Home Away From Home During Hurricanes

In 2004 and 2005, Aubrey Brown was living a quiet life in Clanton, Ala., passing the time spinning his wheels to create pottery to sell at craft shows around the region. But it was during those two years that Brown and his wife came under the attack of unwelcome visitors on three separate occasions. The intruders pounded on the doors and windows, bellowing out their insatiable demands and leaving chaos and destruction in their wake.

To be fair, it wasn’t just the Brown family who found themselves at the mercy of these adversaries. Their whole community and most of the state were frantically doing everything they could to protect themselves from the treacherous reach of Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina.

Like everyone else, Brown gathered supplies and battened down the hatches in preparation of the storms—but as many of his neighbors made their way to the local shelter, Brown moved his family into their steel shed, which housed their motor home.

“My SteelMaster shed can withstand 140 mph winds, which is more than I can say about my house,” says Brown. “Before each storm hit, I stocked the motor home with bottled water and food, gassed up the tank, made sure the generator was working, and then my wife and 82-year-old mother and I hunkered down until the hurricanes passed.”

As the family watched shingles fly off the roof of their workshop and trees bow in half to touch the ground, Brown said they had nary a worry from their vantage point inside the steel shed that he bought years before from SteelMaster Buildings in Virginia Beach, Va.

“My wife and I travel a lot in our 32-foot motor home from craft show to craft show, so I bought the RV shed to house it in and keep it out of the sun during the off season,” says Brown. “I also store all of my welders and cutting torch and tools for mechanical and farm repair in the shed. Anytime the weather is too cold or raining, I just back the motor home out, pull in what needs to be repaired, and fix it. When it is real cold, I lower the 12 by 12 door and use a patio heater to work in comfort.”

The versatility of a SteelMaster buildings and roofing system goes a long way with the company’s thousands of customers, many of whom have worked along with SteelMaster engineers to custom design their building to meet their very specific needs.  

“SteelMaster offers unique custom solutions for building applications such as architectural design, affordable steel housing, athletic facilities, retail stores/business facilities, as well as specialty buildings such as bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, churches, and so much more,” says Michelle Wickum, the director of marketing for SteelMaster. “Regardless of what purpose our buildings and roofing systems serve, each and every one provides security and durability against fire, snow, and hurricane-force winds, as was the case with the shed that Mr. Brown and his family sought shelter in.”

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including homes, farm buildings, garages, workshops, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, commercial warehousing, and industrial storage as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.

The Art of Steel

I like surprises, and I experienced one over this past weekend.

My surprise didn’t show up in the form of a party or a winning lottery ticket. There weren’t balloons or noisemakers or any hoopla at all—there was simply a conversation by email.

The person I exchanged emails with is Julie Clark who lives in Rising Fawn, GA with her husband Bruz. I contacted her to get some information about her SteelMaster buildings, which she uses for storage. What I ended up learning was unexpected and fascinating—Clark is an artist, and her medium is blacksmith and metal working.

What I know about blacksmithing is that it was a common form of employment for men some 200 years ago, and their end result was typically wagon axles, plowshares, swords, and horseshoes. Back then, the blacksmith heated iron or steel, pounded, shaped, and cooled it over and over again until it became what it was meant to be.

Nowadays, the same heating, pounding, and shaping process still goes on, but the end product is typically considered art—with both men and women delivering the mighty blows toward creation.

I was intrigued, so in addition to asking her questions about her SteelMaster storage shed (made by SteelMaster Buildings in Virginia Beach, VA), I delved a bit into her own drive to dabble in an art form that requires a lot of fire, smoke, and tools. Here is the interview:

BHW: How long have you been a blacksmith and metal working artist, and what got you into working with that material?

JC: I grew up with horses, and after I graduated from college in 1987, I went to farrier school to learn how to shoe. We made all of the horseshoes in a coal forge, which led to my interest in blacksmithing as an art form. I didn’t begin making art full time until the mid 90’s.

My husband, Bruz and I spent five years building our own house, and during that time I obtained a two-year degree in welding at a local community college and began playing around with metal work and sculpture.

After we finished the house, we built my shop, SpitFire. Both combine timber frame and post and beam joinery, using a lot of steel brackets to join the timbers. I took the welding classes to gain more knowledge about welding in order to feel comfortable about welding the brackets that hold up the house.

My husband is proficient in wood working and I love metal, so it is a fabulous combination. I have my work at InTown Gallery in Chattanooga and also participate in craft fairs, and I also teach a blacksmithing class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.

BHW: What key components do people typically have in a blacksmith shop, and do you have those in yours?

JC: If by components, you are referring to structural, I would have to say a hoist is key. We installed an I-beam with an attached hoist that runs the full length of my shop. I use it often.

With metal working, fire is always an issue, and even though oak timbers are the support material, the floor is concrete and my interior side walls are concrete and corrugated metal.
Our building has a clear story with windows, which let in much needed natural light and adequate ventilation comes from being able to open both end doors, allowing wonderful air flow. Plenty of outlets are a must as well, especially for a metal working shop.

