Category Archives: Steel Building Kits
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.
Using Our 3D Building Designer to Imagine Your Ideal Build
So you know you need a steel building. But how do you bring the garage, airplane hangar, winery or greenhouse that’s in your head to life, safely and to code, with all the features and functionality you want?
Worldwide Steel building kits are simple to assemble, but you’re not alone if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed at the idea of designing your dream building. After all, there’s so much to take into account, and knowing where to start can be tough.
“We make our steel building kits foolproof, so you don’t have to be a pro to build one yourself. But if you’re not a pro, you probably don’t have experience with or access to construction or architecture software. That makes designing your own building intimidating,” said Alan Jackson, a building consultant at our Scranton, KS office. “That’s the last thing we want – our steel building kits should be simple and empowering, and you should get exactly what you want and need from them. That’s why we encourage customers to use our 3D Designer.”
The Worldwide Steel Buildings Online 3D Building Designer makes it easy for novice designers to become independent, confident builders.
When you first click onto the Online 3D Building Designer (on a desktop computer or mobile device, with easy operating instructions for either kind of device right there on-screen), you’ll see the image of a simple building, with large directional indicators on the “grass” to help you keep track of how the building will appear on your land.
You can zoom in and out, spin the building around with 360° rotation to check it out from all angles, and even switch between indoor and outdoor views with the click of a button.
Then, get designing! Customize your building by altering dimensions, choosing colors and building extension options, adding porches and overhangs, windows and doors, mezzanine bays and more. You can even add objects, like a person, a truck, an airplane or a driveway, for scale, to get an even more realistic idea of how your building will come to life.
“It feels like you’re just playing,” said Derek Kerr, a building consultant at our Peculiar, MO office. “It’s that fun to mess around with. But it’s not just play – it’s planning. The 3D Designer can really help you work through what exactly you need. Sometimes a design you thought was going to work actually won’t … and it’s important to figure that out before you order a building kit or start construction.”
When the building in your mind matches the building on your screen, you can save it, share your design via email, and – best of all – you can submit your design to the WWSB team for a free quote.
“We’re able to take a look at your design and identify any ‘gotchas’ or optimizations that might benefit you, then give you a comprehensive cost for materials,” said Kerr.
Ready to start using the Worldwide Steel Buildings Online 3D Building Designer? You might be surprised at how much you love virtual steel building design.
To get a feel for what some other users have done with the Online 3D Building Designer, check out the Worldwide Steel Design Examples.
Like always, our team is here to answer any questions you run into along the way. Just give us a call at (800) 825-0316 whenever you need an expert ear.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Metal Building?
Once metal building owners begin using their new structures, the construction process becomes an afterthought. It’s a blip in a lifetime of enjoying a high-quality, low-maintenance building. But before you commit to a prefab metal building, when the construction process is looming in front of you, it’s easy to fixate on — especially if you’re new to building erection.
When you’re planning for a DIY metal building construction project, it’s important to have a good understanding of what’s involved before you get started. There’s too much on the line to get started without knowing the basics: Where you’re going to erect your building, what kinds of equipment will be needed on the job site, and who’s going to be on your crew.
Perhaps the most crucial to the success of your project is understanding how long it’s going to take to erect your metal building, and what kinds of things can affect your timeline.
Of course, there’s no prescriptive answer to how long it takes to erect a steel building. Because our steel structures are so customizable, there is a lot of variation in our customers’ building design, building size, building materials and circumstances. That means there’s a lot of variation in the construction process, too!
While our building systems come together relatively quickly and easily regardless of their final forms, smaller, simpler metal buildings will come together more simply and in less time. A metal garage or pole barn (say, 2,400 square foot with 40’ clear span) might take less than a week to frame. But what about an airplane hangar, a house, or any other kind of structure that’s much larger or much more involved? Then, the calculations get a little bit more complex, and we recommend you reach out to a WWSB consultant for support.
Overall, however, here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning the timeline of your steel building construction.
