I-Beam Steel Buildings

Advantages:

• Common type of building system (known throughout the construction industry)
• Short construction time
• Virtually maintenance free
• Few width limitations allow for large clear span widths
• Excellent paint and no-rust warranties
• Many choices of roof pitch and colors
• Can be engineered for very high snow and wind codes
• Usually have high re-sell value
• Non-combustible
• Usually costs less to insure

Disadvantages:

• May "sweat" causing condensation (roof insulation relieves this)
• Often sold through a re-seller (also known as a dealer or broker who re-sells a pre-engineered building kit to the customer)
• When sold through a re-seller - usually boiler room aggressive sales tactics are used
• Often need special tools such as high-impact drills or other heavy equipment on larger size buildings

Quonset Hut Steel Building (Typically domed shaped)

Advantages:

• Usually the cheapest type of steel structure
• Easy to erect
• Easy to disassemble
• Virtually maintenance free

Disadvantages:

• May "sweat" causing condensation
• Can be difficult to insulate
• Cannot place door openings on side of building
• Usually no choice of colors
• Difficult to finish interior
• Residential zoning restrictions often a problem
• Often cannot meet high wind or snow codes
• "Special" or custom designs almost impossible
• Often priced without end walls
• Often sold through re-sellers also known as brokers or dealers who re-sell a building kit to the customer
• When sold through a re-seller - usually boiler room aggressive sales tactics are used

Pole Barns (wood & steel)

Advantages:

• Easy interior build out (wood provides natural interior stud wall)
• Many choices of roof pitch and color
• Can be engineered for high snow and wind codes
• Often sold as turn-key project

Disadvantages:

• Difficult to place openings wider than 13' on eave side due to close truss placement
• Cement costs higher due to close placement of uprights (every 8'-12')
• Wood uprights often rot where contact is made with ground in 8-10 years regardless of treatment
• May not include end walls requiring on-site wood fabrication and additional expenses
• Customer may be required to supply the wood in addition to the steel building package
• Exterior wall sheeting typically a thinner gauge
• More parts than I-beam or quonset hut
• May be limited to 60' width
• Often cannot be custom designed
• Termite problems possible

Wood Structures

Advantages:

• May be less expensive than I-beam and Pole barn
• Can be made to meet most wind and snow loads
• Virtually unlimited color choices
• Special or custom designs possible
• Easy interior build out

Disadvantages:

• A lot of maintenance
• Termite problems highly possible
• Very combustible
• Often complicated and longer erection time
• Wood rot often a factor over years of use
• Width span limited

United Steel ONLY offers the highest quality I-BEAM STEEL BUILDINGS.