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.

FS Construction Services new building addition

Project Profile: Monroe County Fairgrounds New Building Addition

Here at FS Construction Services we have a lot of experience building structures for a variety of different occupants. And while we find joy in all of our work, it is always an exciting day when we get to work on a job that’s just a little bit outside of what we normally do. Over the years we have constructed many buildings for farmers and farm equipment, for businesses and organizations, and for families in residential areas. And now we are happy to say that we can add goats to that list.

New Building Addition for Goats at Fair

Earlier this year we had the opportunity to build an addition to the existing goat barn at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. This addition is 18’ x 120’ x 12’ and has been styled and designed to match the existing structure and flow seamlessly into it. This addition not only matches visually, but also functionally. The pre-existing building was framed 10 feet above the ground, with wire fencing installed underneath, to allow for air circulation within the goat barn. We added a similar framing build to the addition to keep the airflow pathway open.

Additionally, we installed a 10’ x 10’ Raynor SteelForm S20 manually operated overhead door for consistent, easy access to the new addition.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that bring you the most joy in your work, and knowing that we were both able to help our friends at the fairgrounds and keep those goats cool and protected is certainly a joy we got to take away from this project.

If you are in need of a new building, or a new building addition, whether it’s for peoples, goats, or another species entirely, 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 strong columns machine storage

Project Profile: Strong Columns for Unmatched Space

At FS Construction Services we love an impressive feat of engineering. We work with so many construction materials so often that it’s genuinely exciting when someone comes along with a new and better way of doing something, including strong columns.

Superior Strength Columns Support Massive Space

For the past few months, we have been discussing the pork farm machine storage project we recently completed, which was a massive 81’ x 200’ x 20’ agricultural building. The project included a variety of highlights and features that we have since been breaking down in further detail.

Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this project is just how big the building is. Yet for all of its size, the interior of the structure is one giant, clear span of uninterrupted space. So we thought we would spend some time discussing how those big spans are achieved and how a building of this size can be constructed to last the test of time.

Our partners at Walters Buildings have used their in-house engineering team to create columns of superior strength in every way. These 3-ply columns utilize their Shear Transfer Plate technology which increases the load capacity of each column, essentially making them twice as strong as a solid 6×6 post. These columns were then fastened to the concrete foundation with L brackets, securing them in place along the entire length of the building.

The end result is a huge building that can easily accommodate large machinery while withstanding the wind, rain, and snow. If you are in the market for a new building, even if it’s not an 81’ x 200’ behemoth, 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 steel building winter maintenance tips

Six Tips to Winter-Proof your Steel Building

Like it or not, we are quickly approaching cold months ahead. But here at FS Construction Services, we are all about the long game. So we always advocate a little more effort here to save you a lot of trouble down the road. One way to do this is to perform some basic maintenance on your steel buildings before winter settles in. So here are six tips to protect your steel building from winter damage.

Pre-Winter Steel Building Maintenance Tips

Timing Matters

While we get that no one wants to take time out of their day to inspect their building for things that could go wrong, we certainly know that no one wants to inspect their building in the winter for things that have gone wrong. So perform your maintenance now, while you’ve got more light in the day and don’t need a heavy coat.

Check for Overgrowth

Check for trees, branches, or bushes that may hang over or grow up against your building. When the winter winds blow, you don’t want anything of these scratching your walls or your roof. Also trim any branches that could accumulate snow and break off onto your building.

Clear Debris

Check your building’s roof and remove leaves, sticks, dirt, or any other kind of debris. These materials can hold water and eventually cause problems if they’re sitting on your roof for too long. Additionally, these sorts of things tend to gather or get to stuck around screwheads and can cause corrosion.

Give it a Scrub

Mix a household cleaner with some water and give your building a gentle clean. Rinse any remaining cleaner off when you’re done.

Seal Check

When you’re inspecting your building for cracks or corrosion, be sure to check seals around vents, windows, skylights, and doors. Also check the flashing around chimneys and pipes.

 

A little goes a long way, so be sure to keep up on your building maintenance and save yourself the future headaches. If you are looking for a new 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.

FS Construction Services machine storage building

Brazinski Pork Farm #1: A Mammoth of Machine Storage

At FS Construction Services we always enjoy a good challenge. Often times our challenges involve making the right decision for a small space or figuring out how to best utilize a limited amount of resources. And we like that. Being backed into a corner usually inspires creativity. However, it’s not hard to admit that it’s a lot of fun during those rarer moments when we have the opportunity to go all out on a project, such as this machine storage building.