Phase Construction
Consider everything you need to do before construction begins, and factor in time for that. Finding a crew, grading land, pouring concrete and taking material delivery all needs to be coordinated. After that, you can divide your erection process into three phases:
- Phase 1: Standing columns and trusses. Plan to devote about 15% of your time to phase one.
- Phase 2: Framing and building out your structure. Plan to devote about 15% of your time to phase two.
- Phase 3: Sheeting the building. Plan to devote about 45% of your time to phase three.
Work Together
Especially when it comes to phase three (sheeting buildings), it can help cut down construction time to have a crew working together. No, you won’t need to contract an entire construction company … but some trustworthy, able-bodied buddies will be indispensable. We recommend having three-man teams working together on different walls.
Prepare For Delays
Our pre-engineered metal buildings are a match for even the highest wind loads and snow loads … once they’re complete. But during construction, before everything is assembled and there’s human safety to worry about? That’s a different story. No building project is totally immune to Mother Nature. Weather is always, always the primary cause of delays when erecting a Worldwide Steel building. Plan for some inclement weather, even if there’s nothing in the forecast when you get started.
Don’t Cut Corners
Trying to rush a steel building project can be detrimental to your safety and the quality of your finished project. To stay safe, be sure to always be aware of your surroundings and go slowly when roofing the building. To ensure quality, just don’t rush – especially when putting screws into the sheetmetal (you might miss the secondary).
Looking for more specific timeline advice on your particular steel building project? We’re happy to help. Just give our team a call at (800) 825-0316.
For answers to other questions, like whether our steel building kits can be designed to meet building codes, what our 50-year warranty covers, or how the building cost of steel frame structures compares to traditional construction, check out our steel building FAQ.
Assembling a Metal Garage in the Winter: Five Things to Know About Metal Building Kits and Cold Weather
One of the best things about assembling a metal garage from a Worldwide Steel building kit is that you don’t need any specialized experience or training to do it. One of the next-best things is that you can assemble your building at any time of year – even the dead of winter.
Before you break ground, though, here are five things to keep in mind if you’re planning to erect a metal garage over the winter.
1. Pour your concrete before the temperatures drop.
At Worldwide Steel, we install our buildings year-round and encourage customers to do the same. The only factor you should pre-plan is the concrete. You can’t pour concrete in freezing weather, due to the frozen ground. We recommend you pour concrete in late fall before the temperature drops. This allows you to build as your schedule allows through the winter months.
2. Pad your building schedule.
Generally, you should plan on it taking a little longer to assemble a metal garage or other metal building kit in the winter, because inclement weather has the ability to halt your progress for longer. We don’t see this as a bad thing, though! There’s a real advantage to having the flexibility to work on your building as time and weather allows. Because summer vacations, spring and fall farming, yardwork, etc. are all on the backburner during the winter months, you probably have more wiggle room in your free time.
3. Worldwide Steel can withstand the weather.
Even if you’re expecting extended periods of below-freezing temps this winter, our steel kits can handle it. There’s no need to be concerned about leaving an all-steel building kit out in the cold – it’s just a non-issue. That said, we do recommend you try to keep prolonged snow and moisture away from the pre-assembled steel components as much as possible.
4. Stay safe.
Mother Nature always is a factor in construction. You definitely need to be careful of ice and snow when you’re building, and completely avoid attempting any roof work if there’s ice and/or snow in the air or on the ground. The biggest weather concern during the winter, though, is wind – just like during the rest of the year. Always take the proper safety precautions when erecting a steel building kit, no matter the season.
5. Take advantage!
Really, there are no disadvantages to planning a WWSB build in the winter. As long as you get your concrete done early, you can spend the winter assembling your building at your leisure. Not to mention, pricing is usually better in the winter – not only for the building kit itself, but for any workers and subcontractors you hire, as well. Think you’d still rather wait for a sunny day to build your metal garage, or didn’t pre-plan and get your concrete poured before the frost? Worldwide Steel offers a program called “Winter Works” that allows you to buy a building now and not have it delivered until spring.
Want to learn more? Give us a call at (800) 825-0316 or request a quote online.
