The Fundamentals

No matter who supplies your steel building, you're more likely to have a positive experience if you follow a few basic rules:

Check with your local council before you buy

We can't repeat this often enough.

Never assume anything

Wishful thinking usually ends in a surprise -- a bad one.

Get anything important in writing

The written contract is the ruling document. If it says blue walls but a salesman verbally promises to change them to red, understand that he cannot send red panels without breaching the contract.

Read your quote / contract carefully

Every word and every line is important -- what it says and doesn't say. If the contract describes an item in vague terms, expect to get the cheapest thing that satisfies the description. If the contract doesn't mention something, don't expect to get it at all.

Don't buy before you're ready

Beware salesmen who urge you to sign a contract before you have decided exactly what you want (see below).

Understand that changes cost money

Once any supplier starts processing an order, it costs money to make changes. You will pay the bill (see above and the section on misconceptions below).

Inventory your building as you unload it

This is another absolutely critical responsibility. Honest companies want to correct their mistakes, but they can't unless you give them a fair starting point.

If it's a DIY kit follow your drawings carefully

Not all buildings go together the same way, and your erection drawings are the only accurate and comprehensive description of the building engineered for you. They offer important general guidelines and describes the proper procedures for erecting a steel building safely and correctly. Make sure whoever is doing the job reads and follows them.

Almost no one keeps an inventory of "stock" buildings

Almost without exception, rigid-frame steel buildings are made to order. Although some companies create price lists for a few common sizes, the selection is usually very limited because of the massive number of variables that influence a single design. We've never heard of anyone actually fabricating buildings that haven't been sold. Companies who imply they keep an existing stock of buildings are likely just playing word games. If you want to find out whether a "clearance" building really exists, just ask how soon it can ship. If it is already made, there's no reason it should take more than a week at most.