If by components, you are referring to equipment, I have various things, to suit my mood. If I am in the mood to forge, I have a propane forge, 250# anvil, post vice, treadle hammer, little giant power hammer, and various other tools. If I am in the mood to weld up a sculpture, I have various welders, plasma cutter, oxy/ace torch and a nice large layout table. Often times an artist will either specialize in blacksmithing or metal working. I am fortunate to have skills and interest in both areas, but when I teach, I always tell my students that you do not need all of the things that I have to get started. You can do a lot with just a few key items, such as a gas forge, small anvil, small welder, and a few tongs and hammers.

BHW: Where did you work on your art before you built the blacksmith shop?

JC: I paid my dues for a number of years in a tiny wooden shed, 10' x 12', with a gravel floor that used to house shavings for the horses. I cleaned it out and my husband ran electricity to it. I called it Sparky. I actually loved it and would not have traded my time in it for anything.

I think it is important to work one’s way up to a nice space. I appreciate my new shop, having worked so long in Sparky!

BHW: When did you decide that you wanted to build another stand-alone shop?

JC: When we built the shop, I did not really account for storage for steel. It is not my nature to accumulate huge quantities of steel, or scrap, because I can’t function in clutter. But, after completing the shop and working in it for a couple of years, I knew I needed a dry space for bar stock and sheet metal. What I did accumulate ended up on the floor of my shop, and I had to always step over it. I also have to say, that it was important to find a small building that fit in with my beautiful timber framed shop. The little [SteelMaster] Quonset hut is a perfect addition. My husband and I are huge believers that a structure, no matter what its use, has to be attractive as well as functional.

BHW: When you realized you needed a place to store your metal and you decided to go with a Quonset hut, what led you to SteelMaster?

JC: We were on a trip in North Carolina, and while on a little country road, we drove past a tiny little Quonset hut that looked like a little garden shop. I did not realize that a hut could be so small, so when I got home, I Googled “Quonset hut”.

A few companies came up and asked for dimensions in order to give a quote. SteelMaster was the first to contact me. The person I talked to was so nice; I never even got quotes from the others. Simple kindness really does pay off.

We followed the instruction for building a form for a pad and had it poured—it took us about four days to put up the frame. We were totally amazed at how easily it went up and that all the bolt holes matched perfectly. We have talked it up so much that a couple of friends came by, and they are thinking about building one.

I would highly recommend SteelMaster. We received follow up calls and my husband had a question about the anchor brackets and received very helpful and friendly answers from someone at the company.

BHW: What is it about the old military-style Quonset huts that you like? Have you seen them in various places throughout your life, or is this an image that you have from movies/TV/etc.?

JC: Good question. I am not really sure, but I have always known about the old military style Quonset huts and thought they were a cool structure. I find the arch visually appealing, and I am familiar with the strength of the arch in construction as well having marveled at the ancient French aqueducts.

BHW: Are you confident in your SteelMaster when it comes to durability/resilience?

JC: I must tell you this funny story. When we were building our house, a dear friend was writing an article for Southern Living on good luck charms found in foundations of dwellings all over the world. During medieval times it was not uncommon for the wealthy to sacrifice a human and bury the remains in the foundation. Over time, that led to burying a shoe. So our friend sacrificed his LL Bean loafer
to go into our foundation. The tradition continued with my Mom giving up her classic beige pump, which was submerged into the slab for the Quonset.

I am convinced that they all bring us good luck because a couple of weeks ago, our little town of Trenton, GA was torn to pieces by a tornado. As the crow flies, the town is about five miles west. We had put up the hut, and had it anchored to the slab with brackets, but had not filled in with the grout. A neighbor called to say a tornado had touched down and would be in Trenton in 20 minutes. I went into our lower room and got up against a wall. It was wild, and I sat there thinking, that the Quonset hut would surely be gone. Thankfully, our house, shop, and the Quonset hut came through unscathed. Now, whether it was saved from damage due to luck of the shoe or because of well designed, sturdy components; I’ll let you decide!

BHW: You mentioned in your writing that you thought the Quonset hut would make a great pub…what made you think of that, and can you elaborate just a bit on that thought for me?

JC: My husband and I do enjoy wine, but we are total beer connoisseurs. Complete snobs! I mean, we even named our dog after our favorite beer, Stella Artois. Anyway, so all through our building projects, at the end of the work day, after all the tools were put away, we would look forward to a good beer and to rehash the progress. Our good friend and architect, who helped with the design and construction of both our house and shop, used to kid us about designing a separate building to hold the kegs and running the hoses right into the shop. The minute we put up the adorable Quonset hut, all we could think of was, it would be a great pub for us to house our extensive collection of foreign beer, to have our friends over and to enjoy!

In addition to sheds and storage buildings, SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including homes, farm buildings, garages, workshops, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, commercial warehousing, and industrial storage as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.

The Art of Steel

Help SteelMaster Win a Small Business Grant

SteelMaster Buildings needs your support! We have an opportunity to win a grant from Chase and Living Social’s “Mission: Small Business” Program.The grant would help us expand our staff while growing our business within the United States as well as internationally. Please help us get consideration for this grant by voting for us before June 30, 2012.

To vote:

1. Go to www.missionsmallbusiness.com

2. Click on “Log in & Support.”  You will be asked to log in with your Facebook account.

3. Under the Vote Local! section, enter SteelMaster Buildings in the Business Name field and click on “Search.”

4. Click on the “Vote” button to the right of our company information.

Thank you for your support!

