5 Tips for Maintaining Your Steel Building in Top Condition

Steel is one of the strongest building materials available. It’s low-maintenance, strong, and durable. Likewise, you’ll spend less to erect steel buildings them than you would with traditional building construction, and they’re very eco-friendly. In fact, this type of metal can be repurposed and recycled, making it the sustainable choice if you wish to lower your carbon footprint.

Ultimately, steel buildings from RGC Construction can handle all of Ontario’s harsh weather conditions, so they’re ideal in areas prone to drastic climate changes (Winter to Summer). However, you want to keep expensive repair costs low while protecting your investment, which is why you need to preform building maintenance on a regular basis.

Today’s article will explore the five tips you need for maintaining the metal surface and preventing potential issues.

5 Tips for Maintaining a Steel Building

To protect the structural integrity of your commercial steel buildings in Ontario Canada, it’s crucial to perform a regular maintenance inspections periodically. Likewise, if you require proper maintenance help of your steel structures we can help with a list of checkpoints.

• Repairing / replacing garage or man doors throughout the building
• Repairing / replacing various wall and roof cladding
• Repairing / replacing storm drain pipe
• Annual routine services

Here are a few maintenance tips to help you maintain the steel building:

1. Perform Routine and Regular Preventative Maintenance

Once you’ve erected the structure, it’s crucial to establish a steel building maintenance schedule. This must include a routine inspection every six months or so. However, you should also check things after severe weather conditions, such as high rainfall or wind.

When you inspect your steel building, make sure you thoroughly check the exterior and interior, looking for signs of rust, wear and tear, and other damage. It’s also wise to ensure the doors and windows function properly and are secure.

While performing regular service & maintenance, check the roof panels for signs of damage or leaks and look at the foundation for settling or cracks.

Keep track of any observations you’ve made, such as concerns to address and restorations handled. Continuously follow up to ensure durability. This record will help you focus on the building’s condition over time, ensuring that you perform necessary repairs after extreme weather conditions.

2. Properly Anchor and Support Your Metal Building

Anchors are crucial for any steel structure, ensuring that the building stays in place and is stable. This prevents dislodging and toppling.

Proper anchoring is essential for these versatile structures. You want them to be safe and stable, even during severe weather conditions. Without support, the building might sway or get damaged, and you need it to stay in pristine condition for as long as possible.

Before you erect the steel structure, it’s wise to check your area’s local building codes to determine appropriate anchoring methods for the building. Your foundation should be level and support its weight without trouble.

Concrete slabs, footings, and piers are ideal anchoring options for many steel buildings. They offer a solid foundation that handles the structure’s weight, ensuring that it stays in place during heavy rains or high winds.

3. Check for Cracks or Holes

One of the most important things to check for is whether there are gaping cracks or holes in the building. Many things could cause this issue, such as impact damage or wear and tear. However, leaving them alone can cause structural collapse. To prevent this, you must inspect everything regularly and keep the structure in tip-top condition.

When you erect the building, you should focus on proper insulation. This will prevent drafts and other issues. However, gaping holes or cracks in the steel panels can cause significant problems. You may want to consider using metal building paint to protect the material from getting damaged in the first place.

As you check for cracks and holes, you should also focus on other components, such as cable tiles, hose clamps, and fasteners. Over time, they can become damaged or loose, resulting in less stability.

It’s important to regularly check all the elements of your building. In some cases, it’s easy to fix issues by replacing or tightening the fasteners as needed. This will ensure that you have a safe and stable structure for many years to come.

Don’t forget about checking for air leaks around the vents, windows, and doors. Fixing these problems quickly will ensure that you have a cost-effective and comfortable place to work.

4. Repair Any Structural Damages Quickly

When performing routine maintenance, you’ll probably notice flaws or tears in your steel building kits. It’s crucial to address them quickly. Punctures and holes can pose serious safety risks, so you must take swift action.

Damaged areas must be repaired quickly with patching materials. Otherwise, you run the risk of compromising the structural integrity of your metal structure.

Minor damage is often easy to fix. However, those little flaws might get bigger and lead to a total collapse if you don’t address them quickly.

If you proactively maintain your buildings, they will remain structurally sturdy. This will promote safety for everyone who uses the space and prevent costly and dangerous damage later.

5. Thoroughly and Routinely Clean the Building

Rust prevention is crucial to ensure the longevity and durability of your steel buildings. After performing a routine inspection to find potential damages, you must focus on proper care, which includes regular cleaning.

Ultimately, a metal building kit gives you more space and has a sleek appearance. Steel frames provide an open floor plan, which is attractive for many property owners who want to maximize the natural light they receive.

However, it’s crucial to keep the building clean to remove the buildup of dirt and debris. Here are a few tips to help you:

• Fill a bucket with cleaning solution and warm water.
• Scrub the entire building.
• Use plain water from the hose to rinse everything off.
• Let the steel surface air dry, focusing on the lower portion. You may need to personally wipe down the parts close to the ground for the best results.

Consider RGC Construction for Your Steel Building Needs:

If you want your custom metal buildings to stay in good condition, you must focus on maintenance and upkeep. This includes the structure itself, ensuring proper insulation, and fixing minor issues as soon as possible.

At Ruthven Greenhouse Construction, we offer all types of buildings made of metal, such as:

• Steel Frame Commercial Buildings
• Metal Building Construction
• Steel Building Construction
• RGC Steel Buildings

Work with our reputable steel building contractors to find the perfect building solution for your new property. Call 519-326-3959 to start your construction project now.