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What You Need to Ask Your Contractor

Steel buildings might be simple and straightforward to put up, but there still exists the need for some to hire a contracting company in order to get the job done right. Maybe, as a property owner, you have little to no experience actually putting up structures and would rather it be done by a professional team. Others might want plenty of customization options that are outside of their own skill set. Either way, it’s important to choose the right contracting company when making your decision. Here are just a few questions you should ask a prospective contracting company before you make your final pick!

How Long Have You Been In Business?

This is an extremely important question to ask especially with the amount of fly-by-night contracting companies out there. Not only do you need to know how long they’ve been in business, but how long they’ve been operating in the particular city or region you’re going to be building in. This sets up their credibility as well as their experience dealing with building codes specific to a region. Everywhere you go across the country, there will be different ways of going about getting permits and understanding the regulations surrounding how big your building is allowed to be, where it’s able to go and so much more. Working with a contracting company that understands this in depth will make the project run much more smoothly.

Can I Meet Whoever Will Be In Charge Of The Job Site?

Every job site will have a main contact, or a foreman, and sometimes it might be a different person than the representative you speak to from the contracting company. It’s important to establish if you can meet whoever that might be so you can get a feel for their work ethic and explain your project goals directly.

Can You Give Me A Timeline?

The mark of a great contracting company is one that can provide you with a comprehensive timeline of when the work should be completed. This is also going to be much more probable with companies with years of experience and a full understanding of how every part of your project will go.

How Much Money Will I Have To Put Down?

Knowing how much money you’ll have to deposit in order to start your project is imperative so that you can plan and budget for when that payment is due. The amount might be the make or break in whether or not you go with that particular contracting company, so find out that information as early as you can. Having a full understanding of your project and making your plans very clear from the beginning will make it easier for them to gauge what the deposit will be – unless they have a standard amount across the board. This should be one of the first things you find out!

Which Subcontractors Will You Be Using?

This is an important question mainly because it’s the general contracting company who does the hiring for any specialized subcontractors – not you. It only makes sense that you’ll want to stay in the loop about who else will be working on your job site, their respective reputations and previous work. The same way you would vet the general contracting company, they should be able to provide you with information about the subcontractors as well so you can vet them as well.

Building a Factory

Steel buildings can be used in so many ways and typically do best when it comes to industrial uses. It’s industry standard in everything from agriculture to plastic production, so it should come as no surprise that steel structure makes for the best factories across several different industries. It’s important to remember that these usually need to be strong and durable buildings that last for years, which is part of what makes steel so perfect for the job. Here are just a few of the reasons why steel buildings make for the best factories.

Long-Lasting

Steel structures are buildings that last for years, even decades. If you’re putting up a factory, chances are that it’s a structure that will be used for a long period of time, so having it made from a material with a long lifespan is one of the most important features.

Low Maintenance

Steel is also the perfect material for factories because of how little maintenance it requires in order to stay in good shape. While yearly inspections are always suggested, there will likely be much longer periods of time between fixes and repairs. This will not only make the factory safe for any of the production processes, equipment and staff inside, but also gives you more time to focus on these things rather than the tons of fixes that would come up in structures made from other materials like wood or even concrete, which can be prone to pests like termites or even rotting.

Resistant

When it comes to steel buildings, they’re resistant to things like bad weather conditions, fire and pests. These are all things that can greatly affect any factory, and even halt production depending on how bad it is. Pests can easily get into structures made mainly from wood and compromise the safety and functionality or your products, materials and equipment inside, but this is something you don’t have to worry about with steel. Fire hazards are a very real problem in factories, especially ones with heavy machinery or ones that use heat or open flame in any part of the production process. In steel structures, fire is much slower to spread through the structure, giving you crucial time to contain the situation accordingly and do as little damage as possible.

Expansion

Typically a commercial building owner will have a clear idea of the size factory they’re going to need, but sometimes anticipating fast expansion can be tricky. The good thing about steel structures is that generally speaking, the process of expanding of renovating is much simpler than with buildings made from other materials like wood or concrete. Business needs change all the time and many times, moving to or building a brand new factory is far more inconvenient and expensive than it’s worth. Being able to expand the space with much less problems than other building types is an important factor in making them perfect for factory use, especially for business that are quickly growing. It’s also important to keep in mind that your steel building can be a large empty space, easily customizable to whatever you need each area for. If you already have the space you need, steel buildings offer you the freedom of making changes to the structure’s interior so you can make room for new equipment or product storage that way in lieu of a physical expansion.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

What are our Buildings Great For?

