| We recommend that you print this article along with | | | | and contact number of your local building authority |
| the checklist to keep handy while you're talking to | | | | that they speak with to obtain the codes for you. |
| any steel building company including General Steel | | | | Remember, the company is trying to earn your |
| Corporation, Anthem Steel, Butler Steel Buildings, | | | | business. If they are unwilling to spend the half hour |
| Olympia Steel Buildings, or any of the others you | | | | to obtain this info for you, there is something wrong. |
| may come across. The tips and tricks of the trade | | | | 4. The company should at least offer a full range of |
| included in this article will save you time and money | | | | services including full project financing, conceptual |
| on your once in a lifetime purchase. Follow them | | | | design services, full project cost analysis, project |
| closely and you'll be guided in your purchase. First of | | | | coordination, and technical services. Even though you |
| all, you should have a pre-qualification checklist to | | | | may not need or desire to use all of these services, |
| weed out the fly-by-night steel companies. Just as | | | | if you choose a company that offers them, you |
| banks and credit card companies pre-qualify you for | | | | cannot go wrong. A company that offers these |
| their services, you should pre-qualify the steel | | | | services signifies they know what they are doing and |
| companies for your business! It's really simple. | | | | can help you with your project without killing your |
| Anybody you consider should pass the following test: | | | | budget. |
| | | | 5. The company should have a warranty on their |
| 1. The company must have a proven track record of | | | | steel buildings. The industry standard is only one year. |
| 10 years minimum! This is important because it's really | | | | Some companies offer a frame warranty for 30 |
| easy (and cheap) these days for any Joe Schmoe to | | | | years or longer, but keep in mind, it's only on the |
| create a website that makes a company look like a | | | | main frames. Many smaller buildings do not even utilize |
| million bucks. Watch out for this, and ask the | | | | main frames! So buyer beware. The best warranty |
| representative on the phone how long the company | | | | we've seen available is a 50 year full structural |
| has been in business. | | | | warranty. In an effort to avoid advertising for the |
| 2. The company should have a lot of dealers | | | | company, I am not disclosing who it is. But suffice it |
| contractors who purchase from them in addition to | | | | to say, they are probably the most well known steel |
| their direct sales. This is important because a | | | | building supplier in the world. The company should not |
| company who has 500 dealers tells you that there | | | | object to sending you a copy of the warranty |
| are at least that many local General Contractors who | | | | before you make your decision to purchase from |
| purchase buildings from that company on a regular | | | | them. A full structural warranty should cover primary |
| basis. If a company does not have any dealers or | | | | and secondary framing, not just the main frame |
| very few, it means that even the General | | | | I-Beams. |
| Contractors in the industry are not buying their | | | | 6. The company should only offer steel buildings |
| product. Or maybe they haven't been around long | | | | engineered with an Exposure C rating. This means |
| enough to generate interest in their steel buildings | | | | the building will last a lot longer and will hold up in a |
| 3. The company must offer full project coordination | | | | storm much better. Chances are, a building with a 50 |
| and be willing to verify building codes in your area. | | | | year structural warranty will be engineered using |
| Today many companies try to pass off outdated | | | | Exposure C ratings. |
| building codes or incorrect code requirements for the | | | | This is not a complete list, but it is pretty inclusive. If |
| sole purpose of selling the consumer on a cheap | | | | you find a steel building company that meets all of |
| quote. Then the contracts will say something to the | | | | the criteria (trust us, they're out there), you will be |
| effect of "purchaser is responsible to verify local | | | | protected. However, as long as the company meets |
| building codes. Charges may be applied in the event | | | | at least three of the above pre-qualifications and you |
| seller was not provided with accurate building codes." | | | | are familiar with steel building construction, you'll be |
| The company should be able to give you the name | | | | fine. |