Exploring the Variety: A Guide to Different Types of Metal Buildings

Steel buildings are pretty trendy these days. They are in great demand because of their versatility, durability, and robustness. This is especially true for the commercial sector as they keep looking for ways to reduce costs to maximize profit. Nowadays, even farmers and ranchers are switching to metal buildings because of their added benefit. Let us look at various types of metal buildings based on their structure and how they can be used.

FOLLOWING IS A QUICK GUIDE TO VARIOUS TYPES OF METAL BUILDINGS

1. CARPORT:

The simplest of all metal structures is a carport. Picture it as a square or rectangular gazebo with all open sides. You can have it in all three roofing styles. It can hold one or more cars or an RV, depending on your requirement. It has basic structural materials such as roof purling, wall girds, bracing, and cladding. A metal carport has an attractive appearance and can either blend in subtly with your home or be designed to be noticeable.

Its uses are:

• Parking car
• Sheltering RVs
• Outdoor seating areas

2. GARAGE:

Next, we have a metal garage. Picture it as a carport with all four sides covered with a metal panel and a door attached. You can customize your garage's doors and windows according to your need. They can be designed for sheltering one or more cars. You can also increase the height to shelter your RV.

It can be used as:

• Parking car
• Sheltering RVs
• Warehouse
• Workshop
• Home office
• Garden/ Storage/ Utility shed

Note that a garage can have side doors for multiple cars to get parked simultaneously.

3. LEAN-TO:

These are metal structures attached to the existing house or a new steel building. They can be fully enclosed or open and allows you extra storage. Lean-to are popular among homeowners as they create a patio area for sitting and provide protection and shelter from the sun.

You can get your metal barn attached with a lean-to.

It can be used as:

• Car parking
• Recreational activities
• Storing garden equipment
• Enclosed metal garage with lean to
• Metal carport with lean to
• Barn with lean-to
• Utility storage

4. BARNS

A barn is usually 30 feet or more significant metal building generally used by farmers and ranchers. These can be of multiple types depending upon the shape of their roof and the no. of the support column. A vertical frame roof with a barn is recommended, as they can easily slide excess water and snow from the top.

A metal barn can be used as:

• Shelter livestock, such as horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens.
• Store hay, feed, and crops.
• Protect tractors, plows, cultivators, and other large equipment and vehicles.
• Storage of agricultural equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Green House
• Workshop
• Business offices
• Veterinary Clinics
• Airplane hangers
• Churches
• Gym & sports centers

A raised-center barn is three-sectioned and designed with a central structure higher than two wings on each side. Either side can be left open as per need.

A clean-span barn is a column-free structure that hosts large equipment such as large trucks, buses, airplanes, etc. It has an open large interior that can be customized per the client's needs.

5. BARNDOMINIUMS

It is also known as barndos or shouses. It is a shop cum house, a combination of working area and living quarters. A steel build barndominium is popular in the south and southeast part of America. The living area includes the comfort and amenities of a regular household, such as electricity, plumbing, a wraparound porch, and vaulted ceilings. The working area has a storage area with large doors, or it can be a large workshop. 

6. COMMERICAL METAL BUILDINGS

These are generally used for work and storage of goods & materials. For commercial purposes, it is vital for a steel building to take into account practical design functions, durable, appealing, and low maintenance. You can use a customizable option to have a floor plan and design as desired.

If you want to add glass front, plasterwork, or exterior insulation finishing system, ensure you add these in the preliminary design, as they will add weight to the main structure.

Steel Building homes are not very common. However, some people prefer it over traditional houses as they are easy to build, have less installation time, and look contemporary.

Popular commercial uses are:

• Office
• Factories
• Warehouse
• Retail shop
• Factories
• Aviation hanger
• Auto dealers

Fig. Here is a quick view of various types of metal buildings.

TYPES OF ROOFING

Primarily three types of roof will go with any metal structure, whether a carport, garage, or barn. These are:

Regular:

• It resembles a regular shed angled from the top with a curved eave.
• It looks like a traditional roof.
• They are commonly used in carports.
• It is not recommended for harsh climatic conditions.

A-frame/ Horizontal/ Box-eave:

• Metal ridges are horizontal to the ground.
• It is suitable for moderate climates.

Vertical: 

• Metal ridges are perpendicular to the ground.
• These are suitable for extreme weather and torrid rain. 
• It is recommended for large steel structures.

ACCESSORIES

Various accessories can be added to the above design to fit your need. These are add-ons that can be customized according to your specifications. Below are some of them:

• foundation (base of the building): leveled-ground, gravel, concrete, asphalt, etc.
• extra windows and doors for ventilation.
• insulation to prevent moisture and condensation.
• mechanical and natural vents for maintaining air circulation.
• installation of ceiling fans, air conditioning, and dehumidifiers.
• gutters for draining water.
• protecting the roof with insulation or reflective panels.

SUMMARY

As you have seen above, Carports Advisor offers a variety of metal structures that can serve different purposes. Even though we have categorized metal buildings, they all are still multipurpose. If you're in the market for a prefab steel building, it's essential to find a certified dealer who is licensed. When selecting a building, consider your intended use.

At Carports Advisor, we offer guidance for choosing a metal building that fits your purpose. The possibilities are endless with steel buildings - you can customize them to fit any purpose you can imagine. Please contact or mail Carports Advisor if you want to know more about any particular metal structure.