Gateway FS Construction Services Raynor Overhead Doors

Project Profile: Massive Pork Farm Overhead Doors

At FS Construction Services we often talk about how overhead doors are an invisible necessity. You only really notice one when it’s not working the way it’s supposed to, and the rest of the time you probably don’t think about it much at all.

Perfect Overhead Doors for Enormous Space

In a similar way, when thinking about a huge building construction project, it can be easy to focus on the structure’s open spans, its column strength or its foundation, but there’s no point in having a building with huge storage capacity if you don’t have equally huge doors that open and close effectively.  As we have been highlighting our pork farm machine storage project, we wanted to take a moment to focus on these unsung heroes of any good building.

This machine storage building features multiple doors to suit its multiple uses. The first set of doors are massive 40’ x 18’ sliding, metal-framed doors that can open to allow large machinery in and out. The second door we installed was a 30’ x 18’ overhead Raynor garage door. This ThermaSeal TM200 insulated steel door is two inches thick and has an R-value of 18.3, making it an excellent choice to keep the building’s interior protected from harsh weather. The door also features a row of 8” x 24” windows and is operated by a 1.5 HP dual trolley Raynor ControlHoist Optima.

This project has truly been one of a kind and it has been a lot fun getting to highlight just how much goes into making a major project like this work. If you are interested in a new building, whether it’s big or small, steel or wood, 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 Raynor MyQ garage door opener app

Did You Shut Your Garage Door?

We’ve all had the feeling before of being twenty minutes from home and suddenly being unable to remember if you remembered to shut the garage door. You run your leaving-the-house routine through your mind again and again to see if you can remember watching the door close, but no matter how hard you try you can’t quite be sure. Raynor MyQ garage door openers can help!

Control Your Garage Door with Raynor MyQ App

We’re sure you can imagine where we’re going next with this thought. Wouldn’t it be great if you could close your garage door from anywhere? Our partners at Raynor Garage Doors have introduced new technology that not only allows you to do that, but it lets you do some other pretty useful things too.

The Raynor MyQ garage door openers are WiFi-enabled openers that can be controlled through the MyQ phone app. So along with closing your door from your phone anywhere in the world, here are some other ways you can utilize these tools.

 

Video Monitoring

If you have the MyQ-enabled Sentinel opener, the included video camera will allow you to see who is coming and going when your garage door is opened or closed. Similar to a doorbell camera, this camera detects motion, even at night, and allows you to view what’s happening in real time, even allowing for real-time communication.

Extra Lighting

Raynor offers LED lights that can be separately mounted anywhere inside your garage and are controlled through the opener. So if need extra visibility, are searching for the source of a strange sound, or simply want the lights on when you know your hands will be full later, you can illuminate your garage with a simple button press.

Amazon In-Garage Deliveries

With this feature you can authorize Amazon to open your garage door for a secure package delivery. When your package is getting close to delivery, you will get a notification asking you to confirm your address. Then your door will open, allowing the delivery to be placed safely inside the garage. After a short time, the door closes with your package secure and dry inside.

Choose Your Closing and Lighting Time

This allows you to have your door automatically close at the time of your choosing any day of the week. Similarly, you can also choose a time for your garage lights to turn on or off.

Guest Use

With this feature you can invite up to three guests to control your MyQ connected doors and lights with their own MyQ app, making it great for guests, family, and friends.

 

If you are in need of a new garage door or garage door opener, 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 X-Rite paint color matching

Three Reasons to Use X-Rite Paint Color Matching

Painting is one of those processes that carries a number of thrills with it. One of those thrills is the joy of seeing an entire room or building transformed by a perfectly chosen paint color. Another of those thrills is less positive, and it’s the realization that the color you’ve chose isn’t the color you’d hoped it would be. And then you either have to compromise or stop the project and try again with a different color. And while this may just seem like one of the unavoidable hazards of painting, we are here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be.

 

Get the Exact Paint Color You Want

 

At FS Construction Services we utilize a tool called X-Rite Color Matching. With X-Rite Color Matching you can make sure that you get the exact color you want every single time, whether you’re painting with an entirely new color or matching an existing color. So let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits of X-Rite Color Matching.

