Archive for the 'Before You Buy Your Steel Building' Category

Home Improvement Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Building

Published January 27, 2012 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , going green , Norsteel Buildings News Leave a Comment

Looking for ways to make your building more eco-friendly? While renovating every now and then is a good idea for a fresh look, you will also be adding value to your home/building. See below for tips on renovating your home to make it more environmentally friendly.

The first thing we look at is roofing. The best way to make this environmentally friendly is to add solar panels. Basically solar panels are put on your roof in the sun and will collect power without adding any fuel or replacing work out parts.  These panels are very popular, modern, green, and used almost everywhere. You might also want to change your roof colour, research indicates that roof colour and the type of material used can help to lower attic temperatures. If you decide to re-roof, consider lighter tiles such as white over the standard shingle roofs and this will reduce heat gain to your attic.

Another great idea is to replace all light bulbs in your building with compact fluorescent ones. Energy-smart bulbs use 70-75% less energy than the incandescent kind and last up to ten times longer! This is just a simple tip but can save you $59 dollars on energy costs over the life of the bulb, which can be anywhere from five to seven years. Also, installing motion detectors outside your home rather than leaving outdoor lighting on all night which will only waste energy, money and disturb wildlife.

One of the most important tips here is do not waste water.  Always check for leaky faucets and get them fixed if you notice a leak as soon as possible. When doing laundry, try to use cold water as much as you can. Also set a good example for your children by teaching them to turn off water while they brush their teeth. Installing low flow showerheads will cut down on water usage and save energy costs.

When heating and cooling your home, invest in a high-efficiency HVAC system that is Energy Star certified and install it in your home. This will reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted and will shave your utility bill.  Look for a product with a higher SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio). This means that the product meets strict government criteria necessary to be deemed “energy efficient.” The standard is 13 SEER, but many heating and air conditioning products have a rating as high as 18 SEER.  Also, cleaning out your air conditioner filters and replacing them regularly will help to reduce costs. If you are not in your home, adjust the thermostat to accommodate the changing temperatures outside.

Finally, another good tip is to install more fans in your home. Ceiling fans can help reduce your family’s dependence on air condition during the hot summer months. In winter, they push heat down from the ceiling.

For more information on home improvement tips on making your building more eco-friendly, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source: http://www.toolbarn.com/blog/post/view/identifier/tips-to-be-green/

Roles and Responsibilities of LEED

Published October 27, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , going green , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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In any project, it is the responsibility of each member such as the owner, architect, engineer, contractor and end user who each have a responsibility in their project that will eventually receive LEED certification.  It is crucial that those who are involved in a LEED project understand their roles and responsibilities.  Recently, a project was reviewed by Thomas Taylor who was asked by a general contractor to review proposed contract language for a project which LEED certification was to be issued.

The 29 year old veteran of the construction industry, Thomas Taylor is the general manager of St. Louis-based Vertegy.  Guide to LEED 2009: Estimating and Preconstruction Strategies, his recent book  provides step-by-step information about the LEED 2009 for the New Construction process.

In reviewing a contract, he found that their was a lump sum general contract in which the contractor had no responsibility for the design of the project. The language related to LEED certification had led the reader to believe that the owner may not have been fully aware of which members of the delivery team were responsible for the various activities that are required in a LEED project.  The reason why they had thought this was because of the following statement:  Contractor shall have on staff LEED Accredited Professional who has experience in constructing LEED certified projects and shall, as requested by the owner, administer the LEED certification process using its best efforts to cooperate with architect and assist the owner to achieve the desired LEED certification for the project.

When seeing proposed contractual language such as the above, especially questions such as what is the owner’s definition of cooperation? or how much effort will it take to assist the owner in achieving the desired level of LEED certification? These questions can sometimes take a variety of different meanings. At the beginning of every project, there is usually an optimistic feeling from all the members of the team that everything regarding the project will work out as planned.  As the project moves from design to construction, budgets, value-engineering exercises are required and a lot of the times schedules are disrupted and everything from the planned project gets shifted. When faced with extreme stressors, the project can change completely.  A practical approach to avoid this is to alleviate potential problems that could arise with the use of vague terms such as cooperate and assist is to specify the exact activities required by the contractor or to provide and allowance of hours that may be extended to assist the owner with LEED- related tasks. Create a list of tasks and decide which member will take over each tasks and after allowing a certain amount of hours this will allow the member to complete the task without falling behind.  When the list is followed accordingly, this will allow your project to become successful. For more information on tips about this topic, visit: www.vertegyconsultants.com

