Pre-Engineered Homes are the Future

The dream of owning your own home is a key part of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” And whether you’re looking for an affordable first home or a second or vacation home, pre-engineered metal builds offer several advantages over stick builds. It’s true that metal buildings are great options for light industrial and warehousing businesses, as well as garages, storage, and even offices and churches. But let’s look at what makes it more than just an option; pre-engineered metal homes are the superior alternative to stick builds!

Versatility and Economic Value

Our pre-engineered metal homes cost less to build and can cost less to maintain than a traditional stick build. For one thing, metal buildings can be custom-designed without having to pay for an architect. Even if you go with a model home based on a pre-existing floor plan, any modifications create additional cost before you even break ground! With metal homes, a homeowner can easily modify and expand the design of their home in future should their needs change. Consider how many things can happen in the life of a family; whether you’re more room for children or for aging parents – which is increasingly more common than some people think – you want to be able to accommodate your growing family comfortably. Maybe you’re opening a shop some other business but you don’t want to have drive to an other location, or maybe it’s just not feasible for you to fulfill your family responsibilities and maintain a second location for your business. It’s possible (as long as local building codes allow) to create a living and work space designed for your needs. Then there’s always that getaway you’ve always dreamed about: that place to take the family on weekends, away from the hustle and bustle for life. Or maybe you need hunting and fishing cabin for your own escapes, someplace to get back to nature. Metal homes are a cost and maintenance efficient option. And also keep in mind: insurance – a necessary evil for every homeowner -- for steel homes is often cheaper BECAUSE they are fire resistant and more capable of handling extreme weather.

Maintenance and Durability

Ease of maintenance and durability are concerns for any home. Steel is easily the obvious choice because of its strength and reliability. Because steel’s strength to weight ration is greater than wood, metal homes really are the best option; they are more fire-proof and hold up better against all kinds of weather. That durability isn’t only important if you’re building a getaway cabin that you won’t live in year round; it’s crucial in keeping your family safe. This makes metal homes a popular choice in areas that commonly experience tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. And then there’s maintenance. No matter what kind of home you ultimately decide to build, maintaining a home is a time-consuming job that can get very expensive. Choosing a metal home for your build means you’re minimizing potential future structural issues and potential pest damage. Ah, you’re thinking. But what about rust? Don’t steel homes run the risk of rusting? Especially at connection points? Well, sure. But that’s where proper insulation comes in. Metal buildings that either aren’t insulated properly or are aren’t insulated at all do run a greater risk of rusting. But taking care to use the right kind of insulation for your roof and walls will considerably reduce this concern. What Kind of Insulation Should I Use? The short answer is: it depends. Before you decide on what kind of insulation, be aware of your surroundings. Where you plan to build is the first thing to consider. What's a cold day to you? What's the winter weather like? What's a hot day for you? You need to think about insulation in terms of keeping in the cool during summer as much as keeping in the heat during the winter. You'll also need to research building codes where you plan to build for any guidelines or requirements you'll have to follow to obtain a building permit. Once you have that firmly in your mind, you can look at the different insulation options. When you do that, you'll see (if you didn't already know!) that insulation is graded by the R-Value, or Thermal Resistance per Unit Area. Generally, you don't want to go with less than R-19 insulation for the walls or R-25 for the roof. But again, take into consideration your own needs and comfort, as well as local building codes. One question you may have is whether or not you should use foam insulation. It seems like an easy decision to make, but keep in mind that while you want your home to be insulated from the weather, that different kinds of insulation have different pros and cons. You want to reduce the condensation to 30 or 40 percent, but you have to take other things into consideration, including air circulation and ventilation. Foam is good for filling in the nooks and crannies, but it's messy for future renovations and can sometimes lock moisture in when a little air flow would actually be a good thing. When we work with you to develop your custom-designed home, we can help you decide if foam or rigid board is the best way to go... not only for your needs, but for your budget.

Environmentally Sound

Sustainability isn’t just for the granola set. Hunters and fishermen are among the most fervent advocates for the wise stewardship of natural resources. Choosing a metal home for your build means that you're not just economically wise and smart about your time management; it also means you are choosing material that is good for the environment. Reducing the amount of transportation AND construction time reduces any potential carbon emissions. And also, because pre-engineered metal homes have a significantly higher strength to weight ratio, fewer materials are needed. In addition, steel has a potentially never ending life-cycle that produces far less production waste, both in the short term and in the long run! Interested in going off the grid? Or maybe just reducing your energy cost? The design flexibility of steel homes makes adding insulation (if your needs change) and installing solar panels easy!

They Just Make Sense

Sometimes the most innovative things have been around for a while. You may be familiar with the Sears and Roebuck Mail Order Catalog homes, some of which are still standing. But metal build homes have been around, too, for nearly all the reasons we’ve highlighted here. Unlike the continued expense of vinyl or aluminum siding – which is costly to repair or replace – or even brick – which requires costly tuck-pointing over the years to maintain it’s integrity against the wear and tear of time and weather – metal homes are easier to maintain and easier to keep looking nice. The lower cost to build and maintain, in addition to its superior performance in a variety of climates means that metal homes are a more affordable option, opening up the dream of home ownership to more people. The flexibility of pre-engineered metal homes makes it ideal for “on the grid,” or “off the grid living. And finally, the fact that it’s been around means that it works, works well, and will continue to work. A pre-engineered metal home isn't JUST an alternative to a traditional stick build; it's clearly the superior choice!

Home for the Kealy family

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Deerfield Home

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