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Lighting & Metal Buildings

Posted on September 27, 2018 by - A-Frame Horizontal, A-Frame Vertical, Agricultural, ASI, Barn, Blog, Buildings, Carports, Custom, Customer Builds, Garage, Informative, Lifestyle, News, Questions, RV Carports, Spotlight, Standard, Steel Structures, Workshop

Are you worried that your metal building might attract lightning? We’ve all been there. Fortunately, I’ve got good news and great news.

Here’s the deal:

The common myth is that out of all types of structures, metal buildings are the most prone to lightning strikes. In other words, metal buildings and metal roofs are basically lightning magnets. Makes sense, right?

Wrong.

A ton of other crazy myths are also still floating around—including that being outside in a lightning storm is safe as long as you’re not wearing metal jewelry and that wearing metal cleats or carrying something with metal makes you more prone to getting struck by lightning.

Also wrong.

I bet you’re thinking, “OK, but then what is lightning really attracted to?”

Long story short, lightning is not actually attracted to specific materials. Lightning can strike anything. Overall, “lightning occurs on too large of a scale to be influenced by small objects on the ground, including metal objects.”

That’s the good news.

Ready for the great news?

Because metal buildings are not especially prone to lightning strikes, you can easily take precautions to ensure that you and your steel structures are safe!

Most people know that counting the seconds between the flash of lightning and the following crash of thunder gives the approximate number of miles between you and the storm.

So, instead of worrying that lightning may have it in for you or your building, here’s what you need to know:

As it turns out, steel is not a lightning magnet! Lightning does not care about the small amount of metal that you might be wearing or carrying.

Instead, lightning is most attracted to targets that are higher off of the ground.

On the slight chance that a steel building or roof is struck by lightning, both are less likely than other types of building and roofing materials to spark a fire. A metal building and roof will usually survive a lightning strike with minimal damage.

In fact, a properly grounded metal building actually creates a more secure way for lightning to travel. Should your metal roof or building be grounded? The answer is a definite yes!

Cold Season Is Coming Soon!

Posted on September 26, 2018 by - Agricultural, ASI, Blog, Steel Structures

Are all your belongings protected from this coming winter? Are you ready for the low temperatures? It’s been rumored that this year’s temperatures are going to be really cold. At least here in Texas, the temperatures haven’t dropped—if anything, they’ve been high. However, let’s not underestimate Mother Nature, and let’s be cautious when it comes to protecting our important possessions.

Many of our belongings tend to sit outside in our backyard, leaving them exposed to the elements. That’s especially true for farm equipment or tools, which can be very expensive. If you own machinery, farm tools, or multiple vehicles, this 44’W x 31’L x 12.8’H vertical barn might be beneficial for you:

 

This agricultural barn comes fully vertical and fully insulated, main unit (24’W x 31’L x 12’H), two (2) 10’W x 31’L x 10’/8’H Lean-Tos, four roll-up doors (two 10’ x 10’ and two 8’ x 7’), a walk-in door, and eight windows. Remember, insulation is optional.

We can customize any metal building according to your needs and preferences! Talk to one of our sales representatives and get started with a FREE quote. Your future metal building can be one call away! Don’t forget to ask about our financing options.

 

Why a Metal Roof?

Posted on September 25, 2018 by - A-Frame Horizontal, A-Frame Vertical, Agricultural, ASI, Barn, Blog, Buildings, Carports, Custom, Customer Builds, Garage, RV Carports, Standard, Steel Structures, Workshop

Metal roof systems have always been known for their long lives, but exactly how long they last has been a subject of debate.

According to a 2014 study conducted by the Metal Construction Association and the Zinc Aluminum Coaters Association, the projected service life for GALVALUME® standing-seam roof systems is a minimum of 60 years. This is the longest service life of any commonly used roof system on the market. Interestingly, this was calculated using a conservative estimate of the expected lifespan of the butyl sealant used in laps, flashings, and penetrations. In a 2015 study, the National Coil Coating Association reviewed data on pre-painted PVDF fluoropolymer metal panels subjected to exposure testing in South Florida. They concluded it was reasonable to project a minimum service life of 40 years for these.

As with any roofing material, proper design, detailing, installation, and maintenance are critical to achieving the best performance and service life. However, all roof systems, including metal ones, eventually need to be replaced or re-covered. What happens then?

As a roofing professional, building owners will turn to you for advice on whether to replace or re-cover their existing metal roof systems. When considering the re-cover option, there are several elements to keep in mind to maximize the longevity of the new roof system.

