6 Tips for Steel Building Maintenance and Essential

Kunal Singh
June 23, 2022
1:52 am

A structural steel building is the most affordable, durable, easy-to-install metal building with high tensile strength.

Metal buildings are more about function than form. Prefab metal buildings used for offices, garages, or storage are used daily, and it is easier to overlook basic maintenance tasks until a critical structural problem arises.

Consequently, if the metal sheds or barns remain unused for a more extended period of time-bacteria growth with other undesirable microbes makes the place stinky.

The daily wear and tear are reasons for issues including water leakage, rust, or corrosion, which may weaken the structure, reducing the overall strength of steel buildings.

As rightly said, Ignore your steel building for a while, and you will end up with a larger maintenance dilemma.

When you buy your steel building kit from professional contractors, ask them to share metal building maintenance tips. For now, we can help you with six preventative maintenance ideas that will extend your prefab metal buildings’ service life and save extra money.

Low Maintenance For Commercial and Residential Metal Structures:

The low maintenance cost of the commercial metal building is what makes it popular across the nation. The reason for low maintenance is certain components of prefab steel structures need minimum care for upkeep.

Roof panels, doors, windows, and other building accessories can easily be cleaned by washing them with a soft-bristled brush and mild laundry detergent.

Other prefab metal buildings parts can be well maintained by following these easy cleaning processes:

6 Expert Tips for Maintaining Steel Building:

If you notice minor problems creeping up with every passing day, these tips will prevent possible damage to the steel structure.

1. Thorough Cleaning of the Structure:

Washing buildings with warm water every 3-4 months with a cleaning solution will remove the chalk-like dirt, preserving the steel frame’s original color, shine, and overall look.

If your structure is in a heavily-industrialized area, consider power wash three times a year.

Follow the list of the preventive measures to ensure maximum safety-

Mold -and- rust increase with moisture, so exercise extreme caution while washing the building; make sure to close all the windows and doors tightly.
Cover plants and bushes with traps while washing the structure for added protection.
Shut off all the power supply sources in the structure, especially all the external electrical sockets and lights.
Cover all the utility boxes, exterior lights, power outlets, and other open sources that may penetrate the building envelope.

It can be a great DIY project if you are aware of all the preventive measures and can clean the metal building yourself.

2. Insulation Check:

Prefab steel building is insulated to control moisture, temperature, and noise. Falling insulation or ignoring regular maintenance checks can create tremendous energy loss and restrict airflow. It’s common for insulation blankets to fall off due to external factors, including adjacent building components.

When you check the insulation system, make sure to do the following task:

Replace Insul Bands,
Modernize or upgrade the insulation system,
Secure with friction washers or glue insulation pins- If necessary, clean the steel panels for adhesion and secure 1 pin per square foot to fill the open space.
Lace banding overtops purlins- Leave the steel banding open to feed the insulation blanket through the lacing.

Insulation check is a technical task, and it is advised to call the experts if you notice any damage to the insulation blanket.

3. Check for Loose Roofing Fasteners and Rust:

The periodic roof inspection will prevent critical structural problems caused due to weather, loosened or damaged fasteners, physical damage from external objects, or corrosion. Moisture can easily penetrate the roof and weaken the surface materials.

If you notice corrosion on the fasteners, remove the surface rust with a scraper to see what’s below. The fastener is exemplary if the clean metal is visible after wiping it. If the bolt shows any deterioration, replace it with a new one before the problem worsens.

One wrong placement for the bolt or missing screws can affect the full tensile strength of the structure. However, consulting your steel building company for the next inspection will help determine the proper course of action.

4. Check Gutter and Drains:

The drainage pipe ensures that the excess water in the building is unimpeded.

If drains are clogged, water will overflow in the other undesired path or stick around, indicating the signs of leakage at all joints. Anything it comes in touch with will destroy slowly, leading to rust, mold, and corrosion of the brackets. Incorporating drains and gutter checks in your periodic inspection will keep it clear from leaves, dirt, and sticks.

