Grain System Maintenance FS Construction Services

Grain System Maintenance: Get a Head Start

Here at FS Construction Services, we are pretty big fans of getting a head start on purchasing, maintenance, and just about everything else for that matter. In the world of agriculture there are so many moving parts, and those parts are exposed to all sorts of weather extremes each year, the importance of regular maintenance is essential. However, getting started on grain system maintenance with a timeline that actually allows you to make adjustments or repairs before you actually need to use a piece of equipment will save you a lot of stress, headaches, and money.

 

Save Money and Stress: Early Grain System Maintenance

 

Additionally, if you are in need of a grain system repair, the sooner you request it, the less trouble you’re likely to have with shipping times or parts shortages.

So we know harvest is barely behind us, but we wanted to give you some tips to get a huge head start on the season this coming year.

  • Check control boards, safety sensors, electrical boxes, and gas controls
  • Inspect handling equipment, conveyors, buckets, and so on
  • Sweep and clean interiors
  • Treat exterior surfaces for mold, mildew, and pests
  • Inspect vents to make sure airflow isn’t blocked
  • Check for leaks, rust, or any other sign of damage, rot, or deterioration
  • Check door seals
  • Make sure supply lines and burners are clear of debris
  • Always be sure to turn off, disconnect, or block off mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic equipment
  • Wear protective equipment and fall protection when working in or around your grain bin

You might be able to perform many of these maintenance items yourself, but if you give yourself a head start you will have plenty of time to schedule a maintenance professional. If you are in need of any grain system repair or equipment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Nathan Bleem customer Support

Bleem Profile: Troubleshooting and Customer Support

As we have been taking the time here at FS Construction Services to highlight some of our outstanding team members, it has provided us with a great opportunity to take a look at the services we offer and understand better how positioned we are to respond to the needs, questions, and problems of our clients and customers.
 

Customer Support is the Core of What We Do

 
This has been especially apparent in discussing our Service and Sales Support specialist Nathan Bleem. Since Nathan walks with our clients through every step of the process, he is often at the receiving end of lots of questions, and therefore has to provide lots of answers.

Any major project is going to have its fair share of required troubleshooting, but the kind of support Nathan provides happens throughout the process and not just after something has been constructed. Often our clients present a logistical problem before the build and Nathan has to figure out the solution.

For instance, when a client wants to increase the height of their existing grain bin, the job isn’t just a matter of figuring out where to add rings to increase the height, but it’s also figuring out which manufacturer’s components will work with what is already in place. Figuring that out first prevents problems down the road.

Similarly, clients often present us with a variety of storage, handling, drying, construction, and pricing questions. Our job is to find the right solution to these before anything is built, which means making a decision based on acreage, expected yields, drying needs, and more.

While it’s a lot of conversation up front, it saves future headaches and gives our clients a better understanding of cost and timing. Thanks to Nathan’s incredible knowledge and understanding of the process, we are able to provide this service in partnership with our clients, making for a smoother, better process all around.

If you have a project in mind that you would like to discuss, or if you are in need of grain systems, buildings, seed systems, or more, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services new building addition to existing building

Project Profile: Building Addition

When it comes to constructing a building that reaches its highest potential it’s necessary to have quality raw materials, solid construction, a good plan, and, perhaps surprisingly, a healthy dose of imagination. Sometimes the success of a building is in the littlest details, the clever additions, or the personal touches that make it feel less like “a building” and more like “my building.”

Building Addition to Existing Structure

At FS Construction Services, we have built enough structures to know that a specific approach, even to the most basic project, can make all the difference to a client.

This was the case late last year when we were asked to build an addition to an existing structure. While the interior of this project ended up with some unique features, we are going to focus on the exterior elements this month.

The first thing we had to do was match the 18’ x 46’ x 10’ 6” addition to the current building. The lean-to was posted onto a concrete slab and the exterior styling was matched with the original building, including the 18” overhangs all around.

This addition includes heated and cooled office space with lots of natural light as well as a garage for a wide range of storage needs. While we will get into it more next month, our team was able to include a number of unique features to provide our client with a space that not only serves their functional needs, but also feels like a space that is uniquely theirs.

If you are in need a new building, whether it’s wood or steel, or a new building addition, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services remembers Veterans Day

Veterans Day: A Day to Remember

Here we are at the homestretch of the year where each day seems like it’s speeding towards the next one and each holiday and gathering seems like it’s going to overlap with another holiday or gathering. It is often an exciting, tiring, and busy time of year. This busyness can also get in the way of the thing that most people are trying to do at this time, which is slow down, relax, and take stock of things.

FS Construction Services Remembers Veterans Day

While Veterans Day is nationally recognized, it can get lost in the shuffle of everything else going on this time of year. It’s why we here at FS Construction Services like to always make a point to draw attention to it and express our gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country. Many of them are our family, our friends, and our clients.

