• Your SteelMaster structure will arrive on a flatbed truck that is approximately 80 feet long. The trailer is 53 feet long and holds between 7 to 12 buildings. There is no offloading equipment on the truck, so the buyer is responsible for offloading.
• The truck driver will introduce himself and finalize paperwork and payments (if required), then provide you with a bill of lading and a construction manual.
• An average building up to 30′ wide x 30′  long can be offloaded by 3 to 4 people in approximately 70 minutes or less.
• The average weight of a single panel is approximately 40 pounds. The panel length is typically 36″ to 120″. The single heaviest component will be your door header or door post, if included with kit.
• If you have a forklift or other equipment available, offloading time will be significantly reduced. If you purchased a building that exceeds 5,000 pounds, it is recommended that you obtain equipment to make removing the pallets from the truck easier.

That’s all there is to it. Just get a few friends to help you out, and you will be ready to start building your SteelMaster before you know it!

When Tina Winnett realized she desired somewhere other than her exposed parking space to store her brand new, shiny white vehicle, she did what most of us do when we need facts with pictures from an infinite source of wisdom. She “googled it”.

SteelMaster’s designs and prefabricated steel and metal arched buildings and carports are plastered all over the world-wide web, so Tina had little problem honing in on what she wanted.

Tina summed up the reason she chose SteelMaster by saying, “I recently purchased a new vehicle and realized I needed to protect it from bird droppings, sap and debris where I park under an oak tree. I Googled carport images on the internet. The minute I spotted the SteelMaster carport, I knew I had found the look I wanted. I immediately went to the company website, and was impressed by the affordability, quality and sturdiness of the steel, the warranty, and finally by the conversation I had with SteelMaster’s Senior Project Specialist, Michael Suozzi. I learned that that upon completion, the carport could even withstand all types of weather conditions. Michael told me about some customers in Alabama with SteelMaster carports that withstood the devastating tornadoes of April, 2011. After going through three hurricanes here in Lakeland, Florida in a six-week span in back in 2004, and a recent tornado that dropped trees and snapped a power pole in my back yard, I decided this was the carport I needed.”

“Although it can be easily assembled, I decided to hire a contractor to erect the building. When he first started assembly, he had some reservations about the sturdiness of the carport because the bolts had to remain loose up to a certain point. Once he began tightening everything up, he was very impressed,” said Tina.

“I love the look of the carport and have received many favorable comments from friends and neighbors. Obviously, it serves the purpose for which it was purchased, and I am convinced it will withstand whatever mother nature sends my way in the future,” Tina added confidently.

“SteelMaster buildings are engineered for life,” said Michelle Wickum, SteelMaster’s Director of Marketing. “Our Steel Arched Buildings are designed to meet the wind loads of their destination whether located in Florida, Alabama or the Caribbean. Our buildings are made with consideration given to climatological factors in order to provide protection from water, freezing temperatures, fire, and even hurricane-force winds.”

“Statistical weather data plays a huge role in each customer’s design process,” adds Michelle. “Our company’s use of Galvalume Plus Coating not only provides our carports with strength and superior corrosion resistance, it also makes SteelMaster Buildings maintenance-free for life.”

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including carports, just like the one Tina Winnett now enjoys. SteelMaster designs also include projects for homes, farm buildings, garages, workshops, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, commercial warehousing, and industrial storage as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.
This month, SteelMaster is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. With more than 40,000 satisfied customers with buildings throughout the United States, located in more than 50 overseas countries, and on six continents, SteelMaster is a stand out, and remains the leader in Steel Arched Pre-fabricated Buildings world-wide.

~ written by Tammy Kistler

SteelMaster offers steel building products guides on a variety of applications such as Garages, Pole Barns, Hay Storage, Steel Canopies, Container Covers, Portable/Liftable Buildings, Aircraft Hangars, Salt Storage Facilities, and so much more!

Be sure to download your Free Steel Building Guide below to learn more about our steel building options.

Below is a two part video series from one of our customers in the Catskill Mountains of New York. They recorded the construction of their Quonset Hut home from the very first step of digging the trenches and pouring the footings to the completion of all the arches. Once they added custom endwalls to complete their home, they also entered our last photo contest and were named a finalist. Check out their videos below…

Part 1:

Part 2:

Like all SteelMaster customers, his needs were uniquely his own. He was in search of a building that was dually appealing to the eye and one to provide adequate protection from the elements of the rugged Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level.

Chris chose SteelMaster Building’s 25’ x 40’ X-Model. “I picked this building because it has the functionality I needed. I particularly liked the different looking lines of this steel arched building compared to others out there. Some looked too industrial/agricultural for my taste,” said Chris. “My building features three skylights and my own custom designed and framed end walls. Plus, I found SteelMaster’s snow-load capacity superior – which is a necessity here in Montana.”