The great thing about steel buildings is how versatile it is and just how many industries it can truly be perfect for. There are many commercial purposes that prefab steel buildings work well with, and it’s important to have your purpose clearly in mind so you can get the absolute most out of your building. Here are just a few of the industries that benefit from the use of prefab steel buildings.

Fashion Retail

Retail stores go up all the time, and the needs of each and every brand differs greatly. No two stores are ever created the same! Prefab steel is flexible enough to be able to adapt to whatever clothing store setup works best for the property owner and the brand. Whether it’s a standalone store or part of a larger complex, prefab steel presents a unique benefit in terms of how quickly it can be constructed as well. Not only that, in the event that the layout needs to be changed at any point in the future, renovation is something that’s much easier with steel buildings than with more conventional forms of construction.

Food & Grocery

Much like retail stores, large and flexible locations for grocers are just as important. With the trussless design of our prefab steel structures, it becomes much easier to create the perfect layout and setup inside your store so you can perfectly accommodate the products you’re looking to carry; as well as any changes that might come along later. Thanks to steel’s natural insulation, it’s much easier to include energy efficient appliances like fridges and freezers in order to keep all of your perishable items safe, secure and in good condition while also saving you money in utility costs.

Manufacturing

Prefab steel is a building type that we readily associate with industrial uses, so it makes perfect sense that it would work well in the manufacturing industry. From its quick and easy construction and lack of maintenance, there are plenty of reasons why a prefab steel building makes for the perfect manufacturing space. With a truly open concept interior design, you can put all of the machinery you need in whatever spot you need it in without having to compromise and work around support columns and other obstructive features.

Storage

Prefab steel makes for the perfect storage units, no matter how much you’re looking to store inside each particular unit. Because prefab steel buildings are highly customizable, you can have a variety of spaces and sizes among your storage units, while also being able to be certain about the quality of each of your units.

Agriculture

Prefab steel is also perfect for the agricultural industry thanks to the way it can protect any kind of items from food products to livestock. Prefab steel is excellent for keeping moisture, outdoor elements and pests at bay – things that can cause plenty of damage to animal feed, livestock, raw material, food products and so much more.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

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Why Buy Canadian

Building a steel structure in Canada is useful and practical now more than ever before. Steel structures are known for how well they hold up in all kinds of weather and for the recycling capabilities of steel. Another great feature is that Olympia steel buildings are made in Canada! While Olympia does plenty of business in the United States, our Canadian contingent is important to our local customers. The industries between the two countries share plenty of things, but there are slight differences that are important to acknowledge in a Canadian context to make your project come together much simpler!

Support The Canadian Economy

Of course, buying a steel structure from a Canadian supplier like Olympia Canada means that revenue will be put right back into the Canadian economy in a handful of ways. Not only will the money you spent purchasing the structure go to a Canadian company, but chances are your building will be used for commercial purposes on Canadian soil; creating even more revenue in whatever industry the building will exist to serve. As much of the world is still recovering from the financial downturn of nearly a decade ago, keeping money within the country is an important goal to strive for. Typically, from the steel supplier to the labour used to prefabricate the parts of your structure, to it being transported to your job site, there is Canadian labour all throughout that chain that benefits from your purchase of a steel building.

Work With Licensed Engineers

In Canada, the engineers we work with are obligated to be licensed under various accreditations and pass plenty of exams and other standards to be considered for a license from the Canadian Licensure Board. Those that are successful are highly skilled individuals who focus on quality and maintaining the standards of public health and safety. With our steel buildings, any design or kit was created with the utmost care and consideration of all kinds of variations in size, location, weather and much more. It’s important to remember just how flexible steel buildings are, and that our qualified engineers do plenty of work to ensure that your structure will be in good shape for years to come.

