Setting aside a budget for steel building construction is an important step towards a smooth-flowing construction.
Without proper costing, you could end up spending more than necessary. It also helps in controlling the costs of materials, so you can find more cost-effective suppliers that can provide the supplies you need within your budget range.
Approximate Steel Building Cost Range
How much a steel building can cost depends on a lot of factors such as the size of the building and the quality of the materials used.
Assuming that you are going to have a 2:12 roof pitch and the eave height is around 12 inches and you include features such as insulation, documents like certifications, delivery to the site, overhead doors, walk-in doors and plans, you could have these price ranges:
Prefabricated Metal Kit: Between $7.50 and $8.50 per square foot.
Foundation made from Concrete Slab: Between $5.50 and $6.00 (assuming that the concerted slab is about 4 inches in thickness)
Has a Framing Erection and Additional Accessories: Between $3.50 and $4.00
The total costs of a steel building is somewhere in between $16.50 and $18.50.
Basic Structure Pricing
There are different structures to choose from when it comes to buildings. A 30 x 40 ft building that comes with 1,200 square footage can cost $9.58/sq. ft or an estimated steel cost of $11,500.
The price naturally increases as the building gets bigger. That said, a 40×60 ft building with 2,400 square footage has a smaller cost per square footage, which is $7.46 but has an overall cost of $17,900.
A 150x250ft building that has a square footage of 37,500 of square footage can cost you $7.10 per square foot or an overall cost of $266,250.
Also take note of the costs of delivery, which takes about 5-10% of the square footage costs. You also need to factor in foundation costs.
This can range from $4-$6 per square foot. Construction costs are anywhere between $3-$5 per square footage. Accessories such as doors and windows will require 10-20% of your budget.
Source: https://www.buildingsguide.com/faq/what-square-foot-cost-steel-building/
Steel Building Price Factor
When coming up with a budget for erecting steel building, it’s also important to understand what factors can increase or decrease the price. Here are the factors that you need to consider:
Your design preferences
How big do you want the structure to be? Vertical size and square footage are important considerations. The bigger the size, the more expensive it is going to be, although the price per square footage drops the more materials that you need.
The changing costs of steel
Another factor to keep in mind is the price of steel. Steel is a valuable commodity. Its price is dictated by global demands. That means the more there is a demand for it globally, the more expensive it gets, especially if the production is limited. Natural disasters can limit the sourcing of materials and the production of steel. If there is a stability in the market, the price of steel can fluctuate. You might be able to afford the price of a steel building now but that can change when there are changes to the economy.
Building System
Another variable that can affect the pricing of steel is the building system. An I-Beam Metal Building can cost anywhere between $8-$17 per square footage while a Block Building can set you back by $9-$12 per square footage. There are also more expensive building systems such as the C-Channel Building System, priced at $15-$18 per square footage.
The Quonset Hut costs anywhere between $13-$15 per square footage. The most expensive systems are the Pole Barn and Modular systems. The Pole Barn system will set you back by about $25 to $30 while the modular systems cost somewhere between $36 to $40. Although costlier, the modular systems can provide benefits that you can’t get with traditional building systems.
These prices can also change depending on the supplier. This is why you need to be more discerning in choosing your suppliers. It’s not uncommon to have suppliers that will quote you with a very low price only to end up getting subpar materials. When asking for a price quote, make sure you know what is included in it. The price quote might be low because it doesn’t come with all the expenses you are expected t include. It might not include everything.
Location
Location also plays a vital role in the construction of a steel building. The contractor must meet the stipulations of local government. Every locality has their load and code specifications and these are the ones that should be considered by contractors before putting up the steel building. Localities make stipulations on loads based on how much rain, snow and wind an area is getting. If the area is an earthquake zone, there are also specific seismic conditions that are going to be stipulated by the government.
Costs of construction
Aside from the steel, there are also other construction necessities that you need to include in your computation such as insulation and concrete. You also need to consider labor costs. This isn’t fixed as the demand for construction labor can change depending on the time of the year and the economic status. You also need to take into account the costs of freight. If your suppliers are far, it might cost more to get them delivered to your location. The farther the location of your building is to primary suppliers, the higher the cost.
Complexity of the design
Steel buildings have a wide range of uses, not just industrial purposes. Even residential designs make use of steel frames. It’s also used for workshops, garages, and commercial spaces like distilleries. The more complex the design, the more steel might be used. Even if two spaces are the same in size, if they follow a different design, they can have different costs. For instance, a 40×60 workshop with a simple design consisting of a x-braced ay and a roof pitch with a ratio of 1:12will only cost you less than a building with the same size but requires an interior crane.
Source: https://gensteel.com/building-faqs/steel-building-prices/building-costs-per-square-foot/
Square Footage Consideration
When deciding how much square footage you are going to get, there are different factors you should keep in mind. The first thing you should consider is the building style.
How much you will spend will depend on the style of the building because they can differ not just in building materials but also in finishing. For instance, rigid frame buildings or building with straight walls are a common choice. Builders often pick stucco or masonry for its exterior.
This kind of building is strong and can withstand a lot of external forces.
A typical residential building with a size of 30×40 can be priced at $10 per square footage while a bigger building with about 80×100 of square footage can have a price of $7 per square footage.
That still doesn’t include the costs of accessories such as windows and doors. You also need to estimate the costs of labor, which is at 20% and freight, which is at 8-10%. Generally, buildings that come with bigger finishes will cost less than a smaller building because you can buy the materials in bulk.
Another option that you can have is the arch buildings. These structures are great for prefab buildings because the arched roofs provide an aesthetic appeal that balances its durability. It’s also stronger compared to the straight walled buildings and the assembly time doesn’t take as long as the straight walled ones.
The materials also cost less, usually at $5 per square footage excluding the delivery, accessories and labor.
Labor Cost for Erecting a Metal Building
There is no specific price for labor costs. As mentioned above, labor can cost about 20% of the overall costs of the construction. The price will start there.
You should get price quotes from different contractors. With a 30×50 ft metal building that comes with a 6/12 roof pitch and 16 ft eave height, contractors can charge you up to $46,000.
It can seem exorbitant but this ensures that professionals will erect your metal building. You can choose to have one contractor do everything but there are also others that don’t include services such as subgrading in their bid.
If there are no difficult conditions that affect the erection of the metal building such as uneven terrain, the price can be more reasonable. However, take into consideration how difficult it is. Some people choose to do it themselves, using prefabricated steel kits but might have a hard time reaching the roof. In this case, you still need the help of a professional.
How to Purchase Your Steel Building
Here is a step-by-step process that you can follow when it comes to purchasing a steel building:
Step 1: Understand the details of your project first.
You need to set definitive goals such as the length, height and width of the structure. Understand how much square footage you have. If you are not certain how much space you are working with, you can get the help of professionals who can do the measurement for you.
Step 2: Get a price quote.
Look for different suppliers and contractors. Compare the products of your supplier and determine the services included by the contractors. Make sure the contractors include all the things needed. You don’t want the contractors offering a price quote to exclude items so that their price quote seems smaller than the rest.
Also keep in mind that steel prices change. The costs can fluctuate depending on the demand and supply for steel.
Step 3: Get the building details from your contractor.
Once you have chosen the right contractor for the job, you can get the details from your contractor. Your contractor should be able to provide drawings of the plan. The drawing, once finalized, should be stamped by an engineer. You need the stamp so that you can proceed with the construction of the building.
Step 4: Fabrication of materials.
Once the plans are finalized, the suppliers are notified and they can now start the fabrication of materials. After that, the shipping documents will be sent to you and your contractor. After being approved, it will be shipped out during the scheduled day of delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 60×100 steel building cost?
A 60×100 steel building can cost $6,000 per square foot or an overall cost of $44,900.
How much does it cost to build a 50×100 metal building?
This size of metal building has 5,00 square footage. When you use steel as a primary material for building, it can set you back by at least $31,000 to $36,500. Expect to pay $6.20 per square feet to up to $7.30 per square feet.
What is the average cost of a 40×60 metal building?
A basic steel building kit for a 40×60 building can cost $3-$5 per square foot. That doesn’t include the foundation, which can cost you $4-$6 per square foot.
How much does it cost to build a 40×60 Barndominium?
Expect to pay $30 to $40 per square foot for a Barndominium. This will already include the steel material and the assembly. It is considered to be cheaper than modular homes and other construction methods and it’s made to be installed faster and more efficiently.
How much would it cost to build a 40×60 shop?
A basic 40×60 steel building that consists of 2,400 square foot of space ideal for shops and storage spaces can cost you $7.30 to $8.50 per square foot. Turnkey prices can start at $36,000 and go as high up as $45,000.
How much does it cost to finish out a metal building as a house?
With metal building kits for houses, a 15x 20-inch house price starts at $8,600 and can go as high up as $14,000. A 50×100 home can cost as much as $42,000. Again, this will depend on the price of steel and the design of the house.
