Metal buildings are quite durable, but even the most well-built among them needs some periodic maintenance to stay looking and working great. Most of it is simple, and a good inspection and maintenance session once a year or so should be enough to prevent most problems. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Common Signs of Wear in a Metal Structure
During everyday use, note any wear you may notice in your metal garage, shop, barn, or RV cover so you can take care of them during your regular maintenance routine. Some of the more common signs of wear include:
- Scratches, dings, or gouges in the metal that may allow corrosion to set in
- Dents or more severe impact damage
- Loose screws and fasteners
- Curled panel edges
- Warped, bent, or sagging panels
- Damaged trim, gutters, or downspouts
- Entry doors that squeak, drag, or are hard to open
- Garage doors that do not roll well, are misaligned, or are hard to open
- Windows with damaged frames or glass
- Windows that have problems opening
- Corrosion, discolorations, or damage to finished surfaces
How To Prevent Wear & Damage
Here are a few simple things you can do to prevent physical wear and damage to your metal building:
- Keep the outside of the building clear of debris to prevent scratches and dents.
- Trim trees and brush near the building to avoid scratches, dents, sap, and leaf debris.
- Clear ice, snow, and leaf debris from the perimeter of the building to avoid trapped moisture and corrosion.
In areas with heavy snow during the winter, it is important to monitor the snow on the roof and remove it if it exceeds the building’s rated snow load. In areas with high wind, it is a good idea to check for loose panels and fasteners periodically.
In the southwestern United States, monitor painted surfaces for signs of sun damage and check for loose fasteners caused by oil canning or the movement of the panels with hot and cold cycles.
Preventive Maintenance Tips
Once a year, you should inspect garages, barns, shops, and other metal structures for damage and do some basic maintenance. This should include:
- Washing the exterior of the building
- Sanding, priming, and painting any corroded areas or raw, exposed metal
- Pulling dents or dings and repairing them, if necessary
- Securing any loose siding or roofing panels
- Tightening loose fasteners and replacing missing fasteners
- Cleaning and repairing gutters and downspouts
- Lubricating entry door hinges and lockets, garage door rollers and tracks, and window tracks and hardware
Inspect all the roofing and siding panels and the steel structural components for damaged finishes, whether it is galvanized, zinc plated, painted, or powder-coated. Any scratches, gouges, or dents should be sanded, primed, and painted to avoid corrosion.
Quality Steel Buildings for Residential, Agricultural & Commercial Applications
Are you considering a metal building for your home, farm, or business? At Bulldog Steel Structures, we offer high-quality, American-made steel buildings for nearly any residential, agricultural, or commercial application.
From steel garages and barns to RV covers, commercial buildings, and custom steel structures, we can help you find the ideal metal building for your needs and budget. We serve customers throughout the continental United States, and we offer great financing options to make getting your new steel building easy and convenient.
Call 888-551-2156 today or contact us online to request a quote or start designing your custom steel building.
What Our Customers Are Saying
I would recommend bulldog steel highly. They are very professional and accommodating. Want to give special thanks to Randall Hall and also matt preslar. They were very accommodating and helping me fill out paperwork and handling things when a timely basis. The building we were very satisfied with and the installers also were very polite and had things done on a timely basis. Thanks again Randall and Matt you`ve got my five star rating
Shirley M.
Bulldog has been great to work with. They explained everything from beginning to end. I live in the mountains of New Mexico and the staff made sure that my garage had the right support needed for this area of the country. I would highly recommend them for anyone building a new carport or gaeage!
Bruce J.
Bryan Ordonez with Bulldog Buildings was great to work with. Every email or message I sent, he was quick to respond and I got what I wanted. I hate that we had to deal with material issues due to covid but he kept me up to date on issues and end dates. Love me 30x44 building.
Tony & Debbie S.
Good design tool on their website. Great customer service.
John S.
Have had nothing but a positive experience with Bulldog! Bryan was super helpful and still is after our install! He still responds super prompt and helpful. No complaints about our structure, as it looks amazing! Installers did a great job and picked up very nicely after they were done. Highly recommend!!
Kristie S.
I have now had my building in place for 3 months and I want to say that the whole team at Bulldog was very helpful throughout the entire process. My salesperson, Matthew, was extremely responsive. He was very helpful with the design phase, where we went back and forth with 3-4 different designs before settling on the perfect one. He always got back to me right away when I had a question. Although the delivery was delayed, understandable with the pandemic, he helped interface with Carolina Carports when I had delivery questions. So far I have no issues with the completed building. No leaks and all the doors are functioning perfectly. I would highly recommend using Bulldog for all your metal building needs.
Mike W.
Frank Rangel was very helpful and respectful. Also very understanding. I was pouring a concrete driveway and trying to put my down payment down. I may of got a little frustrated in the middle of it all. I could see the smile on Frank`s face the whole time! Thank you sir!
Jason M.
This is my second building from bulldog and I`m buying the same building , just different colors. They are great buildings that are strong and economical.
Parke H.
Excellent customer service during my order process, answered all my questions and they were very patient.
Jack D.
The website was very flexible and helped me customize my carport. The Bulldog staff was very prompt and helpful throughout the process.
Dale & Karen W.
Put up a RV cover for me on a concrete pad. Turned out great and the guys cleaned up after the work. Very satisfied. Would recommend these people.
Dan and Linda I.
I love my “She Shop.” It was amazingly easy. I sent an email, made 2 phones calls and it was done. The installation went even easier. Three guys showed up one day and finished the next. They were polite and cleaned up after themselves. My husband’s friends are all very impressed with the construction and materials used but were amazed at the reasonable price. I could not be more pleased. Thank you
DTheressa J.
I visited their website and used the 3D estimator and was able to see my building with doors, window placements, colors,and overall look. When you add or change any feature, including size, you can immediately see the result and change in price (if any). You can rotate the structure to see the overall look and framework. Once I placed my order, it was quickly and efficiently handled and the cost was lower than the estimate on the website The installers showed up early one morning and by noon the next day they had completed the structure. Everyone that comes by remarks on how nice it looks. I am very pleased with every aspect from ordering to installation.
David T.
Delivering & installing throughout the United States
Bulldog’s metal barns, garages, and carports are available for delivery and installation in most of the U.S. Whether you’re a homeowner in Maine, a rancher in Texas, or a small business owner in California, you’ll get to-your-door delivery and professional installation, so your building will be sturdy and reliable for years to come.