Where in the World is SteelMaster Part 11

SteelMaster continues to grow in markets all over the globe, but two of our most recent international projects both come from our distributor in Cyprus. The first two pictures show multiple roofing systems at Paphos International Airport on the southwest coast of the country. They are a part of a construction project to expand and improve the airports throughout Cyprus.

The second set of pictures feature a private hangar used for maintenance at another large airport in Cyprus, Larnaca International Airport.

For More Information About Steelmaster Buildings Visit Steelmasterusa.com

SteelMaster Building Fit for a Shindig Update

On Friday, we posted a story about a couple who got married on the family farm and held their reception under a SteelMaster building (exactly one year ago today, Happy Anniversary!). While we had one beautiful picture to share of the wedding guests under the steel arch, it didn't tell the full story of the building. Check out the gallery below to see pictures of the steel building from construction to event hall to ag building. Also be sure to read the full story below the gallery.

Tommy Milling's relationship with James Ritter is two-fold. They are business partners and run a cattle farm in Lusby, Maryland. They also happen to be father and son-in-law.

Last year Tommy and James determined the need for an additional farm building which would impede their hay loss during the cold winter months and provide a comfortable and secure shelter where their cattle could feed. They also wanted a structure that would not have a negative environmental impact.

Running a cow-calf operation is no small task. Add to this their side business, Milling Enterprises – an HVAC, electrical, remodeling, and anything else a home or office could need to have done business, and it is obvious they have time for little else. They especially wanted a “no fuss” structure that would not require extra upkeep and maintenance. As well as one they could quickly construct themselves with little outside help.

Little did they realize then, the building they were about to choose would serve as a magnificent venue for a very special shindig. That is, before the cows came home. Enter SteelMaster prefabricated metal and steel arched buildings.

Tommy and James were familiar with the SteelMaster brand, having seen one or two before. Once they called and spoke to a sales representative, the rest of the process was like clock-work.

Regarding their construction process, James said: “To construct our building, we started with 4' concrete block knee walls. This gave us somewhere to fasten the panels to the arches. We also have a 70' long concrete floor base with our building in the middle. This gives us 20' of concrete pad on each end of our building. The bed of our dump truck served as the scaffolding base. When the walls were raised, we started at the end of one flange bottom and attached sections until half an arch was formed. Each previous section supported the new one.”

James added, “We used the same method on the opposite end and met in the middle to complete the arch. We used extension ladders to reach the top to fasten the bolts –since they were not securely fastened until the arches were up. The arched structure was remarkably sturdy enough for us to walk on – even prior to fastening.”

According to James, “The process of purchasing our SteelMaster 24' x 36' building and the follow-up care we received from SteelMaster was excellent. It only took me, my father-in-law, and a friend two weekends to construct the building. Based on our experience we would definitely use, as well as recommend, SteelMaster for any future projects.”

But wait… there's more.

Prior to setting up the cattle feed and hay in their brand new SteelMaster Building, there was more work to do, but this would be a labor of love.

Even though it may appear like people are congregating in front of a silvery moon in the photo seen here, it is actually a wedding reception. A wedding reception being held in A STEELMASTER BUILDING! This definitely “takes the cake” (pun intended!).

The affair was one for the storybooks. On June 18, 2011, guests were greeted at the gates to the cattle ranch by a flat-bed truck full of hay. They were driven via hay-ride to a beautiful meadow on the property where James and Barbara “Barbie” were about to exchange wedding vows under the graceful sway of a favorite large oak tree on the property. The womenfolk were all gussied up in their finest gowns, while the men sported cowboy hats, boots and their shiniest belt buckles.

After the ceremony guests did not have to travel far to the reception. The SteelMaster building was decorated to the hilt. The entire wedding party was treated to a bountiful and delicious buffet inside. Afterward, everyone enjoyed dancing the night away both inside the building and outside on one of the two 20' concrete padding extensions on each end of the building.

This story has a happy ending for everyone involved. The cattle have a place to be fed, and a place for their feed to be kept. The wedding went off without a hitch thanks in part to their SteelMaster building providing the perfect place for their celebration.

SteelMaster buildings serve a variety of uses. Whether for residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial needs, SteelMaster can design and prefabricate metal and steel arched buildings to suit anyone's needs. We have helped people build their dream homes, green homes and greenhouses. We have assisted the government and the military with secure and safe storage. We have provided places like Haiti with relief shelter, water and food storage, medicinal facilities and schools. We have provided safe, weather impermeable structures for R.V.'s, carports, truck garages, boats, and classic vintage vehicles. We have helped others attain art studios, art galleries, places to practice sports, and places to practice religion. Now we can proudly add “wedding reception hall” to the infinitely long list of SteelMaster Building uses.

From the looks of the picture not only does their SteelMaster Buildings serve Tommy and James' purpose, it will always hold a special place in the hearts of James and Barbie Ritter.

SteelMaster wishes you a Very Happy One-Year Anniversary on 6/18/12 and many, many more!

SteelMaster Building Fit for a Shindig

Tommy Milling's relationship with James Ritter is two-fold. They are business partners and run a cattle farm in Lusby, Maryland. They also happen to be father and son-in-law.

