How Long Does It Take To Erect A Metal Building?

Metal building companies highlight the speed of construction of pre-engineered metal buildings, and rightfully so.

But how long does it take to erect a metal building?

The length of time it takes to design, build, customize your metal building and erect it depends on various factors, some of which are out of human control. For example, a large industrial building will likely take longer than smaller farm buildings.

Everything from redesigns to building complications can affect how long it takes to erect your metal building.

In the article below, we will discuss a few factors that will influence the erection process for prefab steel buildings.

Table of Contents

• Construction Variables
• Shipping and Production Variables
• Design Variables
• Communication Is Key
• Build Your prefabricated Metal Building With STEVENS

Construction Variables

There are a few main variables to consider during the construction phase that can impact how long it takes your metal building to be erected.

First, the building size has an impact on the speed of construction.

A larger structure will take longer to erect than a structure that is smaller in size.

Simple structures also go up much faster than metal buildings with more intricate designs.

Highly customized designs will require more time to erect than a basic rectangle-shaped building with a low gable roof and steel panel exterior.

A clear span or an exceptionally wide structure over 80' will need additional construction time to handle the heavier rafter beams.

Your crew will also affect how long it takes to erect your steel building.

A large, experienced crew of steel building specialists can erect metal structures much faster than a smaller, less-experienced team.

The equipment and building materials used will also slow down or speed up construction times.

The availability of rental equipment is another factor that can slow down projects.

Inclement or extreme weather often delays construction, throwing off a carefully planned building schedule.

Fortunately, most of the pre-engineered metal buildings are able to be erected quickly, and the weather isn't as much of a hindrance as when using traditional building materials.

A pre-engineered metal building system generally cuts construction time by about 33% compared to other building methods.

Prefabrication eliminates much of the measuring, cutting, and welding at the job site.

Shipping and Production Variables

Once you have designs for your building, you will start gathering the materials.

The more materials you have in stock, the less time it will take to get to fabrication.

Custom materials typically require more time to obtain.

Your choice of colors may also impact the time to production.

Panels are usually stocked in popular colors, but custom colors will require pre-coating before you can begin construction.

Once you have your materials and building accessories, you can begin fabrication.

Again, the building size and complexity will either prolong or shorten the fabrication time.

Anything that isn't in stock has to be created or purchased from a third-party vendor, adding to your erection time.

Let's say you're opening a franchised business with custom-trademarked colors.

The coating and paint colors are created according to the trademarked requirements.

After that, all the panels will go through the coating and finishing process before being cut and readied for shipment.

Your delivery time will depend on the distance from the manufacturer to your building site, the weather, and the traffic to the site.

Remote sites take longer for deliveries than a site in a nearby suburb.

Weather, particularly during harsh winters, can create shipping delays due to ice and snow impacting the roadways.

Heavy rains and flooding can also create delays and add hours to your shipping times.

Design Variables

The accuracy of your initial drawings will impact the time it takes to create the engineered blueprints you need for approvals.

The more details you provide and the clearer the picture you have for your structure, the easier and quicker the blueprints will come together.

Reducing the number of times your drawings must be changed before being finalized will get you through the approval process more quickly.

In your drawings, be sure to include the geometry and layout of your building.

Also include details like the trim you want, how many doors you need and their location, and how many windows you need.

You will need engineered drawings to get approvals for your metal building design and get your building permit.

Your drawing should be as close to your vision as possible so your vendor can give you an accurate quote.

Just like with any other construction project, precise planning can make a huge difference in production and construction time.