Why Fall and Winter Are Best for Planning a Steel Building
Planning a steel building? Start in late fall or winter to lock in pricing, permits and crew time so you can build on schedule in spring.
The 82' x 220' riding arena MSC built near Nelson, BC. The owner started planning in winter, and the crew was building by summer.
By the MSC Team | October 2026
The best time to plan a steel building is late fall through winter. Planning in the off-season gives you time to price, design, permit and order materials before spring, so construction starts when the ground thaws. Metal Structure Concepts (MSC) sees the same pattern every year: owners who call in winter build on schedule, and owners who wait for spring often end up building in the fall.
Why Does Waiting for Spring Delay Your Steel Building?
Waiting for spring pushes your build into late summer or fall. Steve Ivanitz at MSC has spent nearly three decades in the steel building industry, and he puts it simply: "The guy phones me in the spring when the grass is green and says I want a building." By then, the earliest realistic build window is the end of summer.
A pre-engineered steel building is not something you order off a shelf. Before anyone pours concrete, the project needs:
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Pricing and negotiation with the manufacturer
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Design work and drawing reviews
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Permit applications and approvals
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Material orders and fabrication time
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Crew scheduling
Each step takes time. Start late, and these steps use up most of your building season.
What Does a Steel Building Planning Timeline Look Like?
Here is how an off-season planning schedule usually lines up for a spring or summer build.
| When | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Late fall | First call, site details, budget and initial pricing |
| Winter | Design, drawing reviews, contracts and permit applications |
| Late winter to early spring | Materials ordered, fabrication booked, crews scheduled |
| Spring to summer | Construction starts on site |
Steve's goal is that by the time spring starts, "details are figured out, materials have been ordered, contracts have been signed, permits have been applied for." Then the crew can go straight to building.
How Are Tariffs Stretching Quote and Delivery Times?
Tariffs have made Canadian steel manufacturers busier than ever, and that means longer quotes and later deliveries. Canada applies counter-tariffs on certain U.S. steel products and has added new measures to protect Canadian steel producers. Most buyers have since moved from U.S.-supplied metal buildings to Canadian manufacturers.
MSC has worked with Canadian suppliers like Behlen for years, so our sourcing did not change. Timing did. With Canadian plants this busy:
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Quotes take longer, because suppliers need more time to price each job
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Delivery dates are further out
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Prices have climbed as demand has grown
"The time right now to quote a client who wants a building has never been this long," Steve says. Read more in our tariff breakdown for Canadian steel buildings.
When Do Steel Manufacturers Offer the Best Pricing?
Steel manufacturers typically offer their best pricing in late winter and early spring. Construction slows down in a Canadian winter, so manufacturers look ahead to fill their plants for the first quarter of the year.
"Just after Christmas or just before, the suppliers start phoning us," Steve says. "They're looking to book their plants in the first quarter of the year." Clients who are ready to order at that point are in the best position on price.
For smaller projects like a private shop or steel garage, timing matters even more. Building through winter adds cost that a well-planned spring start avoids.
The Nelson Riding Arena
The riding arena near Nelson, BC shows how this works. The owner called MSC in the winter. By summer, our crew was on site building an 82' x 220' pre-engineered steel building with more than 18,000 square feet of open space.
Because the planning was done early, the build went ahead on schedule, even with wildfire smoke in the air that season.
Does Early Planning Apply to Commercial Steel Buildings, Too?
Yes. Early planning helps any commercial steel building, shop or warehouse, not just private builds. Whether you're planning a commercial steel building in Prince George, a shop in Alberta, or a warehouse in Saskatoon or Whitehorse, the steps are the same. Most owners and contractors save money and stress by planning in the off-season.
It also helps with crew time. Scheduling works on a first-come, first-served basis, so booking early means MSC can commit crews to your site when you need them.
Most Asked Questions On Planning a Spring Steel Building
When should I contact a steel building supplier for a spring build?
Contact your supplier in late fall or winter if you want to build in spring. That gives you enough lead time to get everything in place before construction season starts.
Why does a spring steel building project need to start so early?
A spring build needs a head start because pricing, design, permits, fabrication and crew scheduling all have to be done before construction. If any one of these is late, your start date gets pushed back.
Does planning a steel building early save money?
Yes. Planning early lets you lock in seasonal pricing before spring demand picks up, and it helps you avoid the extra cost of building in the cold.
Are tariffs affecting steel building lead times in Canada?
Yes. With most buyers now sourcing from Canadian manufacturers, plants are busier, quotes take longer, and delivery dates are further out. Planning early gives you room to absorb those delays.
Start Planning Now
Want to build next spring? The work starts this fall. A little more time up front means better pricing and a build that starts on schedule. Talk to a project lead about your project, or see similar builds in our project gallery.
Metal Structure Concepts (MSC) designs, supplies and installs pre-engineered steel buildings for businesses, farms and landowners across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the North. Get a quote for your next build.
MSC designs, supplies, and installs pre-engineered steel hangars across BC, Alberta, and the North, including one of Alberta's biggest commercial builds right now at De Havilland Field. See the project gallery.