Chris said, “I needed a root cellar to store our garden produce, space for our garden equipment and tools, a workshop area, and additional storage in a non-freezing environment. We designed the building to include storage by pouring a 6’ concrete retaining wall at the north gable end, and backfilling soil to that level. Then we built a loft to store our garden equipment with entry at ground level on the north end, which also serves as the ceiling for our cool root cellar. We have space for my workshop in the middle section, and more loft and general storage in the south one-third of the building.

“Mr. Williams was truly a joy for us to work with because he already had a clear-cut vision for his SteelMaster Building,” said Anthony Bueno, Vice President of SteelMaster. “Further, his construction knowledge and ability to use the clear-span space to its potential was clearly to his benefit, saving him money. After all, isn’t that what we all want… the best product our money can buy?”

Karen Willis, also Vice President of SteelMaster pointed this out, “Whether you are an engineer, architect, construction expert, or someone with little to no building savvy whatsoever, our steel and metal pre-fabricated arched building kits are keenly designed with your needs in mind.”

“Basically, if you can open the boxes and are handy with a screwdriver, you can erect a SteelMaster Building,” added Rob Poellnitz, who completes SteelMaster’s Vice Presidential trio. “And, I do not mean that in a condescending way. Even though SteelMaster is second to none in the industry, it is our customers who continue to amaze us… yes, we design – but they boggle the mind!”

Chris began preparation of his site in late June of 2011. He formed the footings and poured the concrete. Once the footings cured, he erected two of the building’s panels at the north end, formed the retaining wall by tying it into the first erected panel, and poured the wall the end of July. By the first week in August, he had assembled the panels in workable sections, and final assembly of the completed panels followed suit. Once the brackets were installed, he grouted the panels to the foundation, laid drain tile around the foundation, back filled, and began constructing the gable end walls and interior.

“It took three men and a 13-year old only four days to get all the panels in place and assembled together,” remarked Chris.

Chris summed up his SteelMaster experience by saying, “I am pleased with the structural strength and the aesthetics of our building, and we WILL be recommending SteelMaster to others!”

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including homes, farm buildings, garages, workshops, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, commercial warehousing, and industrial storage as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.

SteelMaster will be celebrating its 30-year Anniversary next month. This milestone marks over 40,000 satisfied customers with SteelMaster buildings constructed worldwide on six continents, in over 50 countries, and throughout the United States.

~ written by Tammy Kistler

There was no need to ask Francis and his wife Mary, how their SteelMaster experience has been thus far. They were all too willing to give a resounding, “Great experience… all the way around! The folks at SteelMaster are a joy to work with. We will definitely purchase another building in the future.”

“My main structure is up. I will be using my SteelMaster building as a shop on our ranch. It is by no means finished, as we are in the middle of winter right now. The interesting part of assembling this building is that I alone, for the most part, was able to construct my pre-fabricated building myself. It took me only 21 days, one piece at a time. The slab will be poured in spring. After I add a few nuts and bolts, close in the ends, grout the panel bottoms, install electrical and lighting, then I should be finished,” beams Francis.

You may be asking, is this the norm for one man to complete the majority of a SteelMaster structure of this size in such a short time-frame.

Michelle Wickum, SteelMaster’s Director of Marketing said, “When I went to work for SteelMaster, I realized in order for me know my product and believe in it, I had to build one myself. For many SteelMaster customers, it is all about the pride of being able to do-it-yourself. For others, it becomes a labor of love – a dream project.”

“I am quite sure it took me longer than most to construct my SteelMaster storage shed. My Steelmaster building is small in comparison to Mr.Silvernell’s big, sprawling workshop. SteelMaster offers such a plethora of building types with limitless options, while keeping in mind not everyone is a pro like Mr. Silvernell. I credit my ability to construct my shed to SteelMaster’s step-by-step instructions. Thankfully, they are written in layman’s terms, not Latin,” laughed Michelle.

Francis Silvernell was kind enough to offer some valuable tips for other “do it yourself” SteelMaster customers, “I constructed a temporary scaffolding system for the highest parts of the main frame. I had help with the first two sections, but that was it. Since I had to do this myself, I came up with some interesting techniques. I bought a five-pack of alignment tools, and used vice grips and clamps. My 3/8 air impact was also important to the assembly. It also does not hurt that I am 6’5” and have a long reach,” he added.

SteelMaster prefabricated arched steel buildings and metal shops provide 100 percent unencumbered usable space for organization, storage, and protection of valuable tools and machinery. Customers can expect the same step-by-step directions and ease of assembly Michelle and Francis experienced – even without his height and long reach!