Last year Tommy and James determined the need for an additional farm building which would impede their hay loss during the cold winter months and provide a comfortable and secure shelter where their cattle could feed. They also wanted a structure that would not have a negative environmental impact.

Running a cow-calf operation is no small task. Add to this their side business, Milling Enterprises – an HVAC, electrical, remodeling, and anything else a home or office could need to have done business, and it is obvious they have time for little else. They especially wanted a "no fuss" structure that would not require extra upkeep and maintenance. As well as one they could quickly construct themselves with little outside help.

Little did they realize then, the building they were about to choose would serve as a magnificent venue for a very special shindig. That is, before the cows came home. Enter SteelMaster prefabricated metal and steel arched buildings.

Tommy and James were familiar with the SteelMaster brand, having seen one or two before. Once they called and spoke to a sales representative, the rest of the process was like clock-work.

Regarding their construction process, James said: "To construct our building, we started with 4' concrete block knee walls. This gave us somewhere to fasten the panels to the arches. We also have a 70' long concrete floor base with our building in the middle. This gives us 20' of concrete pad on each end of our building. The bed of our dump truck served as the scaffolding base. When the walls were raised, we started at the end of one flange bottom and attached sections until half an arch was formed. Each previous section supported the new one."

James added, "We used the same method on the opposite end and met in the middle to complete the arch. We used extension ladders to reach the top to fasten the bolts –since they were not securely fastened until the arches were up. The arched structure was remarkably sturdy enough for us to walk on – even prior to fastening."

According to James, "The process of purchasing our SteelMaster 24' x 36' building and the follow-up care we received from SteelMaster was excellent. It only took me, my father-in-law, and a friend two weekends to construct the building. Based on our experience we would definitely use, as well as recommend, SteelMaster for any future projects."

But wait… there's more.

Prior to setting up the cattle feed and hay in their brand new SteelMaster Buildings, there was more work to do, but this would be a labor of love.

Even though it may appear like people are congregating in front of a silvery moon in the photo seen here, it is actually a wedding reception. A wedding reception being held in A STEELMASTER BUILDING! This definitely "takes the cake" (pun intended!).

The affair was one for the storybooks. On June 18, 2011, guests were greeted at the gates to the cattle ranch by a flat-bed truck full of hay. They were driven via hay-ride to a beautiful meadow on the property where James and Barbara "Barbie" were about to exchange wedding vows under the graceful sway of a favorite large oak tree on the property. The womenfolk were all gussied up in their finest gowns, while the men sported cowboy hats, boots and their shiniest belt buckles.

After the ceremony guests did not have to travel far to the reception. The SteelMaster building was decorated to the hilt. The entire wedding party was treated to a bountiful and delicious buffet inside. Afterward, everyone enjoyed dancing the night away both inside the building and outside on one of the two 20' concrete padding extensions on each end of the building.

This story has a happy ending for everyone involved. The cattle have a place to be fed, and a place for their feed to be kept. The wedding went off without a hitch thanks in part to their SteelMaster building providing the perfect place for their celebration.

SteelMaster buildings serve a variety of uses. Whether for residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial needs, SteelMaster can design and prefabricate metal and steel arched buildings to suit anyone's needs. We have helped people build their dream homes, green homes and greenhouses. We have assisted the government and the military with secure and safe storage. We have provided places like Haiti with relief shelter, water and food storage, medicinal facilities and schools. We have provided safe, weather impermeable structures for R.V.'s, carports, truck garages, boats, and classic vintage vehicles. We have helped others attain art studios, art galleries, places to practice sports, and places to practice religion. Now we can proudly add "wedding reception hall" to the infinitely long list of SteelMaster Buildings uses.

From the looks of the picture not only does their SteelMaster Building serve Tommy and James' purpose, it will always hold a special place in the hearts of James and Barbie Ritter.

SteelMaster wishes you a Very Happy One-Year Anniversary on 6/18/12 and many, many more!

SteelMaster Gets Two Thumbs Up

Outside of Buffalo, New York in a town called Orchard Park, Dennis Bracci is happily (yes, happily) working away on his new SteelMaster A-Style 25’ x 34' Workshop.

Dennis works construction by trade, and his building will be a place where he can work on side jobs, enjoy his hobbies, and still have ample space for storage. He and a couple of his friends erected the main steel arched portion of his workshop, and Dennis is completing the rest on his own.

Since Dennis is in the construction industry, we asked his opinion of what he thought of the quality of the materials, ease of construction, and to share his general thoughts on his SteelMaster experience.

"To be honest, first I have to tell you why I decided to go with a SteelMaster Buildings," Dennis frankly stated. "My salesman, Daniel is 80% of the reason I ended up with you. The other 20%, well, obviously is your product. I really like Daniel’s laid-back style. He is professional and knowledgeable, but not pushy – like some other companies. One company acted like they would run out of buildings if I didn’t buy one right then, and another told me they had just what I needed on the dock ready to ship, and if I wanted it I needed to make up my mind fast. I mean, c’mon, who did they take me for?"

"Daniel was quick to respond to my questions, and when I told him I needed some time to think things over, it was ‘Hey… take your time. We will be here when you are ready.’ The problem with other companies is no one wants to give you time to think, and no one listens to the customer. He did. Daniel is a great guy. He won me over," added Dennis.