Construction Company Kudos
You don’t need to specialize in steel building construction to put up a Worldwide Steel Building. Just ask Scott Tallman, president of Tallman Construction, a general contractor in Idaho Falls, Idaho. “It’s a user-friendly solution that doesn’t require any special equipment or tools,” he says. “My guys had no problem putting it together. Everything went very smoothly from start to finish.”
Scott designed and constructed two steel buildings for Sun Rain, a client of his that grows and distributes a variety of potatoes. One of the structures required a constant temperature between 48 and 52 degrees, meaning a poly-foam insulation had to be applied to the entire building. Fortunately, Scott was able to do so thanks to the versatility of the Worldwide Steel product.
Beyond versatility, Scott says he chose Worldwide Steel over other manufacturers because it offered both better pricing and better service. It’s why he’d use Worldwide Steel in the future along with recommending them to others. “We definitely had a great experience with the product and the staff. I’d work with them again in a heartbeat.”
Scott Tallman is one of many satisfied Worldwide Steel Buildings customers. Learn what others have to say by visiting worldwidesteelbuildings.com. Then try out the free 3D Design Tool to map out plans for your steel building.
Got Questions? We Have Answers.
If David Olsen had a question, Worldwide Steel Buildings had an answer. It’s why the do-it-yourselfer was able to successfully assemble his own multi-purpose steel building on his property in Boulder, Colorado. “Whenever I needed help during construction, Worldwide Steel was always there for me,” says Olsen.
Olsen required assistance early on after his local municipal building department asked him to modify foundation plans. He reached out to his Worldwide Steel customer service representative who quickly provided adjustments to meet requirements. Later on, Olsen experienced some minor material snafus that were easily remedied by Worldwide Steel.
“Their responsiveness made a world of a difference,” notes Olsen. “I was able to count on them throughout the project.”
Olsen leveraged one of Worldwide Steel’s predesigned packages and utilizes his 2,000-square-foot facility as a garage, shop and storage facility. He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Worldwide Steel to others. “They offer a hard-to-beat combination of product and service. I’m really happy about how my building turned out.”
Find out what other customers have to say about Worldwide Steel Buildings by visiting worldwidesteelbuildings.com. Then try out the free Worldwide Steel Buildings 3D Building Designer Tool.
Spark Your Imagination
Get a clearer picture of the steel building in your future with a little help from the satisfied customers of Worldwide Steel Buildings. Now available on our website are design examples created by our customers (with our popular 3D Building Design Tool) that served as the springboard for the steel building of their dreams.
You’ll feel inspired to take your design to the next level by viewing the plans of others whether you’re thinking of building a garage, workshop, house, barndominium or commercial building. Worldwide Steel Buildings hopes to help people get over the design hump by simply sharing the work of others.
“Sometimes it just takes a little spark to the imagination to complete a building design,” says Jeff Snell, president and CEO of Worldwide Steel Buildings. “And what’s great about our 3D design tool is that it provides a clear vision of the buildings that’s swirling inside the heads of our customers.”
So take a look-see at the other building designs today to get inspired for tomorrow. Go to https://www.worldwidesteelbuildings.com/design-examples/.
Try out the free Worldwide Steel Buildings 3D Building Designer Tool.
Customer Success Spotlight: Russ & Ranae’s New Shop
We take pride in the products we manufacture, and how they help our customers meet not only a practical need for space, but also achieve their goals for their business, family, or lifestyle. That’s why we love hearing from customers like Russ and Ranae about how they’re using their customizable steel building:
“My wife and I have had a great time building our shop. I am attaching a few pictures of the shop (as you can see, we still have some inside work to do). We have done all of the work ourselves, except for the cement footings and floor. Not too bad for a couple of senior citizens!
Thank you for all your support and encouragement. If anybody would like to see one of your buildings, we would be glad to show them ours.”Russ & Ranae L.
Monroe, UT
Click below to see and read more.
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Thank you, Russ and Ranae, for sharing your story, and for choosing Worldwide Steel Buildings for your project. Please let us know if we can be of assistance at any time. Enjoy your new shop!
How are you using YOUR Worldwide Steel Building? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