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including homes, farm buildings, garages, workshops, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, commercial warehousing, and industrial storage as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.

With more than 40,000 satisfied customers with buildings throughout the United States, more than 50 overseas countries, and on six continents, Steelmaster is proud to add Mr. Francis Silvernell to this list, and of course, SteelMaster’s own, Michelle Wickum.

“SteelMaster is not about selling buildings,” Michelle said. “We are also here for the customer after the sale, during construction, and long after the building is up and operational. SteelMaster is in the business of building relationships. We just happen to sell the best steel arched and metal pre-fabricated buildings in the industry.”

~Tammy Kistler, Copywriter

The consensus is in. SteelMaster Quonset Hut owners Rudy Decker, a retired Army helicopter Commander, and Audrey Boznak of Honolulu, Hawaii are the talk of Kalaeloa Airfield base, between fellow creative experimental aviator builders admiring their hanger – aptly named, The Rookery, which translates to “an aviary for raptor aircraft”.

Formerly named John Rodgers Field, the first airfield in Hawaii, Kalaeloa boasts a long and proud history. The airfield is now co-joined with Barber’s Point Coast Air Station and home to the prestigious and nostalgic Outdoor Naval Air Museum. The museum is surrounded by numerous army vehicles. Rudy and Audrey’s brand new, SteelMaster Hangar is located right in the midst of aviation history.

Rudy and Audrey’s new arched steel building adeptly blends in with the history of the base, while keeping experimental secrets shielded, safe and dry and giving them the perfect place to store their aircraft. The Rookery houses Raptor Tango, their own experimental aircraft – which they both love to fly. “Tango” was added to the name of their aircraft because their love of dancing the Tango is a close second to their love of the Raptor.

“Our SteelMaster hangar is built on a pad where WWII Quonset Huts housed Army Air Corp aircraft. The hangar is reminiscent of my Korean experience. The Rookery is not only for our Raptor Tango, we also have a Viet Nam era Huey UH1 Helicopter I once flew housed in there too,” said Rudy, who was quick to add, “. We have a louver on each end of our hangar, and the building remains comfortably cool all day here in Hawaii. The Steelmaster design is great, and our hangar is completely waterproof.”

Audrey elaborated, “Since there are other creative aviator builders here, they were constantly examining the construction of our SteelMaster hangar. The consensus was, ‘It looks really great, and we had no idea it would go up this fast!’ There are two other metal buildings here from other companies, but according to another consensus, SteelMaster is by far at the top of the list!”

SteelMaster has been around a while, 30 years to be exact. They have done their research, with the end result being exactly what Rudy and Audrey are talking about – a superior product which stands apart from the rest. In the late 1970’s, SteelMaster engineered and designed a newer, stronger structure based the historic designs of the Quonset Hut. SteelMaster evolved the Quonset into a design that combined the architectural strength of the arch along with 20th century technology allowing buildings to be designed and engineered to handle all types of climates and conditions.
The history of the Quonset dates to 1941. It was during WWII when the United States Armed Forces decided that they needed an all-purpose, lightweight building that could be shipped anywhere in the world and assembled quickly and easily to support the troops. The Quonset Hut design was modeled closely after the WWI Nissen Hut engineered by the British. The Navy discovered they were able to maximize the flexible interior space of these structures since the building was an open clear-span design. In addition, they found the rounded shape of the corrugated arch to be one of the strongest structures in architecture (think for example; an Igloo) providing the ground troops with the shelter they needed during the war.

SteelMaster is proud of the fact their buildings not only stand the test of time, but the sleek design effortlessly blends into any environment. Whether it is a barn, a carport, storage, a home, or a historical landmark site, SteelMaster has the concept and design that will both compliment and captivate. SteelMaster Airplane Hangars are perfect for a permanent structure on a tarmac or as portable aircraft hangars on a grass landing strip. SteelMaster Hangars provide security and durability against fire, snow or hurricane-force winds.

SteelMaster buildings are engineered for life and backed by a 30-year warranty from ArcelorMittal Dofasco Steel Mill and provide 100% of usable space, along with ease of construction and low maintenance. Through common ownership, SteelMaster owns the factory where its Steel Buildings are engineered, designed and manufactured. This affords SteelMaster the ability to incorporate and oversee the most stringent quality standards in order to effectively deliver their clients the exact buildings they envisioned.

SteelMaster’s 30-year Anniversary in February, 2012, marks over 40,000 satisfied customers with SteelMaster buildings constructed worldwide on six continents, in over 50 countries, and throughout the United States.

~ Written by Tammy Kistler