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5 Pre-engineered Steel Building Maintenance Tips

5 Pre-engineered Steel Building Maintenance Tips

An annual inspection of a pre-engineered steel building is an important maintenance practice.

Investing in a pre-engineered steel building is a big step. Whether it’s your first one, or your fifth, and whether you run a retail company or an industrial operation, you likely choose this building type, in part, for its strength and durability. And while these structures are designed to be worry-free, there are several maintenance items that should be done to keep it looking great and performing at optimal levels.

 

  1. Annual Inspection

It’s a good idea to schedule annual inspections of pre-engineered buildings to identify any potential problems. By being proactive, you’re more likely to detect and correct issues while they’re still minor. This can save your company money by:

  • Keeping repair costs to a minimum
  • Preventing further deterioration of the building
  • Reducing potential for downtime due to repairs

To monitor the status of your building, and to ensure maintenance checks are being conducted, it’s advisable to:

  • Establish a maintenance schedule
  • Record any problems and the steps taken to address them
  • Notify your steel building company of any potential defects

An experienced individual should conduct these inspections. If necessary, you can outsource this task to a qualified contractor. Some pre-engineered steel building companies even offer inspection work as a value-added service.

 

  1. Fasteners

A fastener that’s rusted out, faulty or insecurely attached compromises the weatherproofing of a pre-engineered steel building. This applies to:

  • Nuts
  • Rivets
  • Screws
  • Other hardware

Fasteners that are loose should be tightened, and ones that are damaged in any way should be replaced.

It’s important to note that while some fasteners might have rusted heads, they might still be perfectly fine. For more on this, read our post: Custom Steel Buildings: What to Do About Rusty Fasteners?

 

  1. Cleaning

To keep the exteriors of pre-engineered steel buildings looking their best, it’s recommended that you wash them once a year. This will prevent the buildup of mold or dirt that could trap moisture. The latter could lead to premature corrosion. 

This can be performed simply with a pressure washer on a low setting and the use of a suitable cleaning solution.

 

  1. Painting 

The exterior coating on a pre-engineered steel building is extremely resistant to: 

  • Weather
  • UV rays
  • Corrosion
  • Flaking
  • Fading

However, over time, your building could receive the odd dent or scratch through physical contact with vehicles, forklifts, equipment and materials. Sealing these areas with paint matched to the building colour (and possibly a metal filler) will keep them protected.

 

  1. Insulation

Taking the time to inspect your building’s insulation is one maintenance item that could save you money. If it’s damaged or deteriorated in any way, it could:

  • Increase you heating and cooling bills
  • Lead to moisture buildup resulting in corrosion
  • Lead to moisture buildup that could affect employee health (i.e. mold)

  

Do you need a pre-engineered steel building that you can count on for years of worry-free use? Call Metal Structure Concepts. We offer complete design-and-erect services, as well as a value-added building maintenance program.