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Construction and Contractors: All in a Day's Work


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Construction and Contractors: All in a Day's Work

Can you imagine being a contractor? You start you morning by picking up supplies at the local building store. You drop off those supplies at one job site, and then you drive to another job site where you spend four hours mudding drywall. As that dries, you make calls to some of your suppliers, and then you meet with a client about a new job across town. As evening rolls in, you drive back to the other construction site and sand down some of that drywall. If this sound like a fun day to you, then you've stumbled on the right blog! This is a blog about construction, and you'll fit right in.

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3 Important Considerations For Small Steel Commercial Structures

Steel structures are an excellent option for businesses of nearly any size in any industry. These structures are reliable, time-tested, and often quick to design and construct. Many kits exist for even large commercial structures, reducing the time necessary for planning and preparing before you can put your new building into service.

While steel works well for structures of any size (look at any city's skyline for proof!), it's especially well-suited to relatively small structures with a uniform design. Many kits exist to accommodate small warehouses, utility sheds, garages, and similar structures. If you're looking to add one of these structures to your business, make sure to consider these three critical factors.

1. Entry and Exit Points

It's easy to hear the word "kit" and think of a one-size-fits-all design, but even relatively small commercial structures don't fit this building. While steel building kits will help your construction crews get the structure up more quickly, you'll still need to consider your unique needs and customize the building as necessary.

Access is one of these necessary customizations that will often vary from building to building. Do you need to accommodate trucks or other large vehicles? Will your structure have a loading ramp? How many people will be entering or leaving at once? Discuss these issues with your contractor early in the process to ensure your new building has adequate entry and exit points for your needs.

2. Appearance

It's hard to go more than a few miles in America without encountering a steel warehouse or garage. The ubiquity of these structures speaks to their durability and cost-effectiveness. Although a basic structure like this may work for a warehouse located outside of town or in an industrial park, the utilitarian look won't suit every environment.

If your structure is part of a customer-facing business, you may want to consider options to spruce up its appearance. The good news is that you'll have plenty of choices. Adding a façade to a prefab steel structure is relatively straightforward, allowing your building to take on the appearance of a more traditional structure. Choosing slightly upscale windows, doors, and trim can also add to curb appeal.

3. Roof Style

The best roofing style for your structure will depend on your goals, budget, and aesthetic preferences. While arched roofs can offer better protection in extreme climates, a traditional pitched roof may be better if you want to avoid giving your building too much of an industrial look. Just remember that a lower roof pitch also means less usable interior space.

Of course, there are plenty of other important factors and considerations when building any structure, no matter the material. Even if you plan to go with a prefabricated kit, it's best to spend some time discussing your needs and options with an experienced construction contractor so you can design the best building for your business.

Check out a website like http://cic-cbc.com/ to learn more about steel building construction.