Establishing a metal building foundation for any new build is a big step toward getting the project going and ultimately being happy with the finished product. If you have already made the choice to go with metal for your new building, congratulations – metal is an excellent pick, and the structure you are left with will certainly serve you well for years to come.
That’s particularly true if you opt to work with American Carports, Inc. for the project. With so much experience in this industry and so many happy customers to our credit, you’ll love what we can deliver. Get started today by using our Build & Price tool to design your ideal structure, and be sure to contact us if any questions come up along the way. It would be our pleasure to serve you!
Why Do You Need a Foundation?
It will be necessary to have some sort of foundation in place to make sure your building stays firmly where it should stand for years to come. If you don’t address the foundation at all, you’ll just be building on bare ground that is sure to shift and move over time – and the building won’t last, or be safe to use.
Fortunately, with steel buildings like the ones available from American Carports, Inc., you have a lot of choices at your disposal regarding metal building foundation options. If you are trying to keep the project’s cost down, you can go with a relatively minimal foundation that will get the job done without coming along with a big bill. Of course, if you do have a little more money to spend, creating a more significant foundation can make the building more useful and help it continue to serve your needs well into the future.
3 Popular Foundation Options: Perimeter, Concrete Slab & Piers
It’s a good idea to educate yourself on the available options before you attempt to pick one that will serve you well. The list below touches on three common foundation options used for metal buildings.
- Concrete Slab. This is likely the most popular option, and for good reason. With a concrete slab, you get a good foundation for your building to rest on and a default floor for the inside of the space. So, if you are driving vehicles into the building or if you plan on using this building as a workshop to complete projects, the slab will serve you well over the years. And, given the durability and long-lasting nature of concrete, you can expect this slab to last just as long as the building itself.
- Perimeter footing. With this type of foundation, a footing is poured that matches the layout of the building, so the exterior walls are supported by this foundation. With a perimeter footing, you don’t get the benefit of a floor like you would enjoy with a concrete slab, but you do keep the cost of the project down while still giving your building a solid platform on which to live.
- Piers. For the quickest and least expensive option, consider using piers. With piers, you’ll have support underneath the posts of the structure, but nowhere else. This is a commonly taken approach when the building will be left open and feature a bare dirt floor. For example, if you have horses or other farm animals that need a place to get out of the weather, you could build a metal structure with piers for a foundation and be up and running in no time.
Which Metal Building Foundation is Right for You?
It all comes down to how you are going to use the building. If you personally plan on spending time in the space, we’d recommend going with a concrete slab because of the floor that it creates. However, if budget is your primary concern and you just need to get this building up while spending as little as possible on the job, that would be a reason to move to a perimeter footing or simple piers for a foundation.
Let American Carports Inc., Help You Today
Your new building isn’t going to live up to its potential without the right foundation to support it. We hope the information above helps you get started on the process of picking out the correct foundation option for your needs, and remember that you can always reach out to American Carports, Inc. to learn more about our metal buildings and what we can offer. Thank you for stopping by!