"If I looked at it from the perspective of someone not in the construction business, I would still say the SteelMaster kit and directions are great. Basically, if someone can line up the pre-placed holes for nuts and bolts, they can build one. Also watching SteelMaster videos on YouTube will help in the beginning to set everything straight. Hey, anyone can do this, because the directions are that good," Dennis said.

"Another thing that amazed me was the delivery driver called me on a Wednesday night to tell me he would be leaving the truck stop at 7AM and be at my house by 8AM the next morning. At 7:50 AM the next morning, the driver was at my house. You cannot beat that!" said Dennis.

Dennis added, "My building will be identical at both ends with a five-foot sliding glass door and two trapezoid windows on each gable end. It will have six foot walls and a foamed ceiling when completed."

SteelMaster Buildings not only provide comfort and security; but also structural integrity, low maintenance, and protection against snow, fire and hurricane force winds. Owning a SteelMaster Buildings with 100% unencumbered space puts you in control of your options. This gave Dennis the flexibility he wanted so he could customize the inside of his building to fit his needs.

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including workshops and storage, just like Dennis’. SteelMaster designs also include projects for homes, farm buildings, garages, agricultural storage, Quonsets, airplane hangars, RV storage, roofing systems, carports, military buildings, industrial storage, as well as a wide variety of custom building applications including athletic facilities, retail stores, churches, bus stops, smoke shacks, doggie dorms, and correctional facilities.

With more than 40,000 satisfied customers with buildings throughout the United States, in more than 50 overseas countries, and on six continents, SteelMaster is indeed a stand out, and remains the leader in Steel Arched Pre-fabricated Buildings world-wide.

"Bottom line, Dennis said, "Everything came off perfect. The quality of my SteelMaster Buildings is excellent. Two thumbs up for SteelMaster and to everyone who works there!"

SBA Recognizes SteelMaster Buildings

RICHMOND, VA. – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Richmond District Office honors SteelMaster Buildings as its 2012 Virginia Small Business Exporter of the Year before the local Virginia Beach business community at a press conference on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

Emma Granada and Rob Poellnitz of SteelMaster Buildings

Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., joins SBA and company officials in celebrating the Virginia Beach small business’ success at the 11:00 a.m. press conference at the Princess Anne Country Club.

“Across America small businesses are growing their businesses by expanding into international markets,” said Jayne Armstrong, district director of SBA’s Richmond District Office. “SteelMaster Buildings is a great role model as a business that took advantage of export programs offered by the SBA, the Department of Commerce and the Commonwealth of Virginia to support its expansion needs.”

SteelMaster Buildings designs, manufactures and distributes prefabricated steel structures for a broad range of residential and commercial building applications. Since establishing its International Division in 2006, it has expanded into 50 countries and doubled its international revenue each year for the past six years.

“It is hard to believe that six years have passed so quickly since we began to systematically expand our business abroad,” said Rob Poellnitz, SteelMaster vice president responsible for international sales. “What started out as more of a novelty has grown into a core competency that now represents over 20 percent of our total business.”

SBA’s award follows SteelMaster Buildings previous recognition, including the UPS Growth through Global Trade Award, the Hampton Roads Chamber’s Top 10 Companies to Watch in Hampton Roads, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Compass Award, Inside Business’ The Roaring 20 award and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Fantastic 50 award.

Poellnitz and Emma Granada, international business development manager, received the SBA’s Virginia Small Business Exporter of the Year award at the Virginia Small Business Awards Luncheon in Richmond last month. They were also honored during SBA’s National Small Business Week observance in Washington, D.C., May 20-22 for winning the national SBA/VISA Export Video Contest promoting the advantages of small business exporting.

A reception hosted by SteelMaster Building follows the press conference. For more information, contact the SBA at (804) 771-2400, ext. 149.

Its a SteelMaster Home for this Smooth Captain

“Captain Bill” Smith calls El Dorado, Arkansas home when he is not busy with his Captain duties towing massive cargo barges in and out of New Orleans. Even when he is not on the water though, one might say Billy Smith is still a smooth operator.

His desire to own a SteelMaster buildings started several years ago. Back when Billy was in high school his grandfather bought one. He knew someday he too, would be the proud owner of a SteelMaster building. However his would not be used for a workshop, garage, or storage.

Billy purchased a 30’x16’ building which is being carefully crafted into quite the bachelor pad. In his words, “I guess you can tell by the looks of my kitchen that I’m not married, huh? Ha-ha. And no home is complete without a bar.”

From what we could tell from his pictures, his kitchen looks just fine. With stainless steel appliances that match the rest of his sleek modern interior, his kitchen is more than workable. Billy refuses to insulate his building. He likes the ultra-chic industrial appearance of the steel and metal walls. He managed to keep his home adequately warm last winter with a wood stove and a ceiling fan to circulate the air, given heat rises. His bedroom stays nice and toasty since it is located in the rear quarter of his building in a second-floor loft area.

Keeping his home cool has not been an issue either. He has been comfortable with one window air-conditioning unit and a turbine vent. Although he is planning to add two additional vents, he decided to go with a window unit instead of central air because, “If it stops working, I do not have to call a technician. I can just kick it out of my window and buy another one!” he says.

