Modern farms require longevity. With the demand in the farming and agricultural industry, hardworking farmers, ranchers, and equestrian business owners don’t have much free time. That’s why you want to ensure you’re investing in a building that will last and leave you worry-free.
Whether you’re building a new barn, looking for storage for heavy machinery like tractors, building a riding arena, livestock stable, or even a hangar for a crop duster, a steel building is a worthwhile investment. Here are a handful of reasons to choose steel over wood when you’re adding a new building to your agricultural property or business.
In terms of initial investment, a steel building is a lot closer in price to a standard timber construction equivalent than you’d think. Depending on size, they can be priced virtually the same or a bit more. However, a metal building is cheaper in the long run for several reasons.
For one, steel buildings require little to no maintenance for life. So long as the building is properly erected, it can last a lifetime without requiring any major repairs or upkeep. At Great Western, our steel buildings come with a lifetime structural warranty for added peace of mind. This means you won’t have to pay for future repairs.
Metal buildings are typically far cheaper to insure than wooden structures. We’ve had multiple customer reports that their insurance quote for a steel building was less than half the cost of an equivalent wooden building. Metal buildings are inherently fire-resistant and much stronger than wood, making them far less risky to insure.
A precisely engineered steel building kit means less wasted time and material on a jobsite than with wood. The process of erecting a metal building kit is straightforward and can go from a concrete slab to a ready-to-use building in just a matter of days. In addition, prefabricated components mean little to no material waste on site and far less cleanup than with a timber structure.
At Great Western, we pride ourselves on manufacturing DIY-friendly metal building kits that almost anyone can erect. Our industry-leading erection manual makes the process simple and straightforward, and we offer 24/7 customer support from design to completion and beyond. So, if you’re handy, you can save thousands worth of labor costs by erecting your own building.
Storage and Workshops – Whether you’re storing heavy machinery like a combine, tractor, or skidsteer, or you are storing bulk materials like hay and feed, the wide-open, clear-span buildings combined with high eve heights, available roll-up or bi-fold doors, and ventilation options ensure whatever is in the building is kept safe, secure, and protected from the elements. Furthermore, if any equipment maintenance or fabrication is required, a roomy workshop out of the elements is a necessity.
Processing and Packaging Buildings – The wide-open layout of a steel building provides ample space for heavy machinery and industrial equipment, including cranes, conveyor systems, commercial lighting, and much more. Optional mezzanines for office space, custom spacing for interior wall buildout for sanitary systems or storage rooms, and more make a metal building your perfect solution.
Livestock – Great Western steel barns are fully customizable, meaning you can optimize insulation to maintain temperatures for your livestock. In addition, open layouts help prevent ammonia buildup and can keep your animals healthy. Finally, the strong steel framing is robust enough to support automatic feeding solutions and other necessary machinery.
Hangars – Many farms still operate crop-dusting aircraft and need a safe and secure place to store them. At Great Western, we have plenty of experience designing and manufacturing aircraft hangars. Just like any other heavy, expensive farming equipment, a duster needs to be well-maintained and protected from the elements.
Indoor Growing and Agriculture – Metal buildings use compression insulation with a vapor barrier, enabling precise, efficient interior temperature control. If you’re running an indoor grow operation, internal climate control is an absolute necessity, and being able to easily maintain the desired atmosphere is something a steel building can offer.
At Great Western, we pride ourselves on manufacturing buildings with American steel right here in the U.S.A. Our buildings are manufactured by hard-working Americans in our Grand Junction, Colorado, facility, where we take quality control and safety very seriously. We want to ensure that each and every building that goes out the door results in a satisfied customer and a building they can depend on for a lifetime.
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