As we like to say, we get to do what we love because of the sacrifices of our veterans, and that is certainly a reason to pause, reflect, and be grateful for the freedoms we have been afforded. So I hope you will join us on November 11 as we offer our gratitude to those who have served, both near and far. We are thankful for your service and the sacrifice your service required.

As always, FS Construction Services is here for your building, garage door, grain system, seed system, roofing, and other needs. Our group of experts and specialists are always happy to answer your questions, give you advice, or help you in any way. Please feel free to reach out to Gateway FS Construction Services. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services tips for building you the best pole barn

Tips for Building the Perfect Pole Barn

We’ve all experienced when an idea we’ve been flirting with moves from “wouldn’t that be interesting” territory to “I think I’m going to make this happen.” In some cases, this may be about a particularly adventurous sandwich you’re thinking about ordering, but in other cases it’s something much bigger, like finally deciding to build that perfect pole barn you’ve been thinking about for years.

 

Considerations When Building Pole Barn

 

Of course, a decision like that is no small choice, so you want to make sure you’ve thought things through before committing. So we here at FS Construction Services decided to write down some of the tips we think are helpful when considering building the perfect pole barn.

 

Have a Vision

We’re bound to repeat ourselves on this point, but pole barns are especially versatile buildings. From a place to watch TV to a place keep your horses, there are countless uses and functions of a pole barn. Before you get into the planning process, you will want to know how you’ll use your pole barn. That can always change or adapt along the way, but you’ll at least want something to start with.

Additionally, how you use your building is going to change what building codes you will need to meet. We are more than happy to help with paperwork and file permits on our client’s behalf, but the sooner you know this, the sooner you can get started.

 

Location

Is your pole barn going to be a place for your car, your boat, your tractor, or your grandkids? How you want to use the building will also determine where the building can go. What kind of clearance will it need? How close does it need to be to the house? Will it face strong winds or be sheltered? What kind of soil is at the build site? Answering these questions will give you a better idea of where the structure should be placed.

 

Comfort

Again, the question comes back to, will this thing hold people, animals, or steel? Pole barns have a number of insulation and thermal efficiency options, so you will want to make sure whatever you’re keeping in there is well taken care of.

 

Look

Speaking of customization, pole barns are highly adaptable buildings with all manner of colors, trims, and options available. From doors to windows to wainscoting, you will have a high degree of control over the final look of your pole barn, meaning you will want to know how to balance look and function.

 

We really could go on and on, but if you at least think through these fundamentals, you will be at a great place to start. If you have any questions, or would like help answering some of these questions, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services grain bin project in winter

Project Profile: Grain Bin Project in Winter

One of the realities of living in the Midwest is that you’re forever at the mercy of its temperamental seasons. Sure, there is the general pattern in which spring becomes summer becomes autumn becomes winter, but outside of those general guidelines, pretty much anything goes. And while we wouldn’t have it any other way, it’s also true that the work we do at FS Construction Services is often dependent upon some level of atmospheric cooperation, and this grain bin project certainly benefited from that.

 

Winter Cooperated for this Grain Bin Project

 

Now, it’s easy to think of this in only negative terms. Rain when it is supposed to be dry, cold when it is supposed to be warm, finally dry and warm but so windy anything not bolted down is in danger of becoming a kite. However, an occasional upside of this life is that sometimes you have a winter so comparatively temperate to previous years, that you can get a lot of work done. Such was the case earlier this year when we had a much easier time of building in January.

Our client was ready to start the year off with a preseason jump, and thanks to an obliging month, we were able to make that happen. Nathan Koester and his team quickly constructed a 36 ft. in diameter, 7-ring tall, Sukup grain bin with a capacity of 21,000 bushels. Additionally external stairs were added for safe and easy access, a horizonal power sweep was installed, and a centrifugal fan was added for quiet and efficient operation.

All in all, our client was ready to roll into spring with brand new grain storage and might not have even needed to brush the snow off of it. If you are in need of upgrading your grain storage, grain drying, or grain handling, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Nathan Bleem FS Construction Services helping the customer gets what they want

Bleem Profile: Helping the Customer Get What They Want

Recently here at FS Construction Services, we have begun to highlight our team members to give you a better idea of the work that we do and how we specifically work with clients to meet their needs. Each one of our specialists really do become masters in their areas and the reason we have been able to work with so many different people on so many different projects over the years is because of our team’s expertise, creativity, and wealth of knowledge. In short, they are helping the customer get what they want.

 

Bleem Provides Top Notch Customer Service

 

But none of that experience would count for much if we weren’t able to work with our clients to find the right solution at the right time. Because Nathan Bleem manages the logistics for each of our projects, including the creation of CAD drawings, and ordering parts, he is one of the most crucial steps in actually delivering a product that meets our client’s needs.

When asked if customers always know what they want or if they ask FS Construction Services to provide a solution, Nathan said, “In many instances, we bring clients the solutions that they asked for and an option we truly feel will work best for them. We know what will work and what will not work, even if a project calls for marrying components from various manufacturers.”

