Finding the Best Steel Building on the Internet

Are you looking for a new steel building? It can be a rather daunting task, as anyone who has searched the Internet looking to purchase a steel building that is affordable and will also meet your design requirements, will tell you. There are literally hundreds of steel building companies to choose from and this is all the more clear when searching for them on the Internet.

Obtaining a list of leads is just a beginning. Are all of these building companies comparable and is it just a matter of getting the best quote? Or are there differences? Each building supplier will differ in quality and reliability. You may wish to take your time in researching the different companies before buying a steel building off the Internet.

You should exercise a degree of caution when surfing the net to purchase a steel building, just as you would if you were making any other large purchase on the Internet. Keep in mind that you will come across both good and bad companies. Consider that companies such as Lester, Butler, General Steel, and Morton will provide you with high- quality steel buildings. What makes these building companies so worthy of your time and money? One excellent indicator is the total length of time they have been doing business. These companies each have a long history of excellence in providing highly-skilled service to their customers, as evidenced by manufacturing new pre-engineered steel buildings at reasonable prices.

However, what about those steel building companies that seem to appear out of nowhere on the Internet? Do not be taken in by bold-sounding promises. It should come as no surprise to you that a supplier will offer low prices. The questions you should be thinking about are; firstly, has the company actually ever delivered on its bold promises? And, secondly, who will recommend their services? A company that no one has even heard of can be a sign of trouble. Beware!

Get the “low-down” about what these dubious companies provide. Sometimes those “bells and whistles” on the website may be all some people notice. Closer investigation of the company might reveal some interesting facts once the company gets more specific about their product. Storage bins, garages, and carports are all one company makes–despite advertising that they can provide you “any size” of pre-fabricated steel building you are looking for. In other words, they probably have “cookie cutter” sizes that are pre-formed in pieces and waiting on pallets now, and your order needs to conform to what they already have in stock. Another reason to watch out for this type of company is found in the sales department. The sales agents will push you to order what they want you to have instead of what you really need. Some building manufacturers cut corners on building quality. For example, some advertise that they do not need heavy-duty 26-gauge steel panels with their steel buildings. They will tell you such quality steel is not necessary. Again, you should think twice. When it comes to buying from one of these obscure Internet steel building companies, bear in mind that you may be saving money–but you will also be making a significant sacrifice in quality. The reason some of these website companies are able to sell you their buildings so cheaply is that they use the inexpensive, thinner 29-gauge steel instead of the stronger, thicker 26-gauge steel. This is especially bad news for customers living in areas with high winds and heavy amounts of snowfall, where stronger steel buildings are essential.

Can you trust what you find on the Internet? Not always. Some of these pre-engineered steel building “companies” are just a website with a phone number. In other words, they are nothing more than brokers or middlemen attempting to connect you with sub-par building manufacturers. Such Internet-based “companies” may only be after your money and not the needs of your business.

After you give them your money, you may find that the delivery is delayed, the quality sub-standard, and the final cost comes to more than a top-of-the-line steel structure provided by a nationally known company. Do not confuse these sub-standard companies with the companies mentioned by name earlier.

You are able to order on-line from the websites of some of these dubious building companies. Do not rush through the on-line shopping and purchasing process. Instead, take the time you need to make sure that everything is ordered properly according to your design requirements. For example, will the building you are ordering meet all building codes, such as load requirements? Will it satisfy your local zoning ordinances? Find out. This is your responsibility. First-time purchasers of steel buildings may not realize that some companies use generic “template” codes for all buildings. These codes may not conform to your area’s requirements. You must know your codes and try to “force” these into the formula. As soon as you do the price will go up. Some local codes are simply not available on these website pricing systems. One online company, priding itself on its “online purchasing ease”, specifically states that it will not sell into certain areas of Florida or California because of frequent hurricane and heavy seismic activity. However, premium quality steel building companies provide durable structures to these areas every year. You have many choices when you are investigating steel building providers for your steel building needs. Therefore, choose a name you can trust.