Metal Buildings

One of the most efficient ways to enclose a large space is through the use of metal buildings. While buildings can be built from almost any substance, the use of sheet metal as a building material really didn't come into its' own until the middle of the Twentieth Century. The use of metal as a much cheaper and more effective substitute for wood or stone began in the Thirties and blossomed during WWII. Many a GI returned home with fond memories of the superiority of the Quonset hut over the canvas tent. But what really stuck in his mind was the ease of construction. Buildings of this type are designed to be manufactured, transported and erected by a small crew of men with a minimum of tools and know how using metal building kits. Instead of architects' plans and skilled craftsmen, a small crew of reasonably intelligent men could erect one of these structures simply by relying on the "Tab A into Slot B" form of instruction.

Metal buildings fall into several categories of use and construction. The one most familiar to most of us is the simple garden shed. By keeping the span of the roof small, usually less than twelve feet, the need for beams or trusses is eliminated. Using corrugated sheet steel with a durable enamel finish, the walls and roof of the typical metal garden shed comprise a stressed skin structure that is attached to a strong rail running around the bottom edge and door opening. This is a method that was pioneered by Stout in his design of the Ford Trimotor airplane, and it is used all over the world in similar structures today.

The next most common metal building is the post-and-beam agricultural building used as metal storage buildings. Although not always seen in a farm setting, these buildings were designed to give farmers quick access to secure and weatherproof storage for their crops and livestock, as well as shelter for their equipment. In these larger structures it is no longer possible to rely on the roof for the strength to span large distances. As these buildings are almost always thirty or more feet in width, the use of metal poles and stamped sheet-metal I-beam rafters gives the same usefulness and durability as the garden shed, but with a much larger enclosed space and a much greater tolerance for wind and snow loads. This is especially important as most large-scale agriculture in the United States takes place in areas where violent and unusual weather is commonplace.

Becoming more common now is a newer and even more efficient type of metal building, the clear span structure. By using built-up stamped steel trusses of the appropriate size and strength, buildings spanning well over a hundred feet can be built. And, with modern coatings and anti-corrosion techniques, these buildings can be considered almost indestructible. Tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and of course fires can still pose a threat, but less so than with the more common wooden structures. A big advantage with this type of construction is the might with which the parts are fastened together. Nuts and bolts will always supply superior strength when compared to nails and mortar.

The Uses of Metal Buildings

Metal buildings are now so widely used and accepted that we are finding them being used for the construction of churches, fire halls, shopping centers, and now there is even metal building home. The use of clear-span metal trusses is a home designer's dream. It allows him to make any room as small or as large as he wants, and he can suspend the walls from the roof or ceiling instead of having them sit on the floor, which makes them lighter and less prone to stresses in the wallboard. The most important aspect of metal as a building material is the great flexibility of design. All of the engineering is so simple, and the materials so strong, that the manufacture of metal buildings can be accomplished for a much lower cost than conventional structures, and in a lot less time.