Proper Maintenance for a Metal Building

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.