Follow Canadian Standards

In Canada, construction projects and buildings need to follow a set of rules that are referred to as the CSA-A660 standards, developed to ensure that all the buildings that go up are quality structures that don’t endanger the environment or people around it in any way. For inspections, it’s important to be sure that your structure – especially steel buildings – meets these standards and that’s something that you might not be able to guarantee with foreign steel building companies. Canadian companies that manufacture steel products have to be certified by an agency to make sure that it can pass any and all of these tests with flying colours. Ultimately, it’s about keeping you as the property owner and main user of the steel building safe throughout the process and after, and making sure the building is safe no matter who needs to use it when it’s been completed.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

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Great for Farming

There are tons of industries that benefit greatly from the use of steel buildings in this country, and farming and agriculture is not any different. No matter what your particular role is in the industry, there’s ways that steel buildings can serve to benefit your bottom line. It’s important to consider a steel building as an investment into your farming business. Traditional agriculture structures have typically been made from wood, and maybe steel framing but there’s plenty of reason why prefabricated steel is the best possible option for all your Canadian agricultural needs. Whether you’re looking to keep livestock like pigs and chickens safe from the outdoor elements or have a place to keep grains and other food products stored and out of the way, having a steel building is one of the best ways to get this done.

Durable

The very best thing about steel buildings is how durable they are, lasting for years to come once they’ve been put up. Having a prefab steel building means you won’t have to worry about your building breaking down earlier than you expect. Maintenance will be minimal on your steel building and you’ll be able to enjoy many more years of use from it when compared to other materials and construction methods

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Fire Resistant

Wood’s biggest enemy is fire so the great thing about prefab steel is that it’s a material that is resistant to fire, which will in turn keep the building’s contents safe no matter what they are. From livestock to food products to other highly flammable items like hay, they’ll all be safe inside your prefab steel structure, so it’s one less thing to worry about.

Easy Construction

Another great benefit to steel buildings is just how simple they are to put up. This means you’ll be able to make use of your agriculture building much sooner than later! A project that would normally take a few weeks or months to complete can be done in a few days – giving you the opportunity to start using your barn or farm storage building much quicker and get the return on your investment in the building.

Flexible

Chances are that you’ll have multiple functions for our steel building, since agriculture is such a vast and layered industry. Having a place to keep livestock will also mean you’ll need a place to keep food, cleaning and grooming supplies, sleeping and feeding quarters as well as windows and doors that allow them to go outside. Even using your building for equipment storage will likely have you storing different items together and you’ll need a way to keep them all organized. Steel buildings are thankfully flexible enough to be built and laid out in a variety of ways that still keeps everything organized and easy to access. Don’t hesitate to create a steel structure that looks exactly the way you need it to in order to be functional. The flexibility doesn’t end there, however. Steel buildings are excellent also because they can be customized in any number of ways to match the other structures on your property. Form custom paint options to custom trims, there’s always a way to cater your steel building to your own tastes.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

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Taking Care of Your Roof

The roof is easily the most important part of any building, and steel structures are no different. As such, it’s important that this part of your building stay in good shape on a constant basis, so that you aren’t met with any issues or unpleasant surprises later on down the line. There’s plenty of damage and wear and tear that can occur in your steel building via the roof, so keeping up in good shape is the first step in prolonging the lifespan of your building.

Clean Your Roof Regularly

While constant repairs might not be needed, one great way to keep your roof in good shape is by keeping it leaning. Cleaning and maintaining your roof on a bi-annual basis, typically in the spring and fall, can do wonders to keep it all under control. Keeping your gutters clean and getting rid of any debris on your roof are just a few ways you can keep your roof in good shape.

Regular Inspections

Whether they’re done by your or by a professional, your entire structure should have some type of inspection; especially your roof. It will be important to check for any damage in its early stages so it can be treated as soon as possible. This includes damages to any of the coatings or paints on your roof, the gutter being in the right spot and not damaged and so on. Keeping an eye on all these features regularly will help you stay on top of any fixes you might need to complete to keep it in good shape.

Spot Issues Early

The most important part of keeping your roof in good shape is doing regular inspections (bi-annually) and spotting and treating any issues you might find as soon as possible. Regular wear & tear is normal, but if left untreated these can grow into larger issues that might take a lot more time, money and resources to fix later on down the line as opposed to getting them fixed early on.

Work With Professionals

Not every inspection or repair job can be done on your own, so it’s important to be honest about the times when you might need professional services to get it done. Consider our roofing repair company Olympia Roofing Systems that specializes in steel building roofing options to get guaranteed excellent service and the exact repairs and replacements your structure might need.