Replace vs. Re-cover

There are two types of metal roof system: structural and nonstructural. Structural systems’ panel profiles can generally carry significant wind and snow loads over framing members spaced at intervals up to 5 feet. Structural panels are typically characterized by significant rib dimensions to provide the necessary strength, and they are used in metal building system applications. Nonstructural metal roof systems require a structural deck or substrate to support the new roof and loads. This article focuses on structural systems because these are more common.

According to the Metal Building Manufacturers Association’s historical shipment data, there are billions of square feet of structural metal roofing currently on buildings that are more than 40 years old.

The advantage of replacing a roof system is that it allows vinyl-faced insulation, which may have deteriorated over time, to be removed and replaced. However, this can present some challenges, as the process also exposes the building and its contents to the elements, and this exposure can be prolonged if other structural elements must be added.

The advantage of re-covering a roof is that the original materials can remain in place to protect the interior during installation of the new materials, allowing the building’s normal operations to continue. Re-covering takes full advantage of the existing insulation with the option of easily adding more, increasing the building’s energy efficiency. Keeping the original roof system in place also provides a safer work surface than open framing for the workers installing the new system. In addition, re-covering reduces landfill waste and the need for a large laydown area for temporary storage of old roofing materials. All these factors can lead to a lower cost for re-covering than for replacement.

Many conventional roof systems have inherent excess capacity because their structural systems are not amenable to optimization. However, metal roof and metal building systems can be highly optimized for design load requirements so that materials can be used more efficiently. Because of this, the materials used during a re-cover installation must be lightweight (less than 3 pounds per square foot) so structural modifications are not needed or are kept to a minimum to carry the added roofing materials.

 

  1. Lee Shoemaker, Ph.D., P.E., is director of research and engineering for the Metal Building Manufacturers Association;

Vincent E. Sagan, P.E., is senior staff engineer for the Metal Building Manufacturers Association;

Your Custom Workshop

Posted on September 24, 2018 by - ASI, Blog, Garage, Lifestyle, Steel Structures, Workshop

Need a workshop where you can work on your vehicles? Want to add your own personal touch or your own features? If the answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place! With 20 years in the industry, American Steel Carports knows exactly how to customize and install metal buildings to provide you with a great experience!

All year round, your vehicles are subject to natural elements that wear them down. Throughout the summer, the beating sun bleaches their color. During the winter, they are hit with cold snaps, harsh winds, and heavy snowfall. Our steel buildings are perfect for handling adverse weather conditions, and our goal is to provide you with a strong building that will last for many years.

Customization is key to the ideal metal building. The color, size, and additional features that we offer play an important role for our customers. Remember that all of our metal buildings can be customized according to your needs and preferences. Did you know that we can also do frame-outs (openings)? As we discussed in our previous blog (click here to read it), you can always add on to your metal building, including different types of windows, walk-in doors, roll-up doors, etc. The only drawback of this is that any warranty your metal building has will be voided.

Take a look at this fully vertical 26’W x 43’L x 12’H metal workshop:

This building comes with two (2) 12’ x 10’ roll-up doors (on the side), two (2) walk-in doors (on the side), and eight (8) custom window frame outs.

Want something similar to this workshop? Contact us now and let one of our experts help you customize that metal workshop that you’ve been looking for! Remember that delivery and installation are included in the price! Call us now! Your future metal building can be just one call away.

Weather Delays

Posted on September 20, 2018 by - ASI, Blog, Informative, Lifestyle

In this business, the longer it takes to complete a project, the more time it’ll be before the next one can get started. Setting back the completion date isn’t something most contractors want to do, but sometimes it’s inevitable. However, it is possible to plan for delays so that they’re less detrimental to the project and its timeline. Checking with your local building department or code enforcement for local codes can expedite the process too.

Setbacks are often caused by factors outside a contractor’s control. For instance, weather conditions can affect a construction timeline. Depending on the location, spring can bring rainy weather and be followed by the dry heat of summer. Fall and winter can bring cooler temperatures, snow, and ice. Each of these can be harmful to materials and machinery and can cause safety hazards to workers on site.

Any sort of outdoor work is made more difficult by rain, and rainy and wet conditions are a frequent reason for contractors to request additional time on a project. Rain can cause myriad problems for people working on construction. Mud can be not only a nuisance, but a safety hazard for anyone driving off a muddy site or for drivers who must share the road with an excessively muddy vehicle. But this can be avoided by using gravel or rock as a base and properly grading the land ahead of time.

Thunderstorms can cause even more damage to a site. And they often come with high winds that can disorganize a job site at best and destroy materials at worst. The hail that accompanies thunderstorms creates another major concern, as it has been known to dent and even break materials like sheet metal and glass.

