| So you have been thinking about a steel building, a | | | | snowmobiles, boats or ATV's. Most reputable steel |
| storage building, an RV garage, a hobby shop or | | | | building companies will have sales associates that can |
| maybe just a steel garage to keep your toys out of | | | | help you plan your next building but remember in the |
| the weather and give you room to store all of that | | | | end the final decision is yours and it must be an |
| stuff that accumulates. | | | | educated decision. |
| First let's take a look at your needs. What are you | | | | Okay, it has taken us this far to decide on a building |
| going to store in the steel structure? | | | | size now we need to decide if you have enough land |
| Do you plan to store a Recreational Vehicle? | | | | for your dream. |
| If you plan to store an RV, you will need to know | | | | Those of you that have recently purchased property |
| the clearance height of your RV. My experience | | | | in the country or those of who own acreages that |
| shows that you will need at least 13'-6" of clearance | | | | have been in the family for years may think this part |
| for a Class A motor coach. | | | | of the planning may not involve you but there are still |
| Many of you may not own a Class A motor coach | | | | a few things for you to consider along with the |
| and the RV that you currently own is only 12' tall. | | | | urban and suburban dwellers: |
| Look a few years down the road, you never know | | | | Is the proposed building location in a low lying area |
| you may trade up to a Class A coach one day. This | | | | that may be susceptible to flooding? |
| is something to consider and another reason to | | | | Are there any easements on the property in the |
| research steel building plans. | | | | area where you plan to build? |
| That being said lets get back to planning your RV | | | | Do you know where all of the utilities are on the |
| Garage: | | | | property? The electricity, the phone service, the |
| We will use the following as an example and say that | | | | cable service and the big one is the underground gas |
| you have decided that you want a 36' long Class A | | | | lines? Do you know where all of the sewer lines, |
| coach to fit in your new RV storage building. To | | | | septic tanks, drain fields and water lines are located? |
| facilitate your RV you will need a building that is at | | | | How about that 60' deep hand dug well that your |
| least 40' long. The width of the building is easy to | | | | great-great grandfather may have dug? |
| figure out, the side wall or eave height is a little more | | | | Locate all utilities, if you can't find them call a call a |
| difficult. | | | | company like Blue Stake. They will locate all of the |
| The best way to decide on the side wall height is to | | | | utilities for you. Many states have a "Call before you |
| start with the garage door or overhead door. The | | | | dig law" that will be enforced if you hit a public utility |
| minimum size garage door requirement for a Class A | | | | when you are digging. |
| - RV is 10' wide x 14' tall. The 12' wide door would | | | | The next thingyou will need to know in this decision |
| actually be a better size so lets plan on using a | | | | making process is your property "setback" |
| garage door that is 12' wide x 14' high. Now we need | | | | requirements or the distance from the property lines |
| to calculate the eave height that your new structure | | | | that your governing entities will allow you to build an |
| will require. | | | | accessory structure. You will also need to know the |
| Most garage doors require at least 18" and up to | | | | distance between structures that your local building |
| 24"of headroom or space above the garage door. I | | | | codes allow. You may be able to find most of this |
| know I have been rambling here but we have finally | | | | information on the internet if your city or county has |
| decided on the minimum size steel structure that is | | | | a website. If you can't find a website the best way |
| required to house a 36' long Class A Motor Coach. | | | | to get this information is to go to your local Building |
| Your new RV garage needs to be at least 14' wide x | | | | Department or Planning and Zoning Department. Tell |
| 40' long with a 15.5' eave height or side wall height. | | | | them you plan to build an accessory structure and |
| Let's take note - that is the minimum size storage | | | | want to know what the setback requirements and |
| structure. You can always build a larger building; say | | | | maybe the height requirements are for your area. |
| for instance you may want to have enough room to | | | | They should give you some sort of pre-building |
| open your slide-outs or storage compartments while | | | | permit package that will have the information that |
| your RV is under roof. This is something that you will | | | | you need. |
| definitely need to take into consideration while you | | | | With this information you now know the size of the |
| are planning. | | | | steel building that you require and have found that |
| The same methods used to plan an RV garage can | | | | you have available, uninhibited space available to build |
| be used to decide the size requirements you may | | | | the structure. Now it is time to decide on a building |
| have for a steel building, steel storage building, a steel | | | | style and colors that blend with the other buildings in |
| hobby shop or steel garage that has other uses. | | | | the vicinity. |
| How many vehicles do you plan to store? Park them | | | | There are many styles of steel buildings available and |
| all in an area and take some measurements and that | | | | many unlike the old stereotype steel buildings fit well |
| will help you decide on a building size. | | | | in a residential setting. You can find steel building |
| Another method is to go to your local shopping | | | | companies that have 26 gauge steel wall steel wall |
| center and take a look; most parking lots have 9' | | | | panels available that have a strong resemblance to |
| wide parking spaces that are about 18' deep. As | | | | wood ship-lap siding. There is a steel building systems |
| those of you that drive larger vehicles know this size | | | | available that boast a steel stand alone frame system |
| space can get a little tight when you are trying to | | | | that will allow you to use most any conventional |
| park and open up your doors. Take this into | | | | building material, such as, wood, brick, stucco, stone, |
| consideration when you are planning your building. | | | | vinyl siding and the list goes on. You will be able to |
| Maybe you want to combine your steel garage and | | | | match the exterior of your home. This is especially |
| hobby shop into one larger steel building. An interior | | | | important in areas that have CC&R's or other |
| divider wall can always be constructed to separate | | | | city regulations that require like materials on the |
| the different work or storage areas. You may also | | | | accessory structures. |
| want to plan additional room to store motorcycles, | | | | |