 

Tethered Spectrophotometer

While the tool may sound complex, the idea behind it is simple. This mobile tool allows us to scan any color and generate an exact match. No matter if you are painting inside or outside, matching a new color or an old color, the spectrophotometer will find it and allow us to duplicate it.

Color Harmony

If you have a base color you love but are still undecided on your accent color or colors, the Color Harmony tool will provide optimal compliments to your chosen color.

Home Visualizer

Wish you could see what your room or building would look like in a certain color before you start to paint it? The Home Visualizer tool makes this possible. Send us a photo of the interior or exterior you want to paint and we can digitally paint it for you, giving you a clear idea of the result.

 

If you are interested in our paint services or have questions about color matching, 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 Veterans Day

Veterans Day, November 11

This time of year always seems to be a bit of a roller coaster of life speeding up and slowing down. On the one hand, we move quickly from one major holiday to the next with very little time in between while at the same time we often have more moments to slow down, take some days off, and spend time with family and friends. There is a lot to celebrate and be thankful for this time of year, but in the rush of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, the value of a day like Veterans Day can go overlooked. Which is we always want to take a little time to acknowledge this important day and encourage you to do so as well.

Grateful this Veterans Day

So we here at FS Construction Services want to extend a thank you to the brave men and women who have served our country. We hope you will take some time this November 11 to express your appreciation, say thank you, or remember that many of the day-to-day joys we take for granted have been fought and bled for.

And to our friends, neighbors, and clients who have served, we say “Thank You” for your example of sacrifice, courage, and dedication to a greater cause. We appreciate your service and wish you a restful day.

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 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 metal roof

Project Profile: A Worry-Free Metal Roof

When it comes to around-the-house or around-the-office projects, clients often end up weighing the decision of spending less money now with the possibility of having to spend more later or spending more money now with the possibility of having to spend less later. Do you pay for the quick fix? Or do you pay for the lasting solution? And while we would love to say it’s an easy choice, we understand that it’s not. Sometimes spending more now just isn’t an option. However, when your fix or update can also involve a little future proofing, a metal roof really is a great win.

Metal Roof Sound Investment for Future

This was on full display recently when we installed a new roof for a client. The existing roof was a standard shingle roof and it was time for an update. When we removed the old shingles, we found the OSB underneath had rotted out in some areas where water had been slipping through.

Thankfully, our client had committed to replace the old roof with a new metal roof. So after we replaced the rotted wood, we installed a Fabral 1.5” SSR standing seam metal roof. This 24-gauge roof is installed over a felt backing and the whole thing is designed to last for over 50 years and features Class 4 hail resistance, Class A fire resistance, and a Class 90 uplift test rating. Additionally, we installed new 6” seamless gutters.

Thanks to this new roof, our client will have a rot-resistant, durable roof that will last for decades on end. Overall it is very likely to require less maintenance, less upkeep, and less worry than other roofing options.

If you are interested in a metal 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.

FS Construction Services safe harvest

Five Simple Tips for a Safe Harvest

Large grain bins capable of storing thousands of bushels of crop and grain dryers that are able to quickly dry such huge amounts are a necessary part of agriculture. Unsurprisingly, proper safety and care taken in and around these structures and equipment is a must for any successful harvest season.

How to Have a Safe Harvest

It’s hard to believe, but we are quickly moving through harvest season. For many of our clients and many in our community this means weeks of high stress, little sleep, and hard work. At FS Construction Services we know a thing or two about working under these conditions. In the interest of keeping you safe and productive during this busy season, here are some harvest-time suggestions and safety tips for your grain bins, dryers, and other equipment.