Spring’s showers might dry up when the summer months come around, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any more risks for the work site. Hot and dry weather brings its own set of problems. Extreme heat can cause health problems to workers, and if they seek relief by removing protections like hard hats and safety glasses, they could put themselves at risk of injury.

Autumn and winter bring cold weather that can have a negative impact as well. The equipment finance advisor noted that mortar and grout can be most affected by cold weather. When they get too cold, they cannot properly absorb moisture, and this makes them weaker and less resistant to water.

Cold weather affects workers too. They need to wear additional layers when working outdoors, and these layers restrict their movement and their ability to handle items carefully. Muscles and joints are also less flexible when cold, which could put workers at greater risk of injury.

Inclement weather can’t be avoided or prevented. In most cases, though, it can be predicted with fair accuracy. If you know that your site is at risk of any of these adverse weather conditions, take precautions to protect your equipment, materials, site, and workers

Mobile Mini also provides mobile offices. These can be used as a places for contractors to store important information about the site, or as a refuge for employees to escape the hot sun or the cold air.

History of Barns

Posted on September 20, 2018 by - A-Frame Horizontal, A-Frame Vertical, Agricultural, ASI, Barn, Custom, Informative, Steel Structures

Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the barn has been a staple image in the American consciousness.  These structures represent tradition and security and encourage feelings of closeness to the lands that house them as well as the communities that build them. Over the centuries, the barn has remained an iconic feature of farms everywhere. Although the world of agriculture has changed and evolved into a multimillion-dollar business, the barn still serves the same purpose.

Then

Barns were added onto the land when farmers needed housing for livestock or storage for grain and crops. Materials for these structures were usually made out of timbers from the trees on the farms. Using mortise and tenon joints, woodworkers would join these pieces of timber by connecting them at 90-degree angles. Although this construction process was simple, it was also quite durable and strong.

After the mid to late 19th century, timber buildings were replaced by “truss-framed” or “plank-framed” barns. The invention of steam-powered sawmills allowed farmers to affordably buy dimensional lumber. The joints for this type of lumber were connected with bolts or machine-cut nails.

When people think about these old historic barns, they often think of structures covered with red paint. Historians have theorized that this color choice was popular because it was the cheapest and most readily available, which was due to the fact that the ferric oxide needed to create red paint was similarly inexpensive and common. The downside of this type of barn was that the combination of lumber, flammable paint, and hay-filled interiors caused fires that were almost always considered total losses to the farms.

Now

Traditional wooden barns are still constructed all over the world; however, steel has quickly become the material of choice. There are several reasons why this type of building has grown increasingly popular over the years.

Steel barns provide the option of easily adding additional space as your farm continues to grow.

Steel barns are built to withstand the forces of nature: snow, rain, wind, fire, and even earthquakes.

Steel barns eliminate the problem of wood-eating pests such as termites.

Steel barns do not require the costly maintenance necessary for preserving traditional wooden structures. Additionally, the construction materials are less expensive than traditional wood, making steel barns the most cost-effective option.

Whether you love the nostalgia of the traditional American barn or the beauty and strength of a steel agricultural building, this great country has the history for both. From the seaside farms in the East Hamptons to the organic ones in California, these buildings will always be part of our great American history.

Little Known Techniques to Customize Your Metal Building

Posted on September 19, 2018 by - ASI, Blog, Custom, Steel Structures

So far, you’ve seen what we’re capable when it comes to metal structures. From huge warehouses to the simplest tiny carport for your vehicle, American Steel Carports knows it all. If you pay attention to certain details on other structures, you might notice that there are garages or workshops with features that you haven’t seen before in our products. Well, you’re absolutely right! Some of our customers prefer to provide their own walk-in doors, windows, or even just openings.

When you’re making an order or talking with one of our representatives, you can let us know that you will provide your own walk-in door or window. With the right measurements, all that’s left for us to do is to frame out the openings according to the size of your custom walk-in doors, windows, roll-up doors, etc. This 30’W x 41’L x 10’H is a good example of what we’re talking about:

  • A-Frame Vertical Roof
  • 12-Gauge Galvanize Steel
  • Horizontal Sides & Ends
  • 10’x10′ Roll-Up Door
  • Walk-In Door Frame Out
  • 2 – 3’x8′ Skylights
  • Concrete Anchors w/ L-Brackets

Openings like this walk-in door come with an additional price (depending on the size). The only downside of this option is that it will void any warranties that the building may have due to the modification of its original state.

This might be an option that many customers don’t need, but it is still open to be considered. If you have any additional questions, feel free to give us a call and let one of our experts help you with your concerns. And don’t forget to ask for your local dealer!

