Post Frame Buildings

Your Questions Answered

Storage solutions from one of the top building manufacturers

1. How do Metal Buildings and Post Frame Buildings differ from each other?
   
   
2. What are the advantages of post frame construction with steel cladding over conventional metal or steel buildings?
   
   
3. Can post-frame buildings be used in residential areas?
   
   
4. Can I put up a post-frame building myself?
   
   
5. Can a post-frame building be moved once it’s erected?
   
   
6. How long does it take to erect a Walters’ steel-clad post-frame building?
   
   
7. Am I getting the best building for my money?
   
   
8. How much do I need to put down to order a building?
   
   
9. What type of foundation is needed for a post frame building?
   
   
10. What makes Walters’ post-frame buildings unique? How do you compare with your competition?
    
    
11. Can I receive help in determining the type of building that will best suit my needs?

1. How do Metal Buildings and  Post Frame Buildings differ from each other?

With all the terms used in the construction industry, it’s important to clarify their meanings. Metal Buildings is a large category that includes all buildings incorporating metal as a large component. This would include buildings that are made with steel frames as well as buildings such as our metal buildings that are made with a wood frame and clad with steel. Post Frame Buildings are buildings constructed with a frame that consists of a wood roof truss or rafters connected to vertical timber columns or sidewall posts. They are also called pole buildings or pole barns. Steel-clad post-frame buildings are made with the wooden post-frame system but with steel siding. Walters Buildings designs, engineers and constructs quality post-frame buildings consisting of Southern Yellow Pine lumber framing clad with 28-gauge, grade E (structural grade) steel.

Want to learn more about post-frame buildings? Read Post-frame buildings 101 or contact us to discuss your building needs.

2. What are the advantages of post frame construction with steel cladding over conventional metal or steel buildings?

Depending on your needs, there may be several advantages to using the steel-clad post-frame system for your metal building.

Energy efficiency/insulation:

Steel-clad post-frame buildings offer an energy efficient choice for metal building construction. Wood offers excellent insulation properties, increasing the R-Value, while conventional steel and concrete can reduce the effectiveness of insulation. In fact, the wood used in a steel-clad post-frame structure can sometimes even provide better insulation than the insulation itself! And the cavity in a post-frame wall is larger than that of a 2x4 or 2x6 stud wall, with batt insulation that is 4 feet or wider, which means more insulation can be used with fewer breaks in the insulation barrier.

Speed of construction:

One of the factors to consider when choosing the type of building to construct is how long it will take to complete. Steel buildings and concrete buildings can take up to twice as long to build as a steel-clad post-frame building.

Our prefab metal buildings include prompt delivery of all materials and installation services that ensure your building project proceeds quickly and efficiently to meet your deadline.

Affordability:

Steel buildings or block and brick construction often require much higher costs for labor and materials than steel-clad post-frame buildings, sometimes resulting in a cost twice as high. Additionally, the wide variety of types of cladding and roofing materials offer additional ways to save and still achieve the look desired for your building.

Flexibility in Appearance:

Post-frame buildings offer many choices in appearance due to a wide variety of finishes and features that can give virtually any look desired. Besides steel-clad sidings, building owners can choose from thin-set brick, stucco, vinyl, wood and other sidings. Possible roof coverings include cedar shingle, slate, tile, metal, and other membranes. Also, the post-frame construction can easily incorporate features that are not so easily done with traditional wood, masonry and metal buildings including overhangs, dormers, cupolas, bay windows, decks, parapet walls and many other options.

The architectural flexibility of post-frame construction system makes it suitable for a wide variety of buildings, from storage to commercial and professional buildings such as banks, retail stores, restaurants, office complexes, churches, airport hangars, and on and on.

Durability:

Steel-clad post-frame buildings provide a very durable building choice. Treated wood used for the permanent wood foundation may last indefinitely under normal conditions even when embedded within the soil. Professional engineers agree that contemporary post-frame buildings are highly engineered, code conforming, and proven to be excellent permanent structures. In fact, post frame buildings are often the only buildings left standing in the wake of natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.

The siding used on steel-clad post-frame buildings also offers durability with long-term resistance to corrosion and discoloration.

3. Can post-frame buildings be used in residential areas?

4. Can I put up a post-frame building myself?

If you hold the necessary experience in construction, understand how to read plans and have access to equipment to swing trusses and auger post holes, then you could erect the building yourself. Most of Walters’ buildings, however, are erected by company-employed crews or by a Walters’ trained Authorized Dealer.

5. Can a steel-clad post-frame building be moved once it’s erected?

No, not usually.

6. How long does it take to erect a Walters’ post-frame building?

The time it takes to construct a building depends on the size and scope of the project. A turn-key commercial project may take a couple months, while a basic 30 x 40 suburban storage building may take 3-4 days.

7. Am I getting the best building for my money?

We feel strongly that our customers are getting the most value for their investment when they work with Walters Buildings for their building. Walters Buildings does not offer the cheapest building on the market, and we are fine with that. Our customers are those who want a custom-designed building constructed with the reassurance of quality materials and time-tested construction techniques, for an entire process that is smooth and ultimately a better building experience. Our customers give us a sustained 95% customer satisfaction rating.

8. How much do I need to put down to order a building?

Typical payment terms are 25% down, 50% at delivery and 25% at completion.

9. What type of foundation is needed for a post frame building?

If you would like to know more about site preparation required, you can access it here: post-frame building site preparation instructions

10. What makes Walters’ post-frame buildings unique? How do you compare with your competition?

Walters is unique in that every building is individually designed and engineered to meet the requirements of the customer. In addition, the person who sells the building is ultimately responsible for the project. At Walters, the salesperson doesn’t hand the project off to someone else to manage. The salesperson is with the project from start to finish. This way, you can be assured that what was promised is what is delivered. At Walters, we focus on delivering a better building experience for our customers.

11. Can I receive help in determining the type of building that will best suit my needs?

Of course. That is what we are here for. Let us know how we can help.

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Walters Buildings is one of the top Post-frame building manufacturers in the Midwest. We offer post-frame buildings for agricultural, industrial, commercial and residential use.

Our nearly 50 years of manufacturing quality pole buildings makes us one of the best storage building manufacturers. We continue to keep our customers satisfied with innovative designs, skilled craftsmanship, and excellent customer services.