It’s a very basic question: how long do pre-engineered buildings last? But here’s an even more basic one: What is a pre-engineered metal building? If you have a good understanding of this anyway, skip on down, but there is no harm in defining what has, until relatively recently, been one of the lesser-known methods of construction.
When people talk about metal buildings, they probably mean prefabricated steel structures. These are created by erecting a massively strong frame made of steel beams or girders, set into concrete foundations, and destined to last a very long time. Onto this frame, interlocking steel panels are bolted in a process so simple and quick that walls and roofs appear almost as if by magic. It’s a skilled job, putting these expanses of panels together, but with everything cut to size and already drilled for the bolts to fit into, the time taken on a steel-structure building site is less than with traditional sites. Essentially, what is delivered to your site is a kit that just needs to be assembled.
So that’s metal buildings in a nutshell. On to the other popular questions.
For many people there are two basic things to know about prefabricated steel structures, AKA pre-engineered steel buildings: how much do they cost and how long do they last?
The first depends on what exactly you need, so there can be no off-the-cuff answer, but the second is more straightforward. Steel building life expectancy is generally given as between 50 and 100 years. It can vary depending on the quality of steel used and the kind of anti-corrosion measures that are taken. Other factors include the quality of the construction work and the diligence with which the building is maintained, but those are the ballpark parameters. Have your project carried out by a highly skilled workforce directed by responsible management, and you are off to an excellent start. If the management of your completed building also insists on a strict maintenance schedule, they can spot early signs of trouble and do something about it before it does significant damage.
It might also be asked, “What is the life span of steel?” but wouldn’t that be a rather childlike question? It depends on the type of steel, the location, whether it has any coatings or treatments, what it is exposed to in terms of weather and wear and tear, how regularly and diligently it is maintained, and so on. Too many factors for a simple answer to be possible.
Maintenance is vitally important with equipment, including whatever machinery or furniture you put in your building, but the structure itself should not be overlooked, so regular inspections must be carried out, inside and outside, and any necessary action taken promptly.
Average Cost of a Pre-engineered Steel Building
There are so many variables in this that no convenient answer is realistic. If you need a very flexible ballpark figure, let’s say up to $40 per square foot, but don’t suggest that to a potential construction company. Tell them what you need, where, how big, and what for, and see what they come up with. Any building is an equation of its own. If you used steel to build replicas of the Pentagon and Sydney Opera House, it’s pretty obvious which is going to be the simpler job, but what about the square footage?
Your project may well be rectangular and relatively simple, but it will be a certain size, and the larger it is, the more material is needed and the longer the construction time. One thing you can do to reduce the overall cost is to work with your construction company to make economies of scale, if that is possible. They may make suggestions that would suit other projects but be impractical in your case. On the other hand, there may be possibilities you haven’t considered, and working with a specialist can be very enlightening, so be prepared to learn something and maybe save some money.
All Things Being Equal, How Much?
How much is a pre-engineered steel building? There is only one way of finding out: talk to some constructors, get the best deal you can, and there is your answer. If you asked a traditional builder how much a box made of concrete blocks would cost, they would only reply in very general terms. Suffice it to say that steel buildings are increasingly popular, which must mean something, and the speed of construction makes for significant savings on labor, not to mention enabling you to get up and running and make money more quickly.