Prevent Leaks & Clogs

Leaks and clogs are two of the biggest culprits when thinking about roof damage, but they’re easy to prevent. Keeping your gutters from getting clogged with make sure there’s no excessive water buildup close to your roof. Clearing it out is as simple as pushing a hose through the gutter and ensuring the water can flow through easily. Use a drain snake to clear it if you notice a problem, or leave it up to the professionals. Consider power wash away any debris on your roof, as well as from your gutter, in order to keep everything under control.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

Consider These Things For Commercial Buildings

With any commercial building project, there will always be a handful of things that you’ll need to consider in order to make the project as successful as possible. Steel buildings are no different. It’s important to have a good idea of exact what you want from your structure so that you can expect the best possible result in the long run. Steel buildings, like any other structure, are an investment for any property owner so getting the choices right the first time is imperative. Here are just a few of the important things to consider in any commercial building project.

How Long Will It Take?

One of the first things you should figure is how long your project is going to take. This will help you accurately create not only a timeline of the work itself, but also the budget by seeing how long you’ll need certain types of labour for. Finding out the length of time it will take will help you accurately decide what kinds of customization or sizing options you’ll want on your structure, and what features you’re willing to forgo for the moment or entirely because it will take too long and take away from your bottom line. Whether it’s days or a few weeks, steel buildings will always take far less time than more traditional forms of construction.

The Cost

Knowing the cost is obviously important, since that’s the money coming out of your own pocket, or a loaned amount you’ll be repaying later with interest. There are so many factors that can greatly effect what the budget is, so knowing the plan you want ahead of time will help you in figuring out just how much it will cost. It’s not just the upfront costs that matter, either. It will be imperative that you also figure out your long-term upkeep costs as well, since this might have an effect on the types of customization or appliance you ultimately choose to have inside your structure.

The Set Up

Not every steel building will ever look the same, so planning how you want yours to look will be instrumental in figuring out if steel buildings are even right for your project. Steel structures are extremely versatile, so it’s important to remember that you can get a little creative and make use of the space in many ways. Think about the paint and trim options as well as the interior layout before you start so you can order the building that works best for you. There are even a variety of roof designs and siding facing options that can make your structure look a lot more like other traditional structures with much less work and cost involved.

Can You Expand?

In the event that your needs change later on down the line when it comes to your structure, it’s important to think about how easy it might or might not be to expand your structure in various ways. With steel buildings, it’s generally a much easier task than buildings of other materials which is what makes them a popular commercial option. Think ahead to the ways that your commercial needs might change and prepare for it if your budget allows you to have the extra space. The structure’s interiors are very versatile as well, so these spaces can be redesigned and reused in whatever way you might see fit in the future even if it’s not exactly being put to use now!

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

2017 is Your Year

2017 might be in full swing, but there is still plenty of time to create and execute a comprehensive business plan that works best for you. Whether it’s a new small business or adding to an existing project, a lot goes into making these plans a success. There are plenty of factors that you’ll have to consider in your plan, especially if your plan includes a space for a head office, retail location, storage or a manufacturing. No matter what your end goal is as far as use goes, steel buildings are your best bet for meeting all of your business plan goals.

Cost Effective

When it comes to starting a new business, nothing is more important than spending your money as wisely as you can in the very beginning. Going with a prefab steel building is something that will save you around 30% in upfront costs when compared to the cost of raw materials to build a structure of the same size. Not only will you save on these upfront costs, but your construction costs will be lower in addition to the costs to heat and cool your structure thanks to its natural insulation. With the help of energy efficient appliances, you can save hundreds or even thousands over the course of a year to keep your head office, store or storage unit at a reasonable temperature.

Flexibility

Often when we think of steel structures, we envision a very specific type of building that looks much more industrial than anything else. Depending on what your business is, this aesthetic might not be the right look for your space, but it’s important to understand just how flexible steel buildings really are. From custom roofing and paint options and custom siding and facing, there’s plenty of ways that your steel building can look exactly the way you need it to look so you can have a structure that is the best reflection of your branding and the kind of space you need.

Fast Construction

Prefab steel has the advantage of being a building material that can come together much quicker than building with other materials! A project that might have taken weeks or even months with other construction materials like brick or wood, can be completed in just a matter of days. This is excellent for any business for a few reasons. Not only does this mean that you’ll be able to use your structure much sooner and get a return on your investment faster, but you’ll also save money on labour since you’ll only need general labour for a much shorter period of time compared to other building methods.

