It’s time to redefine the term “prefabricated.”
When you think of a prefabricated metal building, you may think that your building is already sitting at a factory, waiting to be purchased. Contrary to popular belief, steel structures don’t come from a ‘big box store.’ In fact, each building is custom-designed to fit your specific needs. There’s no need to fit your project to specific building size. Designers work carefully to create a building design that utilizes every customization necessary to fit your project, including overhead doors, windows, skylights, custom ventilation systems, energy-efficient insulation, and more.
So, when you consider the fact that your building is thoroughly customized to fit your specifications, it makes the design and erection timelines all the more impressive. When compared to other building materials and construction options, prefabricated metal buildings are able to save you time and money by designing off-site and delivering the kit to your door. The exact timeline for the design phase may vary based on the customizations and size of the project. On average, you can expect delivery to take between six and seven weeks.
If your project fits into one of our standard model building sizes and needs minimum customizations, you can lower your delivery timeline to just 4 weeks. Either way, your construction timeline is still leaps and bounds ahead of that of a structure built with organic building materials.
How fast can I get into my prefabricated metal building?
The faster you are able to get into your building and start running your operation, the faster you’ll start making money. Commercial real estate investors are huge fans of prefabricated metal buildings because the construction process makes it quick and easy to get a return on the investment. One of the most common causes of delay in construction is a material shortage. By opting for a prefabricated metal building, you eliminate that possibility. All of the components of the structure are designed off-site and delivered to you. There’s never a need to wait on more materials.
Once you receive your prefab metal building kit, contractors and erectors can begin the assembly process by bolting the steel members together. For small projects, many steel building owners opt to complete the process themselves – the bolt-together assembly is truly easy to understand. If you’re working with a larger, more complex project or simply don’t believe steel construction is in your wheelhouse, you should have a contractor ready to start the erection phase once the components have been delivered.
The exact timeline for the erection of your metal building kit will depend on your contractor, but many projects can be completed in just a matter of weeks. Prefabricated metal buildings are anchored to a concrete slab, which can be poured and prepped for the construction phase before the kit arrives. By taking care of the prep work like concrete and foundation engineering while your kit is being delivered, you can significantly reduce your erection timeline.
One of the most important factors that will affect how long it takes to get into your building is whether or not you are looking for a turnkey solution. There are many projects that only require protection from the elements that steel can provide, but most projects will require interior finishes, electrical, and plumbing.
The best way to get an efficient timeline for the construction of your building kit is to work with a contractor who has metal building experience. We recommend using the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association, or MBCEA. Their website includes a thorough database of erectors and other specialists with vast experience in metal buildings. Each member is carefully vetted by the MBCEA to ensure that you only hire the best in the business. Since the organization is so choosey with their members, it is possible that you won’t find a contractor local to your area on their list. HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List are also great resources for finding metal building specialists. Just be sure to fact check past project completions and ensure that they are insured and licensed before making a commitment.
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For more information on Prefabricated Metal Building, CLICK HERE or give us a call 888-783-3535.
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