A steel building is a big purchase. Make these six decisions before you ask for a quote and the process moves fast, the price is clear, and the building you get is the one you actually need.
1. Start with the use, not the size
List what will live inside: vehicles, trailers, a workshop, tools, livestock, inventory. Write down what you own today and what you expect to own in five years. Almost every customer who regrets a building built it too small, not too big.
2. Pick the building family
- Carport: open cover. The most affordable way to keep vehicles out of sun, rain and hail.
- Garage: fully enclosed, with roll-up doors, a walk-in door and windows. Security and dry storage.
- Barn: a tall center aisle with lower side wings. Farm equipment, hay and livestock.
- RV cover: extra height for motorhomes, campers and boats.
- Commercial: clear-span with no center posts, large roll-up doors and taller legs.
3. Settle the three dimensions
Width, length and leg height. Width decides how many vehicles fit side by side, length decides how many fit in a row and how much room is left to work, and leg height decides what fits through the door. An RV or a truck with a rack needs more height than it looks. Our size guide has reference dimensions.
4. Decide on roof and walls
The three roof styles (regular, A-Frame and vertical) change the look, the price and how water sheds. Each side and end can be open, half or fully closed. A garage is usually closed all around; a carport often gets one closed end to block the wind.
5. Prepare the site
Every building needs a level site. Bare ground, a gravel pad or a concrete slab are the usual options. Enclosed garages and workshops usually benefit from a slab. Read how site preparation works.
6. Ask about permits and loads
Permit, wind and snow requirements vary by county. We tell you what is typically required in your area and give you the building details you need to apply. More in our guides to permits and wind and snow loads.
What your estimate covers
A free, written, itemized estimate: base structure, doors, windows, options, delivery and installation by our own crew, with a 1-year workmanship warranty. The prices on this site are starting points for the base structure; the estimate is the real price.