steelbuilding accessories.info information

Although the nature of steel buildings allows for plenty of flexibility if you need to make changes in the future, such as expanding the building, it’s always easier and more cost effective to plan for what you need up front.

When ordered as part of the initial steel building purchase, accessories are guaranteed to fit the building exactly. This will save the customer hours of time in trying to outsource accessories from other companies which might not be a perfect fit, leaving the building open to leakage and other problems.

Don''''t cheat yourself and purchase aftermarket lumber yard products that will cause time consuming headaches and unattractive appearances because of struggles in retrofitting.

Each of the accessories below performs a specific function that will enhance and improve the capabilities and cost effectiveness of your new steel building.

WINDOWS

can be insulated or un-insulated, double pane or single, in a range of sizes and styles. Make sure the windows are self “flashing” (they do not require other components to make a watertight seal) and come with all necessary hardware such as screens and locks, as well as the parts for the framed opening.

WALK DOORS

are regular sized doors for people to go in and out of the building. They are available insulated or not. They can be purchases “pre-hung” with framed opening components and all necessary hardware, thresholds and weather stripping. Make sure your doors are designed to “flash” with your sheeting, a good reason not to outsource them a different supplier after the building has been purchased. Glass window insets are available options.

OVERHEAD DOORS

(roll-up) are for moving large equipment or vehicles in and out of a building. Commercial rollup doors designed specifically for your metal building come in a variety of sizes and colors. Make sure they are engineered to “flash” with your sheeting. They are available with chain hoists or electric operated motors for ease of opening. You can purchase “high wind” rated doors if you live in a hurricane prone area such as Florida. Sliding doors are another option for a large opening.

INSULATION

can be an important choice for a steel building, depending on its purpose. The proper insulation can create substantial savings on heating and/or cooling costs, as well as help with any condensation problems. There are many types on the market; one of the most efficient is Radiant Barrier Insulation.

Click here for more info about insulating a steel building.

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS

keep your building in top condition. Gutters are used for the same reason as on traditional buildings, to catch water running down the side of the building to prevent puddles from forming next to the building. They prevent separation in the soil and new concrete, and streaking on sidewall panels from rain or melt off. Find out if they can be color-matched to your trim.

WAINSCOT

is an inexpensive custom item to make the appearance of the building more attractive. It consists of a different color panel on the bottom 3’ to 4’ of the building. This gives your building a two-tone look- the top of the building is one color and a small portion of the bottom of the building another color.

It is common for most customers to do the roof, trims and bottom panels in one color and the top part of the wall sheets in another color. Wainscot is especially common in residential / business areas where appearance is of high priority.

COLORED ROOF

CANOPY

is a quick and economical way to provide shelter over walk doors.

VENTS

come in many varieties. Proper ventilation is necessary in all buildings, and especially important in metal buildings. The optimum amount of ventilation depends on its size, shape and purpose. Generally, one 10’ ridge ventilator will serve 2400 square ft. of space, but this figure changes depending on what is inside the building. For example, if the building contains animals or many people, it will require more ventilation. Remember that an efficient system requires cross ventilation.

Ridge vents are the perfect method of removing hot moist air from your building. If the building gets warm, heat will rise to the highest point, which is the peak, and just sit there. If you get a couple of ridge vents, you can open the dampers to release the hot air and reduce condensation. For effective cross ventilation, ridge vents on the roof need corresponding louvers near the floor.

They are most commonly available in 10’ lengths with bird screen and cable operators for ease of opening and shutting. Ridge vents also include an interior gutter system which doesn’t allow water to come into the building through an open vent.

Other Items for Ventilation include…

Circular Roof Vents and Rubber Roof Jacks(this item seals a pipe coming out of the roof)

Exhaust Fans are designed to exhaust polluted or disagreeable air and improve air quality to meet your particular CFM requirements (cubic feet per minute)

Wall Louvers are the perfect way to create air circulation and much needed cross ventilation in your building. Louvers can provide most of the ventilation needed in small buildings. They come in either a fixed or adjustable style.

CUPOLAS

are another way to create ventilation, as well as architectural interest. This is another type of ventilation that is extremely attractive. A cupola offers a way for the building to breathe to avoid condensation and create a custom appearance. You will see this product quite often on horse barns and riding arenas.

SKYLIGHTS

Cut down on energy costs by letting natural light into the building. Although they can be custom made to any measurements, the standard size is 10’8”. This size can be used in one place or cut in half and used in two places. Great for extra light in places where there is no power.

EXTERIOR FINISHES

are not usually considered accessories, strictly speaking. But they certainly can add to the appearance, the resale value, and the “R” value by providing more insulation and lower energy costs.

These new architectural finishes are also known as facades. Any steel building can be outfitted with simulated brick, stone, stucco, and other finishes for a fraction of the cost of the “real thing”. These products may be applied over interior walls as well, either as accents or to cover entire walls. The applications are limited only by your imagination.

The most popular architectural finishes now on the market fall into two categories- simulated finishes, and natural material facades. The natural facades are also much easier to install and less costly than their traditional counterparts, brick, stonework and stucco.

Simulated Finishes:

• Steel “stucco look” panels
• Insulated “stucco finish” panels
• Simulated or synthetic stone

• Brick Veneers
• Natural Stone and Faux Stone Veneers
• Masonry facades
• Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS)

Definition of terms

1. Flashing- seals a wall or roof at its most vulnerable points, such as window and door openings, vents and pipes in a roof. When you install any of these in a steel building, you are creating a hole in the sides or roof whereby water may seep in. Flashing makes the opening water tight and directs water away from the openings.

   The best method to avoid water entering the building is to use preformed flashing panels. These panels provide a better seal than tape, foam, or caulk. Flashing panels are easy to install, and usually will be provided by the steel building manufacturer with any accessories that require them. They provide effective protection against water intrusion and the problems that can cause.

2. Framed Opening - Jambs, headers and trim around an opening in the wall of a metal building. (usually for any sort of door)

3. Pre-Engineered Steel Building-The term “pre-engineered” or “prefabricated” is often applied to metal building systems. This indicates that these buildings have been specially engineered for all parts including windows, doors, roofs, and trims, to fit together perfectly and easily, to meet the unique requirements of their precise uses. A pre-engineered steel building is designed using modern computer technology, and can be custom designed for any application and any size or shape requirements.

4. “R” Value- is a term predominantly used in the building industry to describe the insulating properties of certain building materials. Its use is limited to situations where thermal insulation is achieved by retarding the flow of heat through the material itself rather than reflecting radiant heat away. The way it works is simple: the higher the R-value, the more the material insulates.

5. Radiant Barrier Insulation- is a system which reflects radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it.

6. Roof Pitch- is measured in what is called the “rise: run” format. Figure this measurement as follows: If the roof measures twelve feet from the center of the roof (called the peak) to the outer edge (called the eave), and it rises five feet from the eave to the peak, the pitch will be 5:12. Traditionally, steel buildings looked like square boxes; a high roof pitch is one of the many ways to make the building look more like conventional forms of construction as well as more modern and attractive.

References:

Roof Help USA, http://www.roofhelp.com/Rvalue.htm

ToolBelt, http://toolbelt.buildiq.com/topics/drainage-planes/housewrap/water-intrusion-around-penetrations.aspx

Grace Construction Products, http://www.graceathome.com/pages/flashing.htm

Steel Building.com, http://www.steelbuilding.com/buildings/accessories_ventilation.htm

Rigid Building Systems, http://www.rigidbuilding.com/productguide/

Velux, http://www.veluxusa.com/aboutVELUX/termsDefined/