If you find any unwanted external item preventing the normal function of drain pipes, remove the blockage manually with rubber gloves and flush the drain with a power washer. It will eliminate all the smaller elements, leading to proper drains functioning.

Professionals at Steel and Studs for the cleanliness of guttering will inspect all the areas, including the back of the gutter and bends in plastic guttering that you may skip in DIY projects.

5. Oil the Hinges and Doors:

Check for tightness of closure hardware, locksets, and hinges. They must open and close naturally without any pause or noise.
Make sure that all the hinges are oiled and do not show any sign of damage.
Check the seal and the door frame and repair the loose fasteners on the doors. If it shows any signs of mold, clean it with a soft scrubber and disinfect the mold. If it still appears damaged, replace the sealing and fasteners to prevent water leakage.
The same applies to windows as well. Ensure it maintains an optimally firm seal that hasn’t deteriorated. Check the normal opening and closing mechanism and lubricate when needed.

6. Repair the Paint:

The high-quality paint on metal structures maintains their protective value and appearance for a longer time if properly maintained. If not inspected periodically, the panels will accumulate dirt over time, losing their original appearance and showing the wear and tear signs. It’s important to ensure that no aspect of metal substrate ever gets to breathe.

Find all the minor scratches and clean the dirt, grease, and other foreign matter residing in these scratches or drill holes. After cleaning off the surface, apply the layer of prime followed by paint on the spot and leave it dry.

Paint comes in a range of environmental exposure thresholds, and you sometimes may be unable to find the correct paint shade or match the levels. Call your steel building company for professional assistance. They have the records for the paint shade and primer used, delivering the same finish as a newly installed structure.

Cost-Saving Benefits from Periodic Metal Building Maintenance:

Sustainability has become a crucial point to consider while constructing or designing a new building. Metal and steel have become the material of choice for most commercial buildings that need sturdy design and energy efficiency.

One of the benefits of owning a metal or steel building is the ease of maintaining your structure. Metal buildings are durable and can withstand external elements, requiring little maintenance and repairs. Moreover, the recyclable and versatile structures typically have lower overall costs in their lifetime due to the high tensile strength and slow decomposition period.

Benefits of Steel Buildings:

Durable:

Steel buildings can withstand strong weather conditions and constant use. These structures are not likely to rot like wood and can protect against seismic events, rain, wind, and snow.

Low Maintenance:

Unlike structures made from traditional building materials, steel buildings are easier to clean and maintain.

Pest Resistant:

Metal does not attract termites and is not susceptible to other destructive pests.

Energy Efficient:

Energy efficiency and proper insulation of metal buildings help save cooling and heating costs.

Fire Retardant:

Steel is not suspectable to fire hazards.

Low Insurance Costs:

Steel is highly resistant to fire and other natural disasters. Durability and superior tensile strength further decrease the insurance costs of the building.

Conclusion:

U.S. heatwave brings historically high temperatures to dozens of states and can even affect the efficiency of material structures.

Moreover, moisture is also a threat to metal structures. Mold and rust increase with moisture exposure to such construction types. Other Problems

Regular upkeep like painting scratched panels, repairing leaks and moisture damage, and clearing off the snow will help reduce the year-to-year costs. Routine insulation checks and repair damage will ensure minimal cooling and heating cost.

Practice regular repair and maintenance twice a year or biannually to save energy and repair costs of your pre-engineered steel building.

Steel and Stud’s steel buildings offer easy care. We offer high-quality structural, industrial steel that requires very little maintenance and can easily withstand all the external damaging factors.

The metal structures will retain their beauty and value for many decades with a simple follow-up procedure and regular maintenance schedule. For more information on top-of-the-line steel buildings and metal building maintenance, directly contact our professional experts for the facts.

Steel and Stud ships premium pre-engineered steel buildings across the U.S. Get a free quote on your next low-rise building project.