We understand that buying and erecting a metal building kit can be intimidating. We’re here to make the entire process as simple as possible. Below are questions we commonly hear. If you need more information than you see below, feel free to reach out to our team!
A simpler structure will always result in cost savings. Complex design features like hipped dormers, multi-level roofs, and extensive overhangs can increase your prices. Of course, the team at Great Western is happy to include these features if they are what you’d like. Simplicity is the key if you’re looking for the most cost-effective solution. Similarly, a great practice to keep overall project costs down is to present your Great Western building design to your architect (if you are using one) before the interior design begins. This way, you’re working within the confines of your already-designed building to prevent costly design additions to your steel building. Ultimately, this practice can save thousands by eliminating extra building materials.
Yes, pre-engineered metal buildings can use standard siding like stucco, wood lap, logs, vinyl siding, or masonry. We’ve designed buildings for a wide variety of sides and roofing materials to comply with HOA requirements or simply to fulfill customer requests. Our team can engineer your building for wood lap, log, or vinyl siding. In addition, we’ve designed buildings for use with masonry, stucco, and even T1-11. In most cases, HOA restrictions do not restrict roofing materials, but we can engineer buildings to use tile roofs and more. However, it’s worth noting that, in many cases, a simple wainscot or vertical color break is all that is necessary to meet HOA requirements. Simply let our team know what you want or need, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
To secure a construction loan for a pre-engineered steel building, lenders require a comprehensive project cost breakdown and appraisal-ready documents. Great Western provides certified, engineered building drawings for this purpose. These plans allow buyers to obtain accurate local contractor estimates for dirt work, foundation installation, interior build-outs, and window/door packages, which are then submitted to the financial institution for underwriter approval.
Great Western Building Systems offers several different ventilation systems for your structure, including cupolas, circular vents, and ridge vents. Options like operable or static louvers and fans allow you to optimize your ideal ventilation system completely for your specific needs.
Yes. Pre-engineered steel buildings can be custom-engineered to support second-story spaces, mezzanine floors, and residential barndominium layouts. Our designers can incorporate two or four-foot spacing for your building’s girts and purlins and even integrate hat channels on 16-inch centers for interior wall structures. Many customers build these additional quarters with standard timber construction. However, designers can also incorporate all-steel mezzanine systems or allocate space for a hybrid wood/steel solution.
Not at all! Great Western’s metal house and shop kits are designed with DIYers and first-time builders in mind. Our precision-engineered buildings and industry-leading erection manual make it an intuitive process for anyone with basic construction experience. So long as the building is erected correctly, no structural modifications are made to the design, and no building materials are subjected to any damage from misuse, abuse, or improper storage, your warranties are applicable. We provide complete warranty documents with each of our buildings at the time of delivery, and, of course, customers may contact us via our 24/7 support hotline for any clarification or assistance.
Installing a stud wall of light steel or timber studs does not require any modification to a steel building. Simply installing the walls between the building’s girts and purlins within the wall or roof system allows sufficient interior buildout without additional materials from your standard design. Our designers can also outfit your building with girts spaced at either two or four feet with hat channels placed on 16-inch centers for a more straightforward interior finishing experience. This requires us to adjust the roof and wall design to support the extra material, but it’s a simple process that our designers have no problem accommodating. Do keep in mind, though, that this addition will raise the cost of your building.
Notify your Great Western representative of any chemicals that may come in contact with your steel building structure. A handful of products at your disposal can limit or protect your building from direct exposure to harmful chemicals and materials. However, if your building is exposed to an abnormally corrosive environment and there are no proper maintenance procedures enacted or preventative measures taken, there is a good chance that it will fall outside of your warranty. We provide customers with a complete maintenance guide and log of each building we manufacture upon request, which can help ensure you’re taking proper care of your steel structure. Discussing these potential corrosion issues with our team up front can help clarify whether or not your warranty will be voided.
No, a full concrete floor is not mandatory for metal buildings. While a concrete slab is standard for commercial warehouses and workshops, agricultural or storage steel buildings can utilize dirt, gravel, or asphalt flooring. However, engineered concrete piers or perimeter footings are always required to securely anchor the primary structural steel columns and resist wind uplift forces
A steel building does not necessarily need insulation. However, we advise that all of our customers insulate their buildings regardless of their use of permanent climate control systems. Insulating your building prevents condensation from forming on the interior panels and secondary framing. Without it, you could face premature corrosion due to moisture accumulation. Great Western can supply simple-to-install and cost-effective insulation solutions for your building that prevent this and increase your resale value. In addition, if you plan to occasionally heat or cool your garage or shop while it’s in use, insulation will increase the amount of time your temporary climate control solution is effective.
Yes. With Great Western’s simple bolt-together erection, putting up a metal building is straightforward and intuitive. Our buildings are designed with DIY folks and first-time builders in mind and come with an industry-leading erection manual and 24/7 customer support.
Great Western Buildings manufactures steel building kits with American-sourced steel. Primary framing is made from heavy-duty hot-rolled structural steel with an iron-oxide primer to prevent corrosion. Secondary framing (girts and purlins) are made from G90 Galvanized steel to prevent corrosion.
Great Western Buildings manufactures steel building kits in Grand Junction, Colorado with American steel. GWB is not a broker, and the buildings are manufactured in-house at our Grand Junction facility. Buying from Great Western truly means buying directly from the factory.
A red iron steel building uses heavy-duty hot-rolled steel with a red iron oxide coating to prevent corrosion. Great Western Buildings manufactures these type of buildings, but uses a gray colored iron oxide primer instead of red to accent the galvanized secondary components.
You should receive your estimated quote by email shortly. Please keep in mind that this is just an estimate and does not include snow loads, wind loads, county specific code requirements, delivery or design specific engineering calculations related to the structural soundness of the building.
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