefit from them.
And that’s not all. Metal structures can have applications in other industries such as oil & gas, automobile business, car wash & repair shops, warehouses, inventories & logistics, and even schools & churches.
To Put It Concisely,
More and more industries are leaning towards prefab metal buildings for storage, offices, manufacturing units, or warehouses. Metal barns can tolerate everyday wear and tear easily. Therefore, metal is not just a practical option but also saves much money in the long run.
Every business wants to flourish in its respective field. Metal barns have structural integrity that is consistent with time, so companies can focus on their growth. They have superior strength and durability with low upkeep compared to traditional solutions.
