If you need a temporary structure or simply a building that you can move easily from site to site, a portable metal building can be the affordable, flexible, rugged solution that you are looking for.
In this guide, we will go over the different types of portable metal buildings on the market, discuss some common uses, and review basic information on pricing. But we will get started with the basic definition of a portable building.
What is a Portable Building?
At first glance, it may seem unnecessary to define what a portable building is. But it is worth mentioning that this is a broad category rather than one particular type of structure.
It is common for people to refer to portable buildings interchangeably with temporary buildings, for example. But portable buildings can be temporary or permanent in nature. What makes them portable is simply the fact that you can move them from place to place.
It is also common to refer specifically to modular buildings when talking about portable structures. But that is just one type of portable building. We will discuss a variety of options later in this article.
The commercial and residential applications of portable buildings are pretty much unlimited. Following are some common ways that people make use of portable structures.
Why Choose Metal for Your Portable Building?
While many portable buildings today are made of metal, some are made out of other materials such as wood. Why should you think about metal as a building material for your portable structure?
Now that we’ve gone over some of the benefits of choosing metal for a portable building, let’s talk in more detail about some of the different types of portable structures.
Let’s start out by discussing the word “prefab.” Many portable metal buildings are prefabricated.
But there is quite a bit of confusion over the term “prefab,” with many people thinking it refers to one specific method of construction.
In actuality, there are a number of construction methods which fall under the “prefab” umbrella.
A building is prefabricated if all or part of it was manufactured in a factory before being shipped to you.
Prefab structures may be permanently installed on a site or they may be portable.
One of the most popular types of prefab buildings is modular structures. If you have seen buildings which have been constructed out of preassembled modules that look a bit like building blocks all stacked together (i.e. shipping containers), that is modular design.
Modular metal buildings are great for portability.
Units are not only easy to move from one site to another, but they can be rearranged into new configurations on the fly. You can increase or decrease the size of a portable modular building just by adding or removing modules. If necessary, they can be sent to other sites. These are common for disaster response situations, classrooms and construction offices.
Another option for a prefab metal portable building is a manufactured home or office. Construction of the entire building takes place in a factory, and then it is transported on wheels to the location where it will sit. The wheels may or may not be a permanent feature, depending on your preference.
In most cases, the frame is steel, but there may be other building materials present as well.
Manufactured units often take the form of office trailers in commercial settings.
You can get a single-wide, double-wide or even triple-wide trailer. While it is possible to purchase an office trailer, a lot of businesses simply lease them for temporary use. They can be built out of metal or other materials.
Yet another option for a portable metal building is one you construct yourself (or hire a contractor to build for you) at a site using a steel building kit.
If you go with a skid-mount building or you use piers for your structure, you do not need to place it permanently at the site. You can keep it mobile and relocate it at a later date if you wish.
You now know some of your options for types of metal portable buildings. But what can you expect when it comes to portable building prices?
You will notice when you are checking metal building vendor websites that many of them do not include cost estimates directly on their site pages.
They prefer to give you an estimate, because there are a number of factors which can influence the cost of a portable metal building.
Some of these factors include:
To give you a ballpark range for what you can expect, the following are some prices we have encountered for steel building kits for different sizes of structures:
We have seen the following costs as general estimates for commercial steel buildings (the kit + the foundation, delivery and work):
And here are some additional cost estimates for different types of steel structures:
For modular buildings, we have seen this cost range:
Finally, to provide one more set of estimates to give you a broad idea, another vendor has quoted the following price range:
When shopping for a portable metal building, you do not necessarily want to be aiming for the lowest possible price.
Instead, you want to get the highest quality structure for the most reasonable cost.
Following are some quick tips which can help you to keep the cost of a metal building as manageable as possible:
Whether you are shopping for portable sheds, modular office buildings, or any other type of portable metal structure, comparison shopping and planning ahead can save you money while still allowing you to invest in a quality building that will stand the test of time.
Metal portable buildings offer numerous benefits at a low cost. They are convenient, versatile, and can be built swiftly and affordably. Once they stand, they resist damage from fire, water and pests. If you choose to relocate them, their sturdy steel can withstand the stresses of transportation.
How can you find the most competitive pricing on high-quality steel portable buildings? To save you time, we bring you quotes from our trusted vendors.
These are companies we have vetted according to our strict criteria in terms of licensing, building quality, and caliber of customer service.
To get your quotes now, just fill out the form below.
You’ll then be ready to compare costs for portable buildings and take the next steps in the process!
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