For more info on LEED related topics, visit: www.norsteel.com

Dri-Design Metal Panels

Published September 20, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Dry-design was first invented in Holland Michigan in 1995 by president Brad Zeeff.  Dri-Design has become very popular in the wall panel industry.  Zeef wanted to solve what he thought as the significant shortfalls of metal panel systems which was delamination, staining due to weather, gaskets, a lack of colour and texture options.  He came up with dri-design which is meticulous in engineering, 100% recyclable, pressure equalized rain screen, and architectural metal wall panel system that can attach to any substrate without the use of clips or extrusions. The equalized rain screen can be installed simply over commercial grade Tyvek onto plywood.

Zeeff says “Don’t let its sleek, simple design fool you, the panel system is as innovative as they come.”  Dri-design has a patented design that has passed the most stringent air, water and structural testing requirements in the industry, this includes the AAMA 508-07 test for pressure equalized rain-screens, as well as Miami Dade Country hurricane testing.  The reason why Dri-design is so successful is because of its interlocking system used to fasten the panels to the structure. This also functions as a superior method of water management. It has a unique technology, the panels perform flawlessly in the long term, without the delaminating, streaking or staining associated with silicone sealants, gaskets and laminated competitor products.

Not only are the panels an intriguing aspect of dri-design, the company also utilizes the latest automation technologies to streamline the manufacturing process. Each panel is produced in a matter of seconds.  The interlocking panels system itself simplifies the install process, making it quicker and more efficient than the more traditional ones. Clients can be assured of faster cladding lead times and buildings are occupied much sooner.

The average standard composite panel core is 4mm and is laminated to very thin aluminum skins, dri-design uses only solid plate aluminum, zinc, copper sheet metals to create durable architectural panels that are 100% recyclable. At dri-design, their strict policy is to make sure that recycling and creating products are sustainable.  With Dri-design, customers can be confident that panels are available in a variety of colours and sizes. However, it is dri-design’s distinct customization capabilities that make using their panels system all the more inviting. The panels can be tailored to many different sizes and are manufactured in a variety of gauges of aluminum, zinc, copper, stainless steel, weathering steel, Luvata and titanium. The panels can also be further customized through embossing, texturing and an exclusive process that creates three-dimensional patterns and images. Dri-design has gained major popularity and is becoming huge in the steel building business!

For more information on Dri-design, visit:  http://www.dri-design.com/

For more information on panels, accessories, steel buildings and more, feel free to visit us at www.norsteel.com

Source:  www.metalarchitecture.com

Making Recycling Easier

Published August 26, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , going green , Pre-Fabricated Building News 1 Comment
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Looking to make your recycling process easier? Well there is a product called CleanStream which is designed to increase recyclers profitability.  This process combines the power of the company’s P-Rex drum magnet and the new Shred 1 separator. Making it easier to separate garbage as well as shredding it.

The drum improves ferrous recovery by one to two percent while the shred1 separator produces a low copper content.  In this process, the materials will go through a permanent rare earth drum magnet which is designed using sophisticated modeling techniques up to 40 percent strong than any electro drum. This requires no operating power and can move large spherical objects at twice the distance. Keep in mind that current electromagnetic drum technology is not capable of sustaining a deep enough magnet field to attract much of the heavy spheres referred to as meatballs and knuckles.  The next step in this process is that the materials go on to the shred1 separator which will use ballistics to automatically separate high grade iron rich ferrous from mixed metals and waste. This will utilize  a high speed conveyor belt and will subject the material to forces that push different materials into a trajectories. This will result in the smallest and purest items that will be pulled from the natural trajectory of the larger and less pure ferous and ferrous composite items such as meatballs, tires, etc.  The more pure ferous items report to the shred chute and move to a stacking conveyor.

