Does anyone have experience with arched steel (quanset hut type) buildings? I'd like to build one and use the front as a dwelling and the rear for a storage facility. The advantages aremany, example: 1) It could be quickly constructed using non-professional labor. 2) Guaranteed to withstand hurricane force winds 3) Virtually maintenance free 4) Front wall (residential style) w/door, windows, shutters, carriage lamps, etc. 5) Rear wall w/garage door if desired 6) Can be custom sized for a second floor or loft 7) Can be built for a fraction of conventional building cost 8) Can be earth-bermed or partially burried in a hillside 9) Stock sizes from 10' wide to 120' wide, and as long as desired. 10) Easily enlarged by adding additional 2 ft. sections

-- Roy Cave (roy@techcomm.net), July 09, 1998

Answers

Great buildings. I had an old one on some property I sold years ago and loved it. Depending on where you intend to build, zoning laws can be an issue.

The only thing I would do different from the one I use to have is put it on a thicker concrete pad. At least 4-6'. Put a small wood stove and you will have a very nice shelter. Make sure the gauge on the metal is at least 26, better yet go 22-24. 22-24 gauge is considered industrial and has a much greater load capacity. The metal can be had in all types of colors and coatings. Some of the 24 gauge painted metal has a 20 paint warranty and a 75 year rust thru warranty. Hard to beat that.

I know of now specific manufacturer but there are many. Custom designs will increase the price of the structure significantly.

Hope this helps.

j

-- j (yada@yada.com), July 10, 1998.

I have a Brute steel arch building from Sunward Industries. This type of building uses stretch formed arch segments not "crinkle" formed sections which are much weaker since the "crinkles" run lengthwise along the completed structure. Virtually all arch type buildings I have seen both in the West and MidWest are "crinkle" formed. Also the Brute arches sit in a concrete Keyway which is grouted in after the arch is complete. Watch the weatherstripping at each arch seam and pump some sealant into all the bolt holes along the roof centerline before fastening just to be sure they are watertight. Steel arches talk to you, "creaking" as they warm up and talk back as they cool off. Be careful with earth berming a steel arch. I don't think manufacturer's would cover that in their warranties, earth is heavy and would require a very good moisture barrier system to prevent corrosion. Insulation is tricky since everything is curved but here in the Pacific NW our winters are mild. I made the top of my BiFold door fiberglass, it is the SW end of the building, which makes an excellent solar heater even on hazy 40 degree days. The big advantage of a bolted arch structure is that it is a true monocoque, "one shell", hit it with your fist any place and the whole building reverberates. Of course this makes it noisy in rain or hail without insulation.

-- Douglas V. Dorsey (Douglas.Dorsey@PSS.boeing.com), July 10, 1998.