Materials

Which steel is right for your building

Cold-Formed Steel

ColdForm Pros

More cost effective than Red-iron
Much quicker delivery time than red-iron (typically 4-6 weeks from order placement)
Higher customizability and durability than Versatube
Can configure to whatever snow loads and wind ratings are required (making it available to customers anywhere)
Thicker sheeting than Versatube (26 gauge vs the common 29 gauge)
Can clear span up to 80’ wide
Much higher eve height options (over 30’)
Second floor install available with mezzanines engineered with the building structure
No tapered columns or rafters

ColdForm Cons

Concrete necessary
Longer installation timeline as opposed to versatube
Vertical Style sheeting only

Usage Recommendations

Vehicle shops and workshops
Barns and agricultural buildings
Garages
Warehouses
Hangars
RV Storage
Barndominiums
Arenas
Larger Commercial Storage Units

Red Iron

Red Iron Pros

Widest Clear Spans
Tallest eve heights
Bigger bays

Red Iron Cons

More equipment is needed and usually more space around the work area needed to erect
Longest lead time

Our Recommended Red Iron Uses

Largest commercial projects where height, big bays, and/or vast clear spanning is required
For someone where a quick timeline isn’t a top priority

Versatube

Versatube Pros

Most cost-effective for small square footage
It doesn’t need concrete in most situations
Usually very quick delivery times of around 4 weeks
More sheeting style options (horizontal or vertical)

Versatube Cons

Limited clearspan capabilities
Limited height (max of 15’ eve height)
Limited wind and snow rating capabilities (making availability limited in mountainous areas)
Limited insulation options

Usage Recommendations

Carports
Cold storage
Commercial Mini Storage Units

Concrete

Concrete

Concrete can vary greatly from building to building. Red Iron usually requires heavier-duty foundations. While many ColdForm pads typically require 12” footers, with a 4” thick monolithic slab. Some buildings only need piers instead of full pads, and some Versatube buildings don’t need any concrete poured at all

Reinforcement

Fiber mesh and different forms of rebar can be added in. As well as increasing the thickness of the pad as a whole. Specific areas can also be reinforced to support certain equipment, as many of our mechanic shop customers have done for their vehicle lift post locations

Concrete Plans

The most important thing is this. Just like how every building comes with stamped engineered plans for the building itself, they also come with engineered plans for the concrete, with all the specifications specific to your project

Eco-Foil

Eco-Foil Pros

Most cost-effective
Quickest to be delivered
The least concern of moisture damage to the insulation itself
Easiest, quickest, and cheapest to install
No compression between sheeting and framing
Easiest to improve on later down the road

Eco-Foil Cons

Lowest R-value (eco-foil is a radiant barrier, which means is measured by its reflective and emissive properties rather than retention, and has an official independent R-value of almost 0)

Our recommended Eco-Foil use

Projects where temperature control isn’t the highest priority, but you want something to help take the edge off of the heat or cold outside. General storage, home shop, or garage

Fiberglass

Fiberglass Pros

Higher R-values
Clean inside look
Different thickness options
Banded systems yield even higher R-values than single blanket fiberglass

Fiberglass Cons

More expensive than Eco-foil
A little longer delivery timeline than Eco-foil
The thicker the batting the higher the chance of “oil canning” or bowing out the sheeting and trim, due to the compression between these pieces and the structural steel
Banded systems are available for ColdForm and Red Iron only. Not Versatube buildings

Our recommended fiberglass use

Buildings where insulation still isn’t the top concern, but budgets are not as restrictive. Good for residential or commercial shops, garages, barns, and warehouses, where there will be more time spent and other heating/cooling implements will be in place
It is also recommended to not exceed 4” in thickness (R-13) for the outside blanket. If a greater R-value is required and fiberglass is what you want, then we recommend to either go with a banded system of fiberglass

Sprayfoam

Spray foam pros

Highest available R-value/inch thickness
Helps with soundproofing
Adds even more structure to the building
2” thick or more of closed cell spray foam acts as an additional water barrier
Can be done after the fact of the building erection, so can always be added later fairly easily if no fiberglass insulation is installed

Spray foam cons

We do not install sprayfoam in house but we can help get you connected with a local contractor. This does sometimes mean that their schedule puts them a little later down the line
Can be the most expensive option

Our recommended spray foam use

Only use Closed Cell SprayFoam
Barndominiums, office spaces, or any other commercial or residential projects where temperature control is a top priority

DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT?

Whether it's helping with a design, finding the right supplier, erecting an already ordered building, or any combination of the three, we're here to help you with whatever you need when it comes to getting your building project done the right way.