Low Maintenance

Steel buildings are extremely low maintenance, and can last for much longer periods of time without needing regular repairs or fixes. This is an important feature because, especially in the first year or two of a business, it’s important to keep costs low so you can get some real return on your investment. Unlike other structure types, you won’t have to constantly be fixing your structure – although annual inspections are highly recommended.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756

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Energy Efficient Ideas

When you have a steel building, the kinds of appliances that you have inside can do plenty in terms of keeping your utility bills relatively low. It will be important to go out of your way to choose energy efficient appliances so you’re not using more energy than you need to in your building. From fridges to stoves to HVAC units, picking energy efficient appliances is the next step after good insulation in making sure that your long-term utility bills stay affordable. There are plenty of appliances on the market and depending on what you’re looking for it can be confusing to choose the right ones for your space. Here are just a few tips on choosing the right energy efficient appliances for your steel building.

Do Some Research

Buying appliances usually cannot be a “in the moment” purchase, it requires you to have an understanding of what you need and which appliances fit those needs specifically. It will be imperative that you find the perfect appliances that are not only durable and last a long time, but also within your price range. You might have to do plenty of searching and comparisons before you finally take the plunge and buy what you need.

Get The Size You Need

You might think you need a certain sized appliance, but you might end up wasting your money buying one much larger than you actually need – and end up using your energy in the process. Consider the size of your structure and the way you plan to use it so you can better estimate what you might need in the long-run. You will likely run into more problems buying a unit that it too large or too powerful for the space that it’s situated in.

Check For Discounts Or Credits

Depending on the province you’re in, you might have access to various tax incentives and credits that essentially make your energy efficient appliance purchase even cheaper than the original price. It will be important to do even more research to find out what some of these might be and reap some of these benefits.

Compare Costs

Just like any major purchase, it will be important for you to compare the total costs of the appliances you’re looking to purchase and also consider the long-term costs in the mix as well. Sometimes, appliances that are on the lower end of the price scale that are not  billed as energy efficient but might not be will end up costing hundreds of extra dollars in your utility bills in the future; so ensure that the appliances you choose are EnergySTAR certified so you don’t have to worry.

Pay For Installation

While some appliances can be installed easily, it’s important to be honest with yourself about when you need professional assistance. Make the necessary calls in order to have your appliances professionally installed or set up so you don’t have any issues in the future with them not working or not being installed correctly. There are many issues that might arise with your appliances that could have been easily avoided had it been correctly installed from the very beginning.

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Making Room for a Home Office

When thinking about putting an office space in your home, it often comes down to whether or not you have the extra space to accommodate it. While there are always ways you can renovate and rearrange inside your home to make room for a workspace, there are also times that you just won’t have the space to spare no matter how to organize it. In these cases where you still want a workspace that is on your residential property, building a space separate from your home is the next best thing and there are plenty of reasons why our prefab steel buildings make for the perfect office space. It will be important to have a clear idea of how you’re going to use the space so you can create an office that works best for you. Having an idea of how much space you’re going to need will be based on knowing how many people plan on working out of it, the kinds of tools and equipment you’ll need to store or make space for and so on. No two offices are created equal and where a desk, bookshelf and chair might work for some – for others that isn’t nearly enough on-hand resources to complete the work they need to. Here are just a few reasons why prefab steel makes for excellent office spaces.

Flexible
Contrary to popular belief, there is more than one way for the inside and outside of a steel building to look and it’s more than possible to have a space that perfectly fits your needs and aesthetic wants. The great thing about steel buildings is their trussless design that allows you to have a truly open concept space design since the usual obstructive support columns won’t be there to dictate what is able to go where. From sizing to deciding where windows, doors and wall partitions will go, steel buildings give you the freedom to have the exact kind of office space you’re looking for.

Cost-Effective
For the most part, office spaces can be expensive to run – even the ones that are on your own residential property. Depending on the size, the distance from your home and how often it’s being used, you are essentially paying for utilities and occasional maintenance for a whole separate structure, which can add up quicker than you think. The great thing about steel buildings is that they are naturally insulated and with the addition of extra insulation, you can save plenty of money when it comes to utilities.

Quick Construction
Steel buildings are perfect for nearly any use due in large part to the fact that they can be erected in short periods of time in comparison to other forms of construction. If you’ve decided that you need a home office to work out of, chances are you’ve already outgrown whatever workspace inside your home you’ve been working from and the sooner your new office space can be ready, the better. With prefab steel buildings, a project that might have normally taken weeks or even months to do can be up & running in a matter of days.

For more information on our steel buildings, call us at 1-888- 449-7756