The second fraction is the larger size ferrous items and lower grade ferrous including meatballs and wiring harnesses. This streamline represents 10 to 20 percent of the original stream and proceeds to hand picking stations.  Because the cleanstream has reduced the volume, the handpicking can be equipped with slower and narrower belts and will require fewer picking personnel.  The third stream represents the non-value wastes. Most of the bulk of this material is usually steel belted rubber tires.

Cleanstream enables shredders to deliver low-copper content shred which steel mills will pay a premium because of too much copper being melted and because of this it will also embrittle the steel batch and affect the surface quality of the end of product. And finally, factoring in the value of meatballs and other copper and nonferrous items that are recovered as discrete saleable commodities.  They are worth several times more by weight than shredder steel and automated equipment recovers more of the material than manual sorters can. If your interested in the Cleanstream product, there are many advantages and this will also make your recycling product so much easier! See below for product info.

For more information on this article and products you can visit www.recyclingproductnews.ca and for more information on steel buildings, visit us at www.norsteel.com

Back-up Panels in a All in One System

Published August 8, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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A problem that many architects and contractors face is finding a back-up wall system that will keep moisture out and the heat in.  Even though most component back up systems consist of layers of batt or board insulation, exterior gypsum board, air barriers, vapor retarders or building wraps, there is a company called Moon Township who offer an all in one MetalWrap series insulated composite back-up panel.  This consists of a single thermal, air and moisture barrier back up system. These panels can be used with element exterior or mixed medium buildings using a metal brick and terra cotta exteriors.

Today, builders are looking for a high level of performance as well as easy insulation.  The MetalWrap series does just this by positioning the panel component instead of several separate building materials.  A lot of the problem areas are being removed by providing a single component. This will give the ability to provide a continuous air and thermal barrier for the envelope.  If the layers of the traditional multiple component back up system fails, this can lead to moisture build-up and entrapment within the wall cavity of the building and will result in mold, poor insulation and corroded studs.  With the MetalWrap series panels, they have vapor, water, air and thermal barriers which are all included in one single piece. This will lower the risk for failure by combining all barriers into a single-component.  A major benefit to this is that the system will simplify the speed up for construction.

The problem with traditional system is that they need multiple work crews, more job-site deliveries and coordination of scheduling and sequencing.  With MetalWrap systems, it allows for faster close-in and dry-in and minimal construction waste.  It also includes advanced thermal and moisture protection technology which will control moisture without loosing thermal efficiency.  The way the system works is by combining insulated foam core with a durable metal rainscreen, air and moisture barrier and unique clips, anchors and supports that will meet the requirements of each exterior building material. Most architects do not have to worry about what they are putting behind a building  if they have a combination of brick and metal facade on a building because of the various details that are going to take to transfer from one exterior material to the other. The system can be used on this type of elevation.

The panels are available in 2 to 4 inch thick with up to an R-27 value and can be installed horizontally or vertically. They are manufactured with a high volume of recycled content and are Cradle to Cradle Certified at the silver level and may aid in LEED points. The panels also meet thermal and fire code requirements.

For more information on panels, please feel free to visit www.norsteel.com

Source: Metal Architecture Magazine

Steel Walk doors

Published August 8, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Pre-Fabricated Building News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Deciding which steel walk doors to install in your steel building can sometimes be tricky. There are many factors to consider such as where do I buy steel walk doors and which type of steel walk doors do I purchase and often the choice is based on a convenient place to buy them rather than the most important factor which is the price and quality of the doors.

You must make sure that for every building, you consider each door for application and usage.  There is a guide that can help you with this, it’s called “Selection and Usage Guide” which has been created by The Steel Door Institute.  This guide can help with exterior and interior applications and is an excellent guide to determine choices.  The tougher the environment and the more frequent the usage, the more probable the need for heavier gauges and higher grades of hardware.  For example; if you are using a standard 20-gauge door and this is pretty standard for many applications, however a heavier 18-gauge door is probably the most recommended choice for entrance doors especially with higher traffic requirements.  You may also be looking at a heavy duty Grade 2 lock or a Grade 1 lock which might be necessary in this situation rather than a light of medium duty Grade 2 or 3 lock. There is a huge variety so it’s important to research these more thoroughly before making a final decision. Keep in mind that there are other key choices to be made with larger pricing implications not just gauges of doors, frames and grades of locks.