 

Huge, New and Functional Machine Storage Building

 

This was the case recently when we worked with a large pork farm to construct a brand-new machine storage and feed facility. We will actually be discussing this multi-month project for the next few months, highlighting a different aspect of the project each month. For now, though, we are going to discuss some of the overall features of the project as a whole.

This 81’ x 200’ x 20’ structure features huge, clear spans making it able to store multiple types of large agricultural machinery. The underside of the metal roof has been outfitted with Dripstop to prevent condensation from gathering inside the roof. The building also has 4’ blue wainscoting around its entire exterior. This not only enhances the building’s appearance, but it also makes for an easier replacement at the most likely damaged point of the building. Finally, we installed two sets of 40’ x 18’ double sliding doors and a 30’ x 18’ steel backed, insulated Raynor door with a 1.5 hp operator.

We will be diving into more of these aspects in greater detail in later months, so be sure to check back to learn more. In the meantime, if you are in need of a steel building, wood building, or post-frame 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 Fourth of July

Wishing You a Great Fourth of July

After what may have been a couple strange years of Fourth of July celebrations, we here at FS Construction Services are happy to be celebrating in a year that feels more normal. So we wanted to take a moment to wish our family, friends, and clients a Happy Fourth of July. May it be full of laughter, hot dogs, fireworks, and a little bit of rest from the busyness of life.
 

Wishing You and Yours a Happy Fourth of July

 
We know that this time of year can bring a hundred worries, too much rain, not enough, too hot, too cool, and on and on. And yet, whatever worries we have today, we remain grateful for the worries and battles of those who came before us and made it possible for us to have backyards and parks and homes to celebrate in. We always appreciate the reminder to slow down for a moment and remember that none of what we have or experience is in a vacuum. Whether your own histories seem complex or simple, boring or exciting, we are grateful for the chance to think about ours here at FS Construction Services. The decades of relationships we’ve had, the services we’ve had the opportunity to provide, and the daily joy of getting to work in and around our community are all a part of a wonderful story we’re happy to be a part of.

We wish you the best this Fourth of July season and hope you have some time to relax and enjoy it all. Because of course, it won’t be long before we’re wondering where summer went and thinking about harvest all over again.

As always, if you are in need of a new building, grain storage equipment, seed systems, a garage door, a new roof, or some other kind of service, 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 metal roof

How Does a Metal Roof Compare to Other Roofing Types?

When it comes to home ownership, it usually feels like there is always something that needs to be done. And to all but maybe a select few, the never-ending cycle of painting, repairing, and replacing can wear out its welcome very quickly. While we would love to say that we have the magic product that can make all those headaches go away, unfortunately that’s just not reality. However, we do have a product that’s maybe as close as someone can get to a maintenance-free life.

 

Invest in a Metal Roof with FS Construction Services

 

Here at FS Construction Services, we have talked often about the benefits of installing a metal roof. One thing we haven’t done though, is show how a metal roof directly compares to other kinds of roofing material, particularly in how much ongoing maintenance is required. One thing that’s true of metal roofs is there can be a bit of a heftier cost up front, but hopefully you’ll see in upkeep and longevity, they can more than make up for it.

Cost

A metal roof can run anywhere from $800-$1,200 per square (for 100 sq. ft.). Traditional asphalt shingles will run as low as $350 per square, a shake-shingle roof or a slate roof from can go up to $1,500 per square, and a tile roof will be somewhere in between. While an asphalt roof is significantly cheaper up front, it requires more upkeep and will need to be replaced sooner than any other type of roof.

Longevity

Speaking of longevity, that asphalt roof will probably last anywhere from 15-20 years. A shake-shingle roof has an average lifespan of 30 years, whereas tile and metal roofs have average lifespans of 50-plus years, and the slate roof can last up to 75 years.

Upkeep

Now here’s where the metal roof advantages really start to show. An asphalt roof needs regular upkeep, shingle replacements, and general repairs as it ages. Tile roofs have less wind resistance, so they will need regular maintenance and inspections. Similarly, because shake-shingle roofs are made of wood, they need to be checked regularly for rot and mold. Slate roofs, while built to last long, will need regular inspections to check for sliding slates, cracks, and chips. Metal roofs, meanwhile, rarely need replacements or repairs. Inspections are recommended but their strength and fade resistance often mean they can be installed and effectively let go for a long time.