The History and Future of Steel

Posted on September 18, 2018 by - ASI, Blog, Informative, Lifestyle, News

Steel is the world’s most trusted material, so it’s no wonder so many buildings and infrastructures are built with it.

That’s right: most steel goes into the construction industry, mainly because steel structures are strong, sustainable, and can be built quickly at a low price.

Steel’s flexibility and versatility also means that designers, developers, and architects can use it in any number of ways to turn their visions into a reality. This has been the case for centuries, although the ways in which we use steel have changed over time—and the future will be no different as the construction industry is disrupted by new technology and evolves.

Here, I’ll detail the past and present of steel’s use in construction and outline what the industry’s future could mean for our product.

 

A History of Steel Buildings

Although iron has been around for centuries, its use in construction is more modern than you might think. It began around the Industrial Revolution, which was characterized by mass production and the development of new materials, modern steel included.

One of the first major uses of steel for construction purposes was in train stations. After its use there proved profitable, it began to be used in churches, private buildings, and more. In the late 1800s, the first steel-framed buildings and skyscrapers were built.

Steel building became popular in the early 20th century and became widespread around WWII, when steel was used for military shelters and oil storage. After the war, steel was more readily available and became the universal standard. Some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, like the Empire State Building, were erected with steel as a main construction element.

At the end of the 20th century, advanced steel production enabled railroad construction across the world, expanding new frontiers in remote locations.

 

Steel in Construction Today

If you have ever been in construction or have decided to build your own home, you may have noticed just how many steel products go into a residential building. Steel is used in the foundation, HVAC, electrical panels, appliances, decking, and hardware/brackets, just to name a few. There are many different uses for steel in a residential home alone—so you can imagine how many other types of steel products go into a commercial application.

That is why steel has reigned supreme in construction for over a century. It is used today for every building application imaginable and has become even more versatile in usage. It can be combined with other construction materials, like glass or cold-rolled and galvanized flat products that have high-elastic limits, toughness, and weldability.

Things have changed in the industry over time. For one, making steel is no longer labor-intensive, which initially resulted in cuts in the workforce. International markets are also more competitive, with a majority of steel being produced in China, Japan, and India.

As it is 100% recyclable, yesterday’s steel buildings have been used to build the structures of today, while today’s steel buildings will almost certainly be recycled into the buildings of tomorrow. That said, given the durability of steel structures and the efficacy of future-proofing methodologies, it could take a while before tomorrow arrives.

 

Steel’s Future in Construction

At Pacesetter, we are always taking emerging trends into account as we continue to produce and distribute quality flat-rolled steel products. It is our belief that steel’s longevity, versatility, and sustainability will only lead to more applications in construction, not less.

That said, there are several exciting new trends in the construction industry that will likely impact the steel market in some capacity. Due to the emerging era of tech and connectivity, for example, the steel industry has already begun adopting novel steel modular frame systems for use in construction sites.

Ultimately, steel is well-suited for modular construction, which will become more common as new technology spurs the advancement of building information modeling. Newer materials like graphene, though fascinating, are unlikely to eclipse steel soon.

Assuming that human aspirations continue on their current trajectory, the need for steel in construction will only increase as the continued need for solid infrastructure does. With populations growing and cities expanding, demand will only continue to climb.

 

Sources: Chad Fellabaum

:Pacesetter

Ready for the fall?

Posted on September 17, 2018 by - ASI, Blog, Carports, Informative, Steel Structures

We’re transitioning from green, blossoming, and sunny weather, to colder weather with leaves everywhere. Fall might be many people’s favorite season, but for those who don’t like leaves on their vehicles, it might be pretty annoying. Why not keep your vehicle protected from the dust, leaves, and other natural elements with a steel carport that will stand strong against the beauty of nature?

Our company has been dedicated to building long-lasting steel structures for over 20 years. These light and portable metal buildings can be used to protect your vehicles, RVs, or any other belongings that are exposed to nature. Don’t think that the fact that these structures are light and portable means they are flimsy and cheap. In fact, we provide the exact opposite! Our metal structures are engineered with strength and durability in mind.

Take a look at the unique design of this 18’W x 26’L x 10’H partially enclosed standard carport:

Aside from rocking our Earth Brown color, the unique design of the sides of the carport going only 9’ long is very interesting, don’t you think?

Feel inspired? Give us a call today and speak with one of our experts regarding this metal building. Have questions or need a quote? Give us a call! Remember that you can always customize the size, color, and design of this and many other metals buildings we have for display. Need more inspiration? Check out our recent blogs or click here to see recently installed buildings.