A typical choice is the door core. Exterior doors should have an insulated core, with polystyrene or polyurethane filler. Polystyrene is the most common and cost effective and typically carries an R-value of around 4-5.  Here is a little bit more info on Polyurethane, in case you are not familiar with it. They are widely used in high resiliency flexible foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and gaskets and much more.  It is any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane (carbamate) links. Now back to the R-Value, something to consider on your door is the R-Value.  This will include the frame and components of the door.  Because doors and constantly being opened and closed, the seal on the door has a much greater impact than a static door R-Value and this is based on the warm and cold air that passes through the system. So you need to ensure that the doors are well sealed through a high quality screw on or kerf type weather seal and the cost will illuminate your need for a polyurethane core ensuring the best economic fit is provided.

For more information on this product or any accessories for your steel building, please visit us at www.norsteel.com

How to Customize Storage Doors on a Slope

Published June 22, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Steel Building Tips Leave a Comment
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Customizing your steel building with doors and accessories should be fun and easy, but what if your faced with a bit of a challenge?  What if your steel building is built on a slope? Well, you don’t have to worry because many customers just like you have been faced with this common problem.  One company by the name of DBCI had 10 buildings which were all built on a slope of 4 percent.  Most buildings, however are only about 1 percent.  This is why doors have rubber astragal tube-like material at the bottom.

The solution to this problem was to create a door that had an aluminum bottom bar which would be tapered, welded and bolted on certain locations.  The tape would run from about 4 1/2 inches on one end to 2 1/2 inches on the other.  It would then be made from aluminum and spliced down the middle.  A tig welding technique is used and bolts are placed in specific locations that provided taper.  Aluminium is used as a standard for doors because it would be a non-corrosive material and is more functional as far as wear and tear go.  It also gives the door a nicer look.  If the slopes of your building are varied it may be wise to have an installer make adjustments on-site such as removing nuts and bolts. This will make the bottom bar an expandable ruler on each side to help with the slope and create a tight seal on the floor.   This solution will allow workers some room in adjustment.  So when coming across a situation like this, there are a few options out there that can work for buildings on slopes.  This one solution has been helpful to one company and will be helpful to many others facing this problem.

DBCI – a manufacturer in storage doors is the company who came up with this solution.  They spent a whole month trying to figure out this problem and came up with many prototypes. It was a group of men who worked in the shop and each of them had ideas to contribute.  Everyone was co-operative and was excited to take on a new challenge.  The first few materials were delivered in July and then the rest were delivered in September.  The bottom bar was manufactured in Douglassville, GA and then had been shipped to Arizona where the manufacturing plant is located and this material is being used at the bottom of the doors. This is what most companies have done.  DBCI is very proud to introduce this new product which can be a huge solution to many.

For more information on steel buildings or storage doors and accessories, please visit us at www.norsteel.com and someone will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

Steel is a Cost Effective Building Material

Published June 7, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Steel Building Tips 1 Comment
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Money Falling. Image Source: Public Domain Image.

Data shows that an increasing number of contractors, architects and builders are using steel in their buildings – and for a variety of reasons.  In addition to its strength, steel is a versatile and incredibly dependable material with an extremely high tolerance.  It’s also a very cost-effective material to use.  Here are a few reasons why steel is an economical building material.

Quick Construction Time

The construction time for a steel building is normally faster than that of a building constructed using other materials, lessening production costs.  In some cases, steel parts can come pre-cut to the exact specifications of the building, making them far easier, and faster to assemble.  This helps to decrease labour costs, keeping costs down.

Long-Term Investment

Steel is an incredibly durable material which is resistant to harsh weather conditions.  Unlike other building products, steel will not collect mould or rot.  The initial costs of purchasing steel material may cost more, but steel makes an excellent (and economic) long-term investment.

Efficiency

Another way steel helps to keep costs down is through energy efficiency.  Steel is excellent at insulating, meaning it will help keep a building cool in the summer and warm in the winter, at a fraction of the cost of other buildings.  For this reason, steel is often used in energy-efficient and LEED certified buildings.

Durability

Steel is one of the strongest, most resilient materials available on the market today.  In addition to its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, it is also fire resistant and some studies have demonstrated that steel buildings are more resistant to earthquakes than other buildings.

