Residential
Residential Steel Buildings & Metal Buildings Homes
Unlike a few years ago, residential steel buildings are now available in a variety of designs. These steel building homes no longer look like large storage containers. On the contrary, they can be personalized with different attractive external surfacing, like brickwork and vinyl. The designs can range from simple 100 square feet small cottages or mini-homes, to 4000 square feet elaborate houses and even duplex homes.
Benefits of Residential Steel Buildings & Metal Building Homes
Using steel buildings as homes, in stead of the traditional residential constructions, offers several hard-to-ignore advantages:
• Metal buildings are more durable in terms of weather-resistance and insect-resistance, and they make ideal homes in earthquake or hurricane prone areas. Metal buildings are widely used in areas where there is always a threat of hurricanes and storms. There has been a huge demand for metal homes post hurricane katrina and nowadays many steel building manufacturers offer carefully planned steel buildings plans that are aerodynamic in design and offer excellent protection from hurricanes and tornados..
• The total cost of constructing steel building homes is very less than the more conventional homes, as there is a significant saving in the cost of architectural plans and drawings, as well as the cost of labor. Since there is no brick laying or plastering required steel building homes can be constructed very easily. You can even assemble one over weekend !!
• Pre-engineered residential metal buildings require almost half the time for construction, as compared to say brick-mortar homes, because most of the structural work is already complete before it reaches the actual construction site.
• The maintenance work is also reduced considerably with steel buildings as homes. Steel being strudy and tensile doesnt require much maintainance. Tradationally steel buildings have been known to stand for many years. However metal buildings might need a paint job or insulation job once in a while but thats not something that will cost a lot.
• Manufactures offer structural guarantees for 20-50 years on such modular steel buildings.
Building a Prefabricated Steel Home
The main steps involved in the construction of residential steel buildings are more-or-less the same as for the traditional constructions. The only difference is generally in the time and cost factors.
• Once you have the land, it is best to first get it assessed by an expert to ascertain the site-suitability of various models of these modular steel building homes. For example, having a basement in the design might not be a good idea in a site where underground water level is high.
• Then you can customize one of the many pre-designed models available with prefab home manufacturers. The final design of the house should take into consideration any statutory requirements of the specific lot, such as the zoning-code requirements, mandatory right-of-way restrictions or any other clauses in the deed for the lot.
• You will need the architectural plans for your new home. Most manufacturers of metal buildings provide all the required drawings along with the kit.
• A local contractor will have to be hired to lay down the foundation, while the prefabricated metal home is designed according to ordered specifications.
• Once the modular parts are shipped to the construction site, the local contractor will start the “assembling” or the actual “construction”. It is advisable to select a builder experienced in working with modular metal buildings, as it is extremely important to follow the instructions precisely.
• The electrical wirings and plumbing should also be taken care of by experts only.
While it is possible to set up smaller storage sheds or barns as do-it-yourself projects, construction of steel buildings as homes should be left to experts, as it is a more elaborate job. Also, following the rough outline sketched above will help avoid any unnecessary wastage due to an overlook.