Style

Asphalt and slate roofs come in limited colors and shades, while shake shingles are a more natural look for specific applications. Tile roofs have limited colors but a variety of styles. However, metal roofs, by nature of being metal, come in a huge variety of colors and styles to perfectly fit each application.

 

We could go on and on about energy efficiency and cheaper shipping costs, but the metal roof picture is pretty clear. While not as inexpensive as traditional asphalt roofs, metal roofs offer a peace of mind that no other roofing option comes close to. If you are in need of a new roof, 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.

Gateway FS Construction Services customized buildings

Building You the Best: From Inside to Outside Customized Buildings

Here at FS Construction Services, we have spent the past couple months talking about the various benefits and uses associated with steel and wood customized buildings. Throughout these articles we have often discussed just how customizable these buildings are. But we wanted to take a closer look at what that customization means, from the inside out. At the end of the day, our job is to build you the building that gives you exactly what you need and does away with anything you don’t.
 

The Best in Steel or Wood Customized Buildings

 
When working with us to design your building, you will have a number of choices. Some of them are pretty obvious, like: how many windows, how big should the doors be, what color do I want the exterior to be, etc. However, the possibilities can really go on and on. For instance, perhaps you need a machine storage building but you want to save some money and time and go with a dirt floor instead of a concrete pad. Not a problem. Perhaps you haven’t decided exactly how you’re going to utilize your building’s interior so you want to leave it unfinished until a later time.

Perhaps you only want half of it finished. The point is, we will work to give you the building you need for the present and the one you’ll want for the future. Whether that comes with a rugged dirt floor or a buildout for future office space, the choice is up to you.

If you are in process of thinking what a new building could be for you, or if you have any questions at all about our steel or wood building options, 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 Veterans Day

Saying Thank You this Veterans Day

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that life comes at you fast, and often it seems like it’s only just speeding up. November is a busy time of year, whether it’s harvest coming to a close, holidays on the horizon, winter prep underway, or simply the day-to-day demands of life. So often we can be too busy, or too tired, or too distracted to slow down a little bit and take stock of where we are. These annual days of remembrance such as Veterans Day can be helpful signposts along the way, a chance to think about where we were the year before or an opportunity to find some gratefulness in the midst of our busyness.
 

Show Your Appreciation This Veterans Day

 
Here at FS Construction Services, we wanted to take a moment this Veterans Day to say thank you to the brave men and women who have served our country. We hope you’ll join us this Thursday, November 11, in remembering that our freedoms have come with a cost and we have all collectively benefited from the service of so many that have come before and will come after us.

To our friends, neighbors, and clients who have served, and to the countless numbers of those we don’t know, we would like to say, “Thank you.” Your sacrifice has allowed us to do what we love and serve our community in our own small way. If you or someone you’re close to is a veteran, be sure to show your appreciation.

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 building uses

Building You the Best: New Building Uses

Maybe it sounds dramatic to say, but when you think about building a new building there is really no end to the new building uses. At FS Construction Services, we have constructed our fair share of buildings over the years and each of them was its own, unique structure with its own, unique purpose. So while we like to think that any building can be anything you want, we also know that there are certain types of buildings that are better suited to specific tasks and needs than others.
 

Many Uses of Post Frame and Steel Buildings

 
Post-Frame

Many of our clients choose to construct a post-frame, or pole barn, building on their property. These buildings have almost limitless size, color, and layout options. Often, these buildings work as part garage, part recreation, part storage, part horse barn, or a variety of other uses.

A quality post-frame building goes a long way. From a backyard shed to house your lawn equipment to a machine storage shed to house your agriculture equipment, these buildings scale up and down and in and out to fit your requirements. With help from our partners at Walters Buildings, we can build you anything from storage space to a retail space to a horse barn to a church.

Steel

Now just because we’re talking about steel doesn’t mean that all customizability is gone. Our partners at Sukup Manufacturing and Butler Manufacturing allow us to provide strong, tailored steel buildings to our clients. Whether you need a huge, clear span for large machinery, or you need warehouse or retail space for your business, we can get you the steel building you want in the timeframe you need.

No matter the type of building you choose, we will work closely with you to make sure that it not only suits your needs, but looks and feels the way you want it to. If you are considering a new 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.