What Makes the Best Metal Storage Buildings?

If you’re ready to take steps toward adding a new storage building to your property, it needs to be durable, secure, strong, and resistant to the elements. Look no further: a metal storage building checks all the boxes and more.

Metal storage buildings and metal sheds are resistant to rust, pests, mold, and mildew. They are flexible, customizable, and far more affordable than a wooden storage shed. Thankfully, jam-packed wooden storage sheds are a thing of the past, and now it’s time to choose the best metal storage building to meet your needs. 

Why Choose a Metal Storage Building?

Metal sheds and storage buildings are guaranteed to protect your valuables for years to come. A high-quality metal storage building can last considerably longer and hold up better than a wooden shed under harsh weather conditions. Wooden sheds are significantly more prone to termite problems, rotting, and warping. 

Metal storage buildings are also much easier to maintain, as you won’t need to re-stain or repaint every several years like you would with a wooden storage shed. Steel is less likely to accumulate mold and can be easily cleaned with a hose or pressure washer. Metal building installation is also fast and affordable, as steel prices are far lower than the cost of wood and less material is required. You can use any remaining budget for metal shed customizations that add major curb appeal. 

Common Types of Metal Storage Buildings

The following metal sheds all come with their own dimensions and specifications, depending on what you need your building for. 

Custom Metal Storage Building

With a custom metal storage building, you can choose the length, width, height, color, and other customizable options to plan your perfectly designed shed. You’ll work with a professional on our team to customize your shed according to your preferences and budget.

Pre-Fab Metal Storage Building

These simple yet extremely high-quality pre-engineered metal buildings are cost-effective and quick to install—they’re the most low-hassle metal storage building on the market. Even though they are pre-fabricated, you can still choose from a wide array of colors, sizes, and design options. 

20x20 Metal Storage Building

This 20x20 metal storage building can be compared to the size of a small garage. Many people elect this option for overflow storage to an already existing storage shed, or for a small workspace, studio space, or guest house addition to your property. 

40x60 Metal Storage Building

The 40x60 metal storage shed offers 2,400 square feet of space to cover all of your storage needs. This building comes with plenty of room for large items like cars, tractors, boats, big pieces of equipment, and anything else you can imagine. Whether for business or residential use, this storage building can handle just about anything.

While these four types of metal storage buildings are popular, your storage building can come in any width, from twelve to one hundred feet! The only limiting factor you’ll need to consider depends on where you live. Certain counties have laws and regulations about the size of metal buildings due to local elevation and climatic factors.

Width is most important to consider when planning your metal storage building. With storage buildings between twelve and twenty-four feet wide, you’ll need support beams every five feet on the outer walls. Buildings between twenty-five and seventy feet wide require support beams every four feet on the exterior walls. Clearspan building options are also available, which have no length restrictions.

Metal Storage Building Considerations

Some of these considerations might not apply to your building project, but they are important to keep in mind as you choose the perfect metal storage building to meet your needs.

Are permits required?

Before building a metal storage shed or any other metal building, it’s crucial to research whether permits are needed in your area. While we don’t research the local permitting for you, we can guarantee all required documents to ensure you get your permits approved on the first submission. 

Weather rating 

Our metal storage buildings easily withstand 120 mph wind gusts and 20 psf of snow load. We can also help you figure out exactly what your state requires in terms of building codes, as it differs from region to region. 

Insulation

The type of insulation you choose is especially important with a metal storage building, as the main goal is to protect and preserve the items being stored. Depending on where you live, you can get up to an R-8 fiberglass batt all the way down to a “sweat preventer” that prevents condensation from forming. We can also discuss inexpensive and straightforward DIY air sealing options for your metal shed. Local insulation contractors are a great resource to learn the ins and outs of the best insulation options for your metal building and considerations in your area. 

Framing

Your metal storage building’s trusses and support beams are fourteen-gauge double-coated galvanized steel, though twelve-gauge trusses might be used in wider buildings. This sturdy framing is guaranteed to last twenty years without developing rust—we even offer a rust warranty!

Roof and wall panels

Roof and wall panels will last just as long (if not longer) than the framing, and they are reinforced by vertical siding insulation. You’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of metal panels that range in size, color, and ribbing. 

Roof pitch

A 3/12 pitch is the most common, but you might need to consider a 4/12, or 6/12 pitch in areas with a lot of snowfall.

RELATED CONTENT: METAL GARAGE vs. WOOD

Metal Storage Building Disadvantages

The only possible disadvantage of metal storage buildings is that they tend to get hotter than wooden sheds during the summer months, potentially damaging heat-sensitive valuables. Depending on your intended uses, look for a location on your property that does not receive direct sunlight.

Takeaway

Metal storage buildings offer maximum protection, durability, security, and easy maintenance. They lend themselves to several uses beyond basic storage, and you can customize them to meet your exact preferences and needs. Be sure to do your homework to figure out the precise amount of space you’ll need. We highly recommend meticulously measuring square footage to avoid any difficult outcomes.