Flexibility

Steel is an incredibly flexible material that can accommodate a variety of different settings.  From offices to storage sheds to homes, steel can do it all.  Thanks to steel, a corporate head office can be housed in the same building as a factory.  Keeping all business faucets in one area can greatly reduce shipping and administrative costs.

Things to Consider When Buying a Steel Building

Published April 20, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building Leave a Comment
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Checklist. Image Source: Watertower.

Buying a pre-made steel building to house your business or personal belongings can be a huge investment.  There are a lot of things to consider when making such a large purchase.  To make the task easier, here are a few things to consider.

  1. First of all, create a list of all the things you think you’ll need.  One of the downsides of buying a pre-made building is that it can contain a lot of costly features which you may not really need.  One way to avoid incurring unnecessary costs is to populate a list containing “must haves” and “nice to haves”.  If you spend some time thinking about this prior to scouting out buildings, you’re less likely to get roped into purchasing unnecessary extras.
  2. Some steel buildings can be easily relocated, while others cannot.  Try to think long term: will you need to move your building in the future? If so, opt for a building that you can transport at a reasonable cost.
  3. Assess what size your building needs to be.  If possible, sketch a rough diagram which includes the clearance height you’ll require, as well as the width and length of the building.
  4. Depending on the nature of your business, you may require your doors and windows to be a certain width and length.  Take detailed measurements beforehand.  This can avoid costly repairs post purchase.
  5. Make sure the building is in good condition.  Before signing anything, ensure that ventilation and electrical systems are in working order and that the building is properly insulated.
  6. Aesthetics should also play some part in your decision.  Opt for a building that is situated in an area that is easily accessible and, if possible, has a welcoming aesthetic that represents your business.
  7. If you will need to customize your building prior to moving in, ensure that you have set aside money for the construction costs and you have all the proper permits.
  8. Compare buildings.  It’s always a good idea to compare similar buildings in the area.  Doing so may end up saving you thousands of dollars.

Contact the building representatives at Norsteel to help you through the process of choosing the perfect steel building for your needs.

Things to Consider When Buying Horse Stables

Published March 29, 2011 Before You Buy Your Steel Building , Norsteel Buildings News , Pre-Fabricated Building News Leave a Comment
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When thinking about purchasing a steel building for your horse stable, there are many requirements that you need to think of.   Horse stables need to be extremely durable, structurally sound, wind, weather, fire and insect resistant, and capable of housing animals that weigh nearly a ton. You also need to think about climate, whether the stable will house breeding stock or riding horse and other considerations must also be taken into account when selecting the type of building to use.

A steel building barn meets all of the necessary requirements and conditions. They are maintenance free once erected, can be built to specification on a firm footing or pre-existing slab, and provide a warm, safe environment for the housing of horses or other livestock.

The advantages of steel building and barns over more traditional buildings include:  Speed of construction. With pre-engineered barn buildings, a steel horse barn can be manufactured, delivered and erected in a matter of a few months as opposed to the 6-9 month time required for building a structure composed of traditional materials

Durability. Steel horse stables are free from insects that cause damage to wooden structures. They are also less likely to house vermin. In addition, steel will not rot, crack or deteriorate like a wooden barn.

Insurance benefits. Due to the fire resistant nature of steel, property and fire insurance premiums are much cheaper for steel buildings and barns – in contrast to hefty insurance costs for traditional wooden stables.

Safety. Horses are more secure in a steel building or barn. Steel will not splinter if kicked, and there is no exposed wood for horses to bite or chew on, eliminating concerns about ‘cribbing’ or injuries caused by ingesting treated wood fragments.

Cost. Barn construction costs are far lower with a steel barn and are less expensive to maintain over time. They do not require painting or other protection from the elements, and can carry a significant snow load. Whether a rigid frame building or a more traditional pole barn style is selected, steel is cheaper in the long run compared to other building materials, due to the expected life span of the building.

Convenience. Using steel for horse stables means that adding stall features such as dividers, doors, feeders and watering options is as simple as bolting components onto the steel. Partitions can be erected to provide areas for feed and tack or equipment storage. Kits with all the necessary parts for a fully functional horse barn can be customized for the desired number of stalls as well as any additional features.

For more information on steel buildings, please visit: www.norsteel.com

Source: www.buildingsguide.com

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