We know that most of our customers come in with a vision, and our job is to get as close to that vision as we can, while still offering them solutions that won’t put them in a bind years down the road. One of the reasons we’re able to do that is because of Nathan. His care for our clients and his mind that’s predisposed to problem solving makes him an ideal partner in our line of work.

If you have a project in mind that you would like to discuss, or if you are in need of grain systems, buildings, seed systems, or more, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Steel building efficiency FS Construction Services

Steel Building Efficiency: How Efficient Are Steel Buildings?

It seems like everyday we are inundated with stories on new technologies, new ways to generate or conserve energy, and the never-ending stream of upsides and downsides involved. And while these are often fascinating and exciting ideas, there’s also truth that refining and customizing longstanding practices and materials can also be of tremendous benefit, such as steel building efficiency.

 

Steel Buildings are Energy Efficient

 

So let’s take a little time to talk about steel buildings. For all the virtues of a steel building, perhaps one of the lesser-mentioned benefits is their energy efficiency. This is achieved in a variety of ways, though perhaps none of them is more foundational than how steel itself fits together. A steel building can be constructed with minimal to no gaps, meaning fewer places for heat, or cold, to escape. Additionally, unlike wood, steel doesn’t settle or twist over time, meaning that if it’s built right, it will stay energy efficient for a long, long time.

Steel is also highly customizable and versatile. This allows for better ventilation and insulation options. Speaking of which, steel buildings often have thicker walls, meaning more space for insulation to fill. Steel buildings are capable of housing many windows and skylights, increasing light and warmth from sunlight. If done strategically, this can reduce the overall need for lighting and heating.

There are a number of other reasons we could go into, but we’ll leave with one final point. While every structure requires maintenance, steel buildings often require less. Generally you don’t have to worry about rot, mildew, or pests, also meaning you generally don’t have to worry about holes, cracks, and gaps where they’re not supposed to be.

If you are looking for the strength, customizability, and efficiency of a steel building, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Grain bin preseason building FS Construction Services

Project Profile: Grain Bin Built in Preseason

Last winter was a bit of an unusual one. We imagine there were probably many disappointed children (and many relieved parents) when the promise of sledding simply couldn’t be fulfilled because there wasn’t much snow. However, we like to look at the positives here at FS Construction Services, and one of the upsides of our relatively snow-less winter was that it ended up being a great time for easier preseason building and allowed clients to get further ahead of the curve.

 

Preseason Building of Grain Bin Storage

 

This was the case for one of our clients last January who was in need of some additional grain storage. Thanks to some cooperative weather, we were able to quickly complete construction on a 6-ring tall, 30’ in diameter storage bin. This Sukup grain bin has a capacity of 14,000 bushels and also included two down augers, an incline unload head with power sweep, and finally an exterior staircase for safe and convenient access. When all was said and done, the new structure was built and our client was able to begin the year with the comfort of knowing plenty of storage would be available when needed.

While we can’t always guarantee smooth and calm weather, we can certainly proclaim the benefits of preseason building. Of course, we know that time and circumstance doesn’t always allow, but if you can plan ahead and schedule your grain storage, drying, or handling needs, you will set yourself up for less worry and trouble down the road when time and circumstance may not be so generous.

If you are in the market for new, additional, or updated grain systems, or any other type of building, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services Nathan Bleem quoting and estimating

Bleem Profile: Quoting and Estimating

Over the past few months, we have taken some time to introduce you to Jarret Herzog, one of our team members here at FS Construction Services, and discuss how his experience and expertise is foundational to our business and a great benefit to our clients. We wanted to continue with the idea that the people really do make the place, so we are going to highlight another one of our wonderful employees: Nathan Bleem.

 

Quoting and Estimating Expert Nathan Bleem

 

Nathan joined us six years ago as our Service and Sales Support specialist, but he has been in related fields since his time in college, where he studied plant soil science. When it comes to the logistics for how a job is going to get done, Nathan is our guy.

He describes his job like building a giant Lego set. When we meet with a client to determine their needs, Nathan will turn those notes into a CAD drawing, then use that as a template for estimating a price for the job. When that proposal is approved, all materials for the build have to be planned, sourced, and organized. This means that Nathan is working with multiple vendors and dealing with multiple shipping windows at once to make sure everything can arrive to the job site on time and in order. The thought of spinning all those plates may send some into a panic, but thankfully for us and our clients, it’s Nathan’s ideal zone of operation. Pick any one of our projects over the years, and you’re bound to land on one that has many parts and pieces, both small and large, that need to be calculated, ordered, and accounted for.

One of the reasons we are always on the lookout for the best of the best is because we know how often customers come to us for suggestions. And those suggestions are no good if they don’t work or are needlessly expensive. In Nathan’s words, when speaking of working with clients on grain storage, “When we work with a customer, many times they know approximately what size bin they will need. Meaning, how many bushels it will have to hold. From there, we give size recommendations and options. We figure out ways to make projects work within their current set up. We know what will work and what will not work if a project calls for marrying components from various manufacturers.”

If you are interested in getting an estimate for an upcoming project, grain system project or otherwise, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.