Your Guide to Metal Building Components, Parts & Accessories

Metal Building Components

Introduction

Are you looking for a prefab building, and you’re wondering what parts you will receive?

Or are you a beginner, and you have a kit and aren’t sure where to start?

In this guide, you’ll find out what you need to know about metal building components, including what they are and their purpose.

Are you ready?

Let’s go!

What’s in this guide?

Metal building components

When you receive a steel building kit for your new home, office or garage, for example, you may become very overwhelmed with the number of components you receive.

If you don’t have professionals helping you, or this is your first time putting a prefab together for a customer, this guide can help you figure out what you’re doing.

Main elements

When it comes to the volume of components that you get for your prefab, it depends on many different factors including how big your building is, and the materials that you choose to use.

So, here are some of the main elements that you could receive:

    • Columns
    • Rafters
    • Pre-welded clips
    • Rigid frames

Columns

Columns can either be used as part of keeping the structure upright on the exterior, or they can be used in the interior to help expand your building. Using interior columns mean that you won’t be limited regarding size.

Rafters

Rafters are used to keep your ceiling secure and in place and extend from the pitch or eave of your roof to the wall hip plate.

Pre-Welded Clips

Pre-welded clips allow you to attach one of your secondary elements to the frame of your building, keeping them safely secured.

Rigid Frames

Rigid frames refer to a skeletal building structure which is typically made from beams and joints, which can take a significant amount of weight in at least one direction.

These types of buildings are often robust and reliable and can take a certain amount of bending, and they are resistant to the weather.

Secondary elements

Now for the secondary framing elements, which are often welded to your primary elements using clips, and contribute to the overall stability of your structure.

  • Girts: Traditionally, girts which attach to your wall and your primary elements provide resistance and framing for cladding. These girts are often stabilised by straps, rods and angles, as well as any coating for your walls.
  • Purlins: Purlins span from one rafter to another, they function similar to girts to help keep your building stable and provide attachment.
  • Eave struts: Eave struts act as the last girt and the first purlin.

Bracing

Usually, bracing for your building might involve using rods or cabling to create an X shape which is attached to each corner of the area or structure to help keep everything stable.

Wall and roof panels

Otherwise known as sheets or sheeting, strong steel panels are attached to the girts and purlins you have welded to your primary elements, to enclose your space.

There are a few main types of panels that you can choose from, which are used for different purposes.

  • Exposed fastener roof and wall panels are cost-effective, lap over each other and they are fastened to the structure using self-drilling fasteners.
  • Standing seam roof panels are more watertight than exposed fasteners roofs, and they don’t have any exposed fasteners.
  • Architectural panels are much more flexible and can be custom to match your specifications.

Doors and windows

A steel building kit will also traditionally contain all of the materials needed for the frames of both the doors and the windows of your garages.

Usually, a standard kit won’t contain the glass or the actual door.

However, here are some of the doors and windows which you might be able to choose from when it comes to your metal building.

Storefront doors

Storefront doors are useful for if your building will end up being a shop, as they are see-through, come in a variety of sizes and can be both single doors or double doors.

Walk doors

Walk doors can come in three sizes and can be fitted with a variety of different hardware depending on your needs, such as alarms or security systems.

Roll up doors

Roll up doors traditionally roll up into a canister to keep them stored, they don’t take up as much space as sectional doors, but they usually require an extra ft of space.

Sectional doors

Sectional doors slide along a track like you can see in a residential garage door. And, they have the benefit of not needing extra space.

Bi-fold doors

These doors are typically very popular when you need a lot of space, they are versatile, and they can be used as a solution to many different problems.

Fasteners

All of the fasteners that you will need for the frames and the panels should be included in the kit for your building.

You will also likely receive the following:

  • Nuts
  • Clips
  • Washers
  • Self-drilling fasteners
  • Flashings
  • Sealants

Precisely what you will get in your kit as well as the number will depend entirely on the kit, the size of your building and how complex you need it to be.

Ridge cap and base angle

Ridge caps slope and seals your roof ridge, and the cap will ensure that you keep pests out.

The base angle is the connection between the wall and the foundation, which will seal the base of the building from moisture and vermin.

Drawings and anchor bolt plan

You should receive drawings to use for your building, which will have been drawn by your engineer and be certified.

Anchor bolts, as the name suggest, are bolts which fasten your building to the foundation of your building, which is why they have to be in an optimal location.

While an anchor bolt might not be included in your kit, you can find them from most local hardware stores.

Where can I find metal building kits?

1. Versatube

VersaTube

Type: DIY steel building kits

Locations: Tennessee

Versatube is one of the unique steel building companies on the market because they sell steel building kits which they claim you can ultimately do yourself.

You can either purchase a standard kit which you could use for multiple purposes, including carports, barns, garages and small shelters.

Or, you could opt for one of their fully customised buildings which allows you to design your garage or workshop building, or a carport or other shelter.

2. Factory Steel Overstock

Factory Steel Overstock

Type: Metal building kits

Locations: Colorado

Factory Steel Overstock is a Colorado-based company who offers their customers a wide range of doing it yourself kits, which can be customised to match your exact needs or you can choose from standard packages.

They have a high 4.2/5 rating on trusted websites such as Google, with customers stating that they found the process easy and their buildings are cost-effective.

3. Absolute Steel & Storage

Absolute Steel and Storage

Type: Metal building kits

Locations: Arizona

Absolute Steel & Storage is a metal building company which has been tried and tested, as well as trusted, by all branches of the U.S army including the Marines, Navy and Air Force.

These kits are quick to install and can withstand harsh weather, which is why you can find Absolute Steel & Storage metal buildings in both the United States and abroad in harsh environments such as Afghanistan and Death Valley.

They have a 4.2/5 rating on Google, with customers stating that they offer great products.

4. Bargain Barns USA

Bargain Barns USA

Type: Metal building supplier

Locations: Oklahoma

Bargain Barns USA is a family-owned business which has over 16 years of experience in the metal building industry, providing not only high-quality barns but also carports, garages and homes too.

With their 5-star rating on Google, customers state that the team is friendly and helpful, with insulated kits that can keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer.

Each one of their kits can be customised to match your specifications, with aesthetic choices on offer including colours and different materials.

5. Armstrong Steel Buildings

Armstrong Steel

Type: Steel building supplier

Locations: Texas

Armstrong Steel Buildings is a Texas-based company which provides customers across the United States with steel buildings that can be used for many different purposes.

Including but not limited to workshops, garages, agricultural buildings, religious uses or for commercial purposes like retail shops or strip malls for instance.

With a 4.9/5 rating on their website, they have many different testimonials which say that the team can help you to design the steel building of your dreams, with a helpful team and quick construction times.

What are the benefits of having a prefab building?

Prefab means that a building’s parts have already been made in a factory. So when you receive them, they can be quickly put together.

This can save you a lot of time, allow you to do specific building tasks yourself and you can rest assured that these parts have been built to specifics to fit together.

Here are some of the benefits:

✔ Faster to build

✔ More affordable

✔ Simple construction

✔ Easy to expand

✔ Customisable

✔ Adds value

What are the benefits of using steel for your metal building?

So, here are some of the benefits of using steel:

  • High durability
  • Affordability
  • Flexibility
  • Strength
  • Cut to dimensions
  • Steel is recyclable
  • Withstands seismic activities

Conclusion

In conclusion, many metal building components can help you to create the building, church or residence of your dreams.

Thanks to prefab buildings, both DIY’ers and professionals can benefit from fast construction and customisable kits.

Finally, do you want to learn more about building components or compare price from local companies?

Check out the Green Building Elements comparison service below: