9 Tips for Metal Building Maintenance

Metal Building Maintenance

Steel buildings are the most affordable metal buildings that are strong, durable, and easy to assemble. Steel buildings last longer and require less maintenance than other types of buildings. However, there are still things you need to do to keep your steel building in good condition. Simple maintenance tasks are easy to forget, but they are important to keep your building in good condition.

Metal buildings are more about how they are used than how they look. Every day, prefab metal buildings are used as garages, offices, and storage spaces. It’s easy to forget about basic maintenance until there are major structural problems. If you find that your steel building is having some minor problems. Then you should start looking into what it needs.

For example, keeping your steel building in good shape may mean touching up peeling paint on a regular basis. In addition, you may need to trim bushes that are touching the steel building. Once you know what to do, maintaining your metal building will be a breeze. This article will show you how to keep your steel building in good condition.

Table of Contents

Low Maintenance of Commercial Metal Buildings

Steel buildings are widely used in commercial buildings. This is because it does not cost much to maintain. Low maintenance is possible because some parts of prefab steel buildings do not require much maintenance.

All you need is a soft bristle brush and mild soapy water to clean metal building parts. Such as roof panels, doors, windows, etc. In addition, these simple cleaning steps can also be used to keep other components of a prefabd metal building in good condition.

Low Maintenance of Commercial Metal Buildings

Problems That Can Result from a Lack of Maintenance on a Steel Building

A prefab steel building is one of the best investments you can make. It only requires you to perform maintenance every once in a while. However, you should still inspect your steel building frequently to avoid major problems. If a steel building lacks the necessary maintenance, then its lifespan will be shortened. If you don’t inspect your steel building often, you may not notice any damage to the steel structure.

Additionally, not maintaining your metal building in a timely manner can lead to serious repair issues. If you live in a place where the weather or temperature changes frequently. Then keep an eye on your steel building for rust and corrosion. These problems can lead to poorer aesthetics and stability of the building.

Read More:8 strategies to extend the service life of metal structure buildings

Customize Your Steel Building

Start your project today with a tailored price estimate for your steel building.

9 Tips for Maintaining a Steel Building

Steel buildings have a long lifespan. In addition, steel structures do not require regular maintenance like other building materials. If you care for your steel buildings, it will help them a lot. Here are the 9 best ways to maintain steel buildings:

Maintenance After Assembly

You should maintain your prefab steel building immediately after it is completed. First, you should clean off anything that comes in contact with the exterior of the building. People may leave tools, ladders, or steel plates around. You should remove them because you never want to put an extra burden on your building.

Another thing to consider is that the person installing the roof will need to drill holes in the roof so that the steel plates can be attached together. This will roughen the surface of the metal blocks. If you sweep them clean with a soft-bristled brush, you can prevent them from rusting later.

Thorough Cleaning of the Steel Structure

Clean the steel building every three to four months with warm water and a cleaning solution. This will remove the chalky dirt from the metal building. It also maintains the color, shine, and appearance of the steel structure.

If your building is located in an area with a high concentration of factories. Then you may need to power wash it three times a year. To be as safe as possible, follow these precautions:

  • Mold and rust grow faster in damp areas. So be very careful when cleaning your building. Also, make sure that all doors and windows are closed tightly while cleaning.
  • To be even safer, cover plants and bushes while cleaning the building.
  • Turn off all power to the building, especially outdoor electrical outlets and lights.
  • Cover all utility boxes, outdoor lights, electrical outlets, and other open power sources that may come inside with a protective cover.

If you know all the safety rules and can clean up a metal building yourself. Then this will be a fun do-it-yourself job.

Checking the Insulation

The insulation in a prefab steel building keeps out noise, moisture, and temperature. If the insulation falls off, a lot of energy is lost. Insulation peeling off is often caused by external forces. Therefore, don’t neglect regular maintenance checks. Don’t forget to do the following when checking your insulation:

  • Replace the insulation tape with a new one
  • Renew or upgrade the insulation system
  • Secure the insulation pins in place using friction washers or glue. If necessary, clean the steel panels to make them stick better. Then add one pin per square foot of seam.
  • Tie the band above the purlin. Leave the steel straps open so that the insulation blanket can be threaded through the ties.

Always call a professional if you notice any damage to the insulation during the inspection.

Check for Loose and Rusty Roof Fasteners

Major structural problems caused by corroded or loose fasteners can be avoided by regularly inspecting your roof. In addition, moisture can easily seep into the roof and weaken the roofing material.

If you see rust on fasteners, use a scraper to scrape off the top layer of rust and see what’s underneath. If you can still see clean metal after wiping down the fastener, the problem is not serious. If the bolt is bad, you should get a new one before the problem gets worse.

If the bolt is misplaced or the nut is missing, then it can weaken the tensile strength of the structure. In addition, discussing the next steps in the inspection with your steel building company will help you come up with countermeasures. Xinguangzheng Steel Building Company can provide you with the help you need.

Look at Drains and Drainpipes

Drains ensure that excess water can flow freely within the building. If the drains are clogged, the water will either flow in a different direction or stay where it is. This means that all the joints may show signs of leakage.

Additionally, water will slowly corrode anything it touches. This is how frames become rusty, moldy, and damaged. Therefore, you should check your gutters and gutters as part of your regular inspection. This will keep your gutters and gutters free of leaves, dirt, and branches.

If you find that something is blocking the drains and they are not working properly. Then you should remove the blockage by hand wearing rubber gloves and then flush the drain with a power washer. This will remove all smaller foreign objects and allow the drain to work properly.

Oiling Doors and Hinges

Make sure hinges, locks, and door lock fittings are tight. They need to be able to open and close naturally without any noise or stopping. Also, make sure all hinges show no signs of damage and are oiled.

Then check the seals and door frames and fix any loose door hardware. If there are mold spots, scrub them clean with a soft-bristled brush to remove the mold. If it cannot be repaired, the seals and fasteners should be replaced promptly to prevent water ingress.

Repairing Paint

If you take proper care of the quality paint on your metal building. Then it will retain its protective value and beauty for much longer. If it is not inspected regularly, over time the panels will lose their original appearance and show signs of wear and tear. It is important to make sure that the metal base is stable and sealed.

Look for all the tiny scratches and clean out any dirt, grease, and other things stuck in the scratches or drilled holes. Then do a thorough cleaning and wait for it to dry. This is followed by a coat of primer and then paint and leave it to dry.

Trimming the Hedges

Many people plant shrubs and other plants around their metal buildings in order to make them look more aesthetically pleasing. While this is a good design choice, make sure that the bushes do not touch the building. If the plants touch the metal building, air will not be able to circulate and it will also cause water to come into contact with the steel.

Over time, mold and rust will grow in areas with less air circulation and more moisture. This can cause major problems for the steel building structure. Therefore, plants should be pruned regularly to prevent mold growth and rust.

Remove Snow Quickly

If you live in an area with harsh winters, snow may accumulate on top of the steel building. This can cause excessive snow loads on steel buildings, making them more prone to breakage. To keep your metal building in good condition, you should always remember to remove snow as soon as it forms.

When clearing snow from your roof, always avoid shovel contact with the roof. If you want to stay on top of the snow, feel where the snow is. Because tools are made of metal, scratching across the roof may damage it.

Customize Your Steel Building

Start your project today with a tailored price estimate for your steel building.

Factors Affecting the Maintenance of Metal Buildings

You cannot blindly start maintaining your prefab metal building. Depending on the condition of the metal building, different maintenance measures can be specified. Therefore, there are the following considerations to take into account:

Weather

Before performing any maintenance on your metal building, you should pay close attention to the weather conditions in your area. If it rains a lot, your building may start to rust. In addition, you may also need to know how to prevent condensation in steel buildings.

Age of the Building

The age of your building will tell you how often it should be maintained. Metal buildings do not require as much maintenance as other types of buildings. Therefore, you need to know when the metal building was manufactured. If the metal building has been in use for many years, it can be maintained every three or four months. If the metal building is brand new, it will only require maintenance once or twice a year.

Use of the building

The maintenance of a metal building also depends on how you intend to use it. For commercial metal buildings, more maintenance is needed than for residential metal buildings. This is because commercial metal buildings get more foot traffic and are used more frequently.

Location and Surroundings

The surroundings of the prefabricated steel building are also important. If the neighborhood of the metal building is always dirty, dusty, and littered. Then you need to make sure that your metal building is well maintained.

Building Style and Materials

The material of your metal buildings will also affect how you maintain them. The only time you need to maintain your metal buildings is when they are rusty or damaged.

Maintenance History

Do you pay close attention or take great care with your maintenance? Your next step in your maintenance program will depend on how often you clean the inside and outside of your metal home. You can have your metal home serviced every six months or annually. However, if the building is older, then maintenance may be more frequent

Summarizing

Regular maintenance of prefab metal buildings can save money. For modern society, sustainability is an important issue to consider when constructing or planning new buildings. And pre-engineered steel buildings are very strong, durable, and recyclable. Since metal buildings are strong and durable, they can withstand the elements. Therefore it does not require much maintenance and repair.

On the other hand, it is important to keep safety rules in mind when maintaining metal buildings. Since these metal buildings can be slippery, you need to wear proper safety gear while working on them. In addition, there are some helpful safety tips that you need to follow in order to keep your steel buildings in good condition. When properly maintained, these steel homes can last for more than 50 years or more.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
James-Xinguangzheng Blog Editor
Content Writer

James is a senior steel construction expert at Xinguangzheng, specializing in solutions for industrial and commercial projects. He has extensive project management and design experience and shares insights on sustainable building and steel structure innovations by writing articles.

About Xinguangzheng

Founded in 1997, Xinguangzheng Steel Structure Group has over 27 years of professional experience in the steel structure industry. We have completed more than 5,000 projects in more than 130 countries around the world and hold international certifications such as EN1090 (CE) and ISO9001. Whether it is a complex industrial building or a large commercial facility, Xinguangzheng is always able to provide high quality and reliable steel structure solutions for our customers.

Categories
Latest News
Contact Information

Contact With Us

Scroll to Top

GET A QUOTE TODAY