Building Design

You need to consider a number of issues before beginning any metal building project. There are several essential aspects that need to be decided on before beginning any metal building project.

The first consideration is your budget and how much money you have available to fund your project. If your budget is limited you may want to consider a smaller building initially that can expand to a larger facility as additional funds become available. Purchase the highest quality metal building you can afford.

In trying to determine the size of building you would like, consider what it would be used for. AMC buildings can accommodate just about any purpose, be it a workshop, a garage, or a storage building.

Base building packages do not come with components. If you need doors, windows, vents or any other components you should know that these are purchased separately from the base building package. Figure the amount and pricing of the components you need to complete your building first before purchasing the building.

Eave height is an important part of any building structure. The term "eave" height is used to determine how tall a building will be. This does not mean clearance inside the building, but simply the height of the outside wall. Determine how much clearance is required inside your new building and how tall of a door you want. A general rule of thumb is that building height needs to be 2 feet higher than your door requirements.

The roof slope, or roof pitch, determines how steep the angle of the roof will be. This measurement is given in terms of rise over run. For example, the most common pitch used by AMC customers is a 3:12 roof pitch. This would mean that the roof would rise 3" for every 12" of width. For example, if you have a 24' wide building with the peak of the building in the center. The roof is going to "run" for 12' before reaching the peak. A 3:12 roof pitch would rise 3 feet, so the peak would be 3 feet higher than the eave of the building. A 1:12 pitch would rise 1 feet, etc. If you need extra height in the center of your building, we can easily accommodate pitches up to 4:12.

Large doors require structural changes in the building frame to accommodate the door, therefore it is important we know their exact location and size. Typically, a framed opening needs to be 2' shorter than the building eave height to allow for door mechanisms to work properly. For example, if your building requires a 10' roll-up door, your building eave height will need to be at least 12'. The bulk of the door itself is housed in the roll-door can located above the door header.

The erector for your metal building project will rarely offer preparation of your site. You have that responsibility and to make sure you budget accordingly for these improvements. The site needs to be cleared of all foliage and in some cases leveled. Contact a local landscaping company that has done this type of work before if you do not have the time or manpower to do clear the land yourself.

Concrete foundations for metal buildings require special attention. Unlike wooden structures where the foundation may not be correctly squared, metal buildings require precise measurements and adjustments to accommodate the overlap drop of the sheet panels. Use only contractors that are familiar with metal building slabs. AMC can provide concrete drawings to match your building.