The picture of his bar reveals his true craftsmanship. The dimly-lit designer lighting and step-up bar make a great gathering place where he and his friends can hang out and unwind. There is also the luxury of knowing neither he nor his friends have to drive home or call a cab after partaking in a few libations conjured up at Billy’s bar.

Billy has taken his time with his home and furnished it with quality finishes that will last, just like his SteelMaster buildings Although a humble man, he admitted with the exception of constructing the building, he has done all the interior work himself. He enjoys working on it in-between being out on the barge. The size of his building is perfect for him. The bonus of the unencumbered floor to ceiling space which is uniquely a SteelMaster design feature, adds jaw-dropping drama to the entrance of his home. The tall span gives it a high ceiling without a boxed-in feeling.

Billy’s goal was to have a maintenance-free home that would be distinctively his as well as a conversation piece. He wanted his home to be secure when he was at sea, and safe enough to withstand severe weather. Some might think that would be asking a lot. But with a SteelMaster building you get that and much more.

SteelMaster buildings are backed by a 30-year warranty from our factory where the building kits are designed and fabricated. They are safe and secure enough for the government and the military. SteelMaster buildings have withstood hurricane force winds, tornadoes, heavy snow loads, and extreme temperature fluctuations, all the while keeping the contents within safe and sound.

The arches and end walls of SteelMaster Buildings are treated with SteelMaster’s Galvalume Plus. This thin, clear, organic coating eliminates the need for conventional chemical treatment while maintaining a bright, heat reflective and corrosion resistant finish. No need for Billy to worry about termites either, since he owns a steel and metal home.

At SteelMaster, we are constantly amazed by the innovative abilities of our customers and friends. Billy’s home is no exception. We remain grateful to those who share their stories for our website too. It serves as proof positive the use possibilities of our buildings are indeed infinite.

Here’s to smooth sailing, Captain Bill. We thank you. We have a feeling you will be having plenty of (ahem) friends over to admire your bachelor pad! (wink-wink!)

SteelMaster and the Art of Building

We promptly placed a call to Chris Bingham of Snohomish, Washington (on the outskirts of the mega-melting pot of all artist genres) after receiving an email from him stating, “I made a website documenting the process of putting the building up. We’ve been very impressed by how the SteelMaster Buildings thing worked – and your coach guy who gave Sue enough information over the phone proved to be a very effective straw boss.”

From the sounds of the email, we thought we might be dealing with an agricultural expert – a farmer. Little did we know we would be talking with real live hippie kindred spirits who love to have a good time, know how to get a job done, plus – they record awesome music tracks to boot.

He used the term “Straw Boss” in his email. According to Chris, this title means the head hauncho of a project. This would be the one passing out the orders, um, err, – instructions to everyone else on the job. Not his wife Sue, who was having way too much fun wearing her “Obey Me” t-shirt, amongst their friends who were mostly wearing their tie-dyed tees. Although Chris was quick to add it was the folks at SteelMaster who practically stayed on the phone with them during the whole process, since the directions appeared to have been misplaced. Hmmm…

Before we go any further with the SteelMaster customer flash backs of Chris and Sue Bingham, you may want to do two things: First, use your Google search engine and enter: www.bonepoets.com . Select a tune to provide the perfect groove-infused ambiance for reading this blog-post. Their version of “Scarborough Fair” from BellaDonna Smiles is a real treat.

Now that you have tuned in, Bone Poets Orchestra describes their music as “Eight tasty players wrapped in a delicious groove with a chewy psychedelic center.” Further, the head line on their web-page reads: “Psychotropic string rock in the tradition of Jethro Tull, ELO, Moody Blues and other hallucinogenic masters.”

Next, tear yourself away from the hypnotic graphics that go along with the track and enter http://www.gaiaconsort.com/summer2005.html for mind-blowing pictures and totally far-out, zany descriptions of how much fun it can be to “Raise a SteelMaster”.

These pictures tell their story far better than anything we could write here. We can only imagine how much fun they and their friends had building their 25’x20’ SteelMaster Building. As a matter of fact, kind of wish we had been there. After the load-bearing soil and foundation were laid, it only took them six hours and 12 or so friends to raise the SteelMaster Building for Art.

Chris is the composer behind the music for Bone Poets. Sue is a graphic artist and designs their album covers and tie-dyed tees. She also sings back-up vocals in the band. Between this amass of talent lies the real reason for their SteelMaster Building. The building serves as an art studio for Sue’s painting, sculpting and graphic design work. Geesh… is there anything this couple cannot do?

“The only problem we have is our building sprang a couple of leaks,” remarked Chris. “Although let me be clear these leaks are not at all the fault of SteelMaster. We realized we were a little over-zealous in a few places tightening the bolts, and made the holes too big. Hey, but it’s no biggee, SteelMaster gave us plenty of extra bolts. As soon as we have another sunny day – remember we live near Seattle where it ‘spits’ rain almost all the time – we plan to repair them.

Chris was quick to add, “We constructed our SteelMaster buildings in 2005. It is still a work in progress and we plan on adding a lot to the interior, like insulation as soon as we have the cash-flow. The good thing is our building is up and functional. We can do the rest when and as we want. Having the extra storage space has been great too.”

