Metal & Steel Building Information | Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are our most frequently asked questions. If your question is not addressed here, please feel free to contact us.
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Will I need a building permit for my building?
In most cases yes, but not always. For example, some locations do not require a permit to erect agricultural buildings. To be certain, check with your local building inspector before buying a building from us or anyone else.
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What kind of drawings come with my building?
Our computer-produced drawings include an anchor-bolt plan with reactions, which will give your foundation engineer all the information necessary to design the proper foundation for your building. The set also includes detailed diagrams of every connection used in your building, as well as cross-section diagrams for every part of the building, including the main frames, the framing for each wall, the roof sheeting, and the wall sheeting.
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Do I need a foundation for my building?
At the very least, you will need concrete piers for the columns to sit upon. Most people pour a full foundation, but if you are using the building on a farm or ranch and plan to have dirt, gravel, or sawdust floors, a pier system may be preferable. In these situations, a popular option is to combine piers with a concrete footing around the perimeter of the building. With a pier system, you will need to request the "base girt" option.
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Do you provide the pier or foundation plan?
No, since your foundation or pier system needs to be designed for the soil conditions in your area, you need a local engineer to provide your foundation plan. Along with your erection drawings, we supply an anchor bolt plan with reactions, which will provide the engineer with the information he needs about the building. You can often get a referral for a local engineer from your concrete supplier.
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Can these buildings be erected without a concrete plan?
A foundation plan may not be required by your local code officials. In this case, a competent concrete supply company can use our anchor bolt setting plan and reactions to determine the needed PSI of your concrete. You must check with your local officials to see what is required.
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Do you supply the anchor bolts for attaching the frame to the foundation?
No. The common practice is to set the anchor bolts when the foundation is poured, and most people want to have their foundations fully completed before the building arrives so they can begin erecting immediately. That is why people appreciate how quickly we deliver drawings and anchor bolt plans. Our fast service allows people to start designing and constructing their foundation within days of placing their orders. Typically, our buildings themselves arrive so quickly (4-6 weeks), builders have very little, if any, down time between finishing the foundation and beginning to erect the building.
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What if I already have a foundation I want to use for the building?
Assuming that your foundation is adequate, there are several types of anchor bolts that can be installed in an existing foundation. Your concrete engineer or supplier should be able to help you decide what options are best for your situation.
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What foundation thickness do you recommend?
Foundation thickness must be determined by a foundation engineer or your local officials. For ballpark estimating purposes, foundations in the southern half of the U.S.A. tend to be 4 inches while the thickness can exceed 8 inches in northern climates.
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Do you unload the building for me?
No. Insurance regulations prevent the driver from assisting. You will have to unload the building yourself, and you will definitely need help to do it, as well as some lifting equipment. We recommend that you have a total of at least three people to unload.
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What kind of heavy equipment will I need?
That depends on the size of your building. We limit our bundle weights to a maximum of 4,000 pounds, and often a forklift or boom truck with a spreader bar is adequate.
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Are there any erectors that you recommend?
We do not provide referrals or recommendations for erectors for a couple of reasons. Due to the fact that we sell buildings worldwide, we can not maintain a database of all of the erectors available, nor can we guarantee the quality of their work. If you do feel the need to turn over the erection of your building to a professional erector, it's best to ask around in your local area for someone who does quality work.
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Does all the hardware come with these buildings?
All the parts you need to assemble your building are included, except for the anchor bolts (we do supply anchor bolts with mini-storage buildings).
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