  1. Never enter a grain bin without de-energizing (turning off) and disconnecting, locking out and tagging, or blocking off all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment that presents a danger, particularly grain-moving equipment (OSHA). Grain is not a stable surface, and when it’s moving, pockets can develop that will cause grain to act like quicksand.
  2. Do not enter a grain bin without alerting others. Make sure the person inside the bin always has someone keeping tabs on them, as well as a safety harness or boatswains chair should they need assistance.
  3. Be sure to regularly clean surfaces, filters, and other areas where excessive dust may accumulate. Grain dust is very flammable and the more dust you have, the higher the chances for an unwanted fire.
  4. Be careful not to overfill bin with grain. Not only does this prevent ventilation, but it can put unnecessary stress on your structure.
  5. Plan regular inspections. Make sure chains and bearings are properly lubricated, ladders are secure, safety shields are present, etc.

Finally, be sure to get as much rest as you can during this busy season. When you’re out in the field, be sure to pack protein and calorie-rich food to keep your energy up and combat the tiredness such a hectic time of year often brings.

We wish you a safe and successful harvest! As always, if you have any equipment questions throughout harvest let Gateway FS Construction Services know. With more than 40 years of grain system expertise, from grain drying to grain storage to grain handling and transfer, we are always happy to help. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you today. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services pole barn vs. post-frame

Pole Barn Vs. Post-Frame: What’s the Difference?

Pole Barn vs. Post Frame: Today we are excited to tackle a regular source of confusion and discussion in our industry: what’s the difference between a pole barn and a post-frame building?

Explaining the Difference Between Pole Barn and Post-Frame

We would love to say that the answer is a complex debate that has raged on for decades, but the reality is actually fairly mundane, though no less important to understand. “Post-frame” is a type of construction method. According to the National Frame Building Association, “Post-frame construction is an engineered wood-frame building system that meets UBC and IBC standards.”

What separates it from other types of construction is their speed of installation and the materials needed. “Because the larger posts and interlocking frame can handle greater loads than stud-wall construction, fewer structural materials are needed, which saves time and other costs.”

So if that’s post-frame, what is a pole barn? Well, a pole barn is simply a common type of building resulting from the post-frame construction method. Most of us have a picture in our minds of what a pole barn looks like, but that’s actually why we wanted to take the time to make this distinction. All pole barns are post-frame buildings but not all post-frame buildings are pole barns. The number of applications for a post-frame building are vast, and not simply limited to a rectangular barn-style building.

Agricultural buildings, commercial buildings, municipal buildings, churches, schools, fire stations, and even homes are all possible post-frame building options. Post-frame buildings can provide huge open spans, easily insulated swaths of wall and roof, durability, customizability and more.

If you are in need of a new building, whether you are looking for a pole barn or something entirely different, 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 Dripstop machine storage building

Project Profile: The Benefits of Dripstop

Recently, we discussed a major machine storage project we completed. This project featured so many specific types of work and skills that we thought it would be helpful to highlight certain aspects of it over multiple months, including our use of Dripstop.

Condensation Protection with Dripstop

The 81’ x 200’ x 20’ structure is not only huge, but we were able to install some of the highest quality materials to provide our client with a dependable storage building that will last them for many, many decades to come.

One of those features that will directly affect the longevity of the building is the inclusion of Dripstop technology. Dripstop is a way to prevent condensation from gathering inside the roof of a building. We wanted to take a quick look at why that’s so beneficial in a machine storage situation like the one we recently completed.

The HDF A felt of a Dripstop application is installed to an uninsulated metal roof. It’s made of polyester-interlocked fibers with tiny spaces among them. When the sun sets in the evening the felt reduces the difference in temperature between the air and the roof, delaying the condensation process. When condensation does start to build on the roof during the night, the felt traps the water particles inside. In the morning, as it starts to warm, rather than the water droplets falling onto the ground below, they are trapped inside the felt until the day when they quickly evaporate. This process protects any electrical equipment within the building from getting exposed to water.

Additionally, tests have shown that this adds more protection from the corrosive elements of livestock confinement. Though not the same as traditional insulation, Dripstop felt does actually provide some of the same benefits of heat insulation. It also helps deaden sound, is bacteria resistant, and has a low combustibility.

It’s no surprise why Dripstop is a favorite of ours and we were happy to include it as part of our major pork farm project. 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.