“I was very impressed with our sales guy – the SteelMaster Straw Boss. Our whole experience was excellent. You guys know your stuff. I feel bad I cannot remember his name, but he was cool. We would definitely recommend SteelMaster to other people.”

SteelMaster Buildings are designed to resist leaks, excessive heat and freezing temperatures, hurricane force winds, heavy snow loads, and even termites. The rain in Seattle is no match or threat to a SteelMaster exterior. The Galvalume Plus organic coating on the arches and end walls will keep the building rust-proof and maintenance-free.

SteelMaster is known as the world-wide leader for steel and metal prefabricated, arched structures. We are honored to add Chris, Sue and the Bone Poets to our list of over 50,000 customers who totally dig our buildings. Rock on… Bone Poets… Rock on!

SteelMaster Buildings on MSNBC

Emma Granada, International Business Development Manager at SteelMaster Buildings, was on MSNBC’s Your Business this weekend discussing how SteelMaster got its start in exporting. The interview took place at the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week Conference. Emma was selected to speak on the exporting forum panel during the conference after SteelMaster won the SBA’s 2012 Virginia Small Business Exporter of the Year Award and SBA’s National Export Video Contest. Watch the video clip below or on YouTube.

Emma Granada, International Business Development Manager at SteelMaster Buildings, explains how SteelMaster got involved with exporting to MSNBC's Your Business during the SBA's National Small Business Week.

Feature Project Steel Art Studio

Steel arch buildings are often admired by artists and designers because of the endless possibilities of construction options. William Barnhart, an artist in Mesa, AZ, used a SteelMaster buildings for his custom art studio. Check out the pictures below…

Steel Building Survives Severe Weather

After severe weather ranging from strong thunderstorms to high winds to tornadoes tore through the Mid-Atlantic states on Friday evening, many people were left with damaged property and some with minor injuries.

We came across a picture from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Weather.com showing how the storm caused an inflatable dome at Robert Morris University to collapse. In the background of the picture an arch steel building looks untouched.

Our customers have shared numerous stories with us about how their SteelMaster buildings have survived many storms over the years. Read some of their stories by clicking on the links below.

SteelMaster Stands Strong through Tornado

With this Steel Building, Nothing is left up in the Air

The Winds may Howl, but the SteelMaster Stays

For more Information About SteelMaster Buildings Visit SteelMasterusa.com

This SteelMaster Building Jams!

Steve Bennett of St. Augustine, Florida has been a devoted SteelMaster fan since 2003. Check out www.reverbnation.com, enter "Vinny Vance Band" and you will understand why he is such a fan. Well, maybe not immediately. The real story is behind the music.

Although Steve has always enjoyed songwriting, it was not until late 2001 when he finally decided he could wait no longer to have his songs recorded and heard. He took his time and hand-picked a group of elite musicians. The Vinny Vance Band was formed.

The band's genre and style is likened to that of legendary rock staples: Lynryd Skynard, Deep Purple, The Allman Brothers, Bob Segar, and Bryan Adams. Steve knew he needed a place where the band could be comfortable and rehearse, as often and as loud as they wanted without disturbing the peace in the process. He started investigating the possibility of buying an addition or some sort of building for his property.

Steve "Googled" buildings and came up with a long list of would-be SteelMaster competitors. When he came upon the SteelMaster website, he was intrigued enough to pick up the phone.

"I called SteelMaster and soon I was meeting with a representative who lived in Tampa at the time. I was even able to go out and see a ‘Partner in Steel's' building nearby. This helped make my decision was an easy one. No one else I checked out had the quick service or quality of materials comparable to SteelMaster," said Steve.

"My whole experience from buying all the way through building my 20' x 20' SteelMaster was awesome. After the foundation was poured, the building went up over a couple of weekends with help from friends. I had thick foam insulation sprayed inside and I was able to do the electrical. I also have a portable 10,000 BTU air-conditioner. It's all I need to keep the whole building cool. Truth be known, the building I saw in Tampa was cool enough inside even without air-conditioning. In Florida, this is really saying something," added Steve.

Steve's building, not unlike most SteelMaster customers, is uniquely designed for his needs. The recording area is actually a separate room within the building. According to him, the band can be jamming loud enough to make ears ring afterward. But if someone is standing outside his building and strains to listen, music and lyrics from inside are barely audible.

"My building is sealed tight. I caulked every single seam on my building, and have not seen the first leak. In Florida, we get our share of sunshine, but we get the heavy rains and bad weather along with it. I know one thing, if a hurricane comes our way and we are not mandatorily evacuated, I know where I will be… right here in my SteelMaster Building," says Steve.

SteelMaster steel arched and metal prefabricated buildings not only stand the test of time, but they are backed by a 30-year warranty from our steel manufacturer. Within the corporate structure at the Virginia Beach home office there are design specialists, engineers and a bi-lingual sales team available to handle the needs of our national and international customers.

SteelMaster has refined the design of the World War II Quonset-style hut into an arched interlocking roof system built to withstand excessive rain, ice, snow loads, and hurricane force winds. SteelMaster's Galvalume Plus provides a clear top coating (with an Energy Star Rating) to help keep buildings rust free, fire-proof, and impenetrable to pests.

