Commercial metal buildings have been around for a long time, but the way businesses use them has changed considerably.
Mention a metal building and some people still picture an old warehouse sitting behind a chain-link fence with one roll-up door and approximately 400 pallets nobody remembers ordering.
That image is becoming outdated.
Today, metal buildings are used for offices, retail locations, automotive shops, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, equipment storage, workshops and mixed-use commercial properties. Modern construction methods also provide more choices in exterior design, interior layouts and building features than many property owners realize.
As Vice President of E.C.O. Builders Inc. in Slidell, Louisiana, I see commercial construction from a practical perspective. A building ultimately has to work for the people and businesses using it every day.
Here are several reasons metal buildings continue to receive attention in commercial construction.
Open Space Creates Options
One of the most useful characteristics of many metal buildings is the ability to create large, open interior areas.
That matters for businesses requiring warehouses, manufacturing floors, automotive work areas or equipment storage. Large clear-span areas can provide room for operations without numerous interior columns interfering with the layout.
But an open building does not have to stay open.
Interior walls can create offices, conference rooms, restrooms, storage rooms and other designated spaces. A commercial building might have a warehouse on one side and administrative offices on the other.
Businesses rarely remain exactly the same forever, so flexibility can become important.
The company that needs 2,000 square feet of storage today may need considerably more five years from now. Planning a building around both present operations and reasonable future needs can prevent some headaches later.
Metal Buildings Don’t Have to Look Like Warehouses
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding metal construction.
A commercial metal building can still have architectural character.
Exterior finishes, masonry elements, awnings, windows, storefront glass, different roof configurations and other architectural details can significantly change the appearance of a building.
That becomes important when the building includes customer-facing areas.
A mechanic shop and a professional office have very different visual requirements, even if both use similar structural building systems underneath.
The structure provides the framework. The design determines much of what everyone actually sees.
The Building Can Be Designed Around the Business
Commercial buildings should reflect what happens inside them.
- An automotive business may need several large overhead doors, vehicle lifts and significant electrical capacity.
- A warehouse may need loading areas and substantial storage space.
- A manufacturing company may require ventilation, equipment locations and specific utility configurations.
- An office building may prioritize natural light, conference rooms and climate-controlled interior spaces.
Planning those requirements before construction begins is considerably easier than discovering them halfway through the project.
Moving a wall on paper is pretty simple.
Moving a wall after electricians, plumbers and drywall crews have finished tends to involve more conversations, more money and considerably more colorful vocabulary.
Construction Components Can Be Planned in Advance
Many metal building systems use components manufactured according to project specifications before arriving at the construction site.
That can create a more organized structural process because major building components have already been designed for a specific configuration.
That does not mean a metal building magically appears overnight.
The property still needs site preparation. Foundations still need to be completed. Permits, utilities, drainage and inspections still have to be addressed.
And in South Louisiana, Mother Nature remains an unofficial member of every construction crew.
Rain can affect site work. Tropical weather can affect schedules. Summer heat can affect working conditions.
Construction planning still matters regardless of the building system being used.
Louisiana Weather Matters
A commercial building in Louisiana faces environmental conditions that may differ considerably from those affecting a similar structure somewhere else.
Wind is an obvious consideration.
Building codes and engineering requirements can vary based on geographic location and expected wind loads. That becomes particularly important along the Gulf Coast.
Then there is moisture.
Louisiana humidity has a remarkable ability to find places nobody knew moisture could reach.
Roofing systems, drainage, flashing, fasteners and exterior components all need to be considered as part of the overall building envelope.
Insulation Deserves Attention
Not every metal building needs the same insulation system.
An equipment storage building that remains unconditioned has very different requirements from an office occupied eight hours every day.
That distinction should be addressed during planning.
Insulation, ventilation, roofing materials, doors, windows and HVAC equipment can all influence interior comfort and energy consumption.
Trying to turn a poorly planned metal shell into a comfortable office afterward can become unnecessarily complicated.
The intended use of the building should drive those decisions from the beginning.
Maintenance Still Exists
Metal buildings are durable structures, but durable does not mean maintenance-free.
Roofs should be inspected.
Drainage systems should be checked.
Sealants, fasteners and exterior panels should be monitored.
Doors and other moving components need attention.
In coastal and humid environments, signs of corrosion or moisture intrusion should also be addressed.
Ignoring maintenance because a building is made of steel is roughly equivalent to ignoring oil changes because a truck has a big engine.
Eventually, the building will express an opinion about that decision.
Think About Tomorrow
Future expansion is another reason some businesses consider metal buildings.
Depending on the design, engineering and property layout, additions may be possible later.
But future growth should ideally be discussed during the original planning process.
Parking, drainage, utilities, access and available property can determine whether an addition makes sense years later.
Commercial construction is ultimately about creating a building that serves a purpose.
Metal buildings continue to grow in popularity because that purpose can take many forms.
The important part is not simply deciding to construct a metal building. It is determining what that building needs to accomplish today, what it may need to accomplish tomorrow and designing the structure accordingly.
At the end of the day, steel is only the beginning.
The real building starts with the plan.