Even though Steve rocks out singing SteelMaster's praises, suffice it to say Steve is a bit of an all-around techie. Steve also has what he refers to as his "day" job in Jacksonville, where he works as an Engineering Technician for a medical corporation.

One of Steve's close friends is a fellow songwriter. He penned Blake Shelton's newest single, "Over." Steve remains hopeful one or more of his tunes will be picked up and recorded by a mega-star too. When this happens, as we predict it will with his talent, he probably could quit his day job.

But do not expect him to sit back and collect royalties. Nope. Steve will probably be ordering a whole slew of SteelMaster Buildings to make his recording label, Eclipse Records, into a majorly sought-after jam haven for recording artists.

A Good Old-Fashioned SteelMaster Barn-Raising

When Robert "Bobby" Arnold decided to erect his SteelMaster 20’ x 20’ Workshop and Storage Building, he held an old-fashioned "Barn-Raising," or perhaps we should refer to it as a "SteelMaster Building-Raising."

Bobby lives in Wimberley, Texas with his wife Dorothy. Wimberley is a small town Bobby describes as being in the middle of nowhere, somewhere between Austin and San Antonio. It is the type of small town where people come together as a community when it counts.

When word got out that Bobby needed help to assemble his SteelMaster Buildings, 20 people showed up on construction day to assist.

"We basically held a barn-raising. We had more than enough people and were able to assemble the ‘ribs’ (what Bobby calls the steel arches) first, and after that the building went up easily and quickly. All Dorothy and I had to do was feed everyone. Not a bad deal, especially after the rocky start," Bobby said.

Initially, Bobby hired a contractor to take care of the foundation for his new building. This particular contractor made a huge mess of the foundation, and then abandoned the job.

Bobby quickly thought to call upon his SteelMaster salesman, Daniel Howard. Perhaps Daniel would be able to recommend a reliable contractor who could tear up the existing nightmare of a foundation and install a new one.

When Bobby called SteelMaster he was advised Daniel was out of the office, so he left a message.

Not ten minutes later, Bobby received a call from Daniel. Bobby explained the bleakness of his situation. Daniel brought a SteelMaster Engineer into the mix, who quickly ascertained the majority of Bobby’s foundation could be saved. Through Daniel and the Engineer, a professional contractor referred by SteelMaster was not only able to salvage most of the existing foundation, but saved Bobby a lot of frustration, time, and expense in the process.

Bobby was astounded when he found out Daniel was on vacation – not just out of the office. "I could not believe how much of his personal time he gave me before I even knew he was on vacation. He was determined to help me and put me at ease. He was business as usual, and went above and beyond to help me… after the sale," he said.

"That was four years ago. I sent Daniel an email the other day just to say "Hi." I feel like Daniel is a friend.  We check in with each other now and again. SteelMaster is good people. I have to add that I wish every company I dealt with had SteelMaster’s attitude, work ethic and quality product. But you just don’t find companies like yours anymore. Customer Service like what you guys have is a rarity," raved Bobby.

Bobby’s original plans for his building included the necessity for more storage space.  He and his son worked together to custom design, frame out, and build the front door for his building. It was during this process Bobby welded for the first time. He found he kind of liked welding. Actually, he liked it enough to make a hobby out of it.  This is when he devoted part of the building to a workshop for welding projects. Although he does not admit to doing it often, he recently cooked in his building. Bobby said he made a mouth-watering stir-fry.

"SteelMaster is about more than being the international leader in steel and metal arched prefabricated building innovation. We are about people helping people on a personal level. Our relationships with our customers last well beyond the point of sale. The unique craftsmanship of our materials, 30 year warranty from our steel manufacturer, and endless use possibilities of our buildings practically sell themselves.
It truly is our people who make the difference at SteelMaster," commented Michelle Wickum, Director of Marketing for SteelMaster.

SteelMaster has been in business over 30 years. With buildings in every state in the United States, 40 overseas countries, and on six continents, SteelMaster remains committed to unsurpassed service, flexibility, and integrity.

By the way, if you happen to find yourself in the middle of nowhere Texas, be sure to check out the friendly and hospitable small town of Wimberley. Ask for Bobby Arnold. He will be glad to show off his SteelMaster buildings. You might even catch him with a welding torch, browning the top layer of a home-made batch of crème brulee in his workshop!

Letters from Our Customers – XVI

At SteelMaster, we strive to provide exceptional customer service throughout the entire process of buying and constructing a steel building. One of the greatest compliments to us is to receive a letter from one of our customers telling us about their experience with our company, and we greatly appreciate every bit of feedback.

Below is a letter that we recently received from a customer who was very pleased with the help they received from SteelMaster after they bought a building secondhand.

"We bought our SteelMaster buildings at an auction still in the crate, only to find out the mice had been in the crate and shredded all of the instructions. SteelMaster was good enough to talk through with us about all the pieces and figure out what building we had, provide us with instructions for assembly and plans, some new bolts and some foam insulation. With some help from a local farmer and his tractor and loader, my brother, dad, myself and some other helpers assembled the building. The building provides great storage for a bunch of our old Chevys."

Michael, Dwight, and Jerry W.
Republican City, NE