Featured Project: Medical Supply Storage in Haiti

While there are many features of steel arch buildings that attracted UNOPS, two of the most important qualities for a building in a relief area are security and durability. SteelMaster metal buildings offer fire resistance and the ability to withstand the worst weather conditions on the planet. All buildings meet hurricane wind ratings (up to 170 mph) and Seismic Zone IV, or Category D earthquake rating. “With our structures being the fastest to assemble using un-skilled labor and no special equipment, we can deliver a building anywhere in the world that can be assembled in half the time of conventional construction,” says Gary.

When United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) needed a steel arch building for a medical supply distribution center in Haiti, they went to CSS International Holdings to find a company that could meet their specifications. That’s when SteelMaster Buildings’ partnership with CSS began.

After several rounds of design reviews and modifications, SteelMaster’s Emergency Relief Project Manager, Gary Parker, designed a 52’W x 20’H x 65’L steel building that CSS was ready to construct for UNOPS. Once the building was manufactured, SteelMaster assisted with all of the logistics involved in getting the building to Haiti. CSS worked with local Haitians to construct the building, while SteelMaster’s team in Virginia Beach, VA served as project advisors throughout the process. Construction time took approximately 30 days from start to finish and ended with CSS getting the seal of approval by UNOPS.

Steel Building Office and Storage Facilities

Who ever said that steel buildings were just for backyard garages and workshops?  SteelMaster steel buildings are functional for a variety of applications including retail stores and office facilities.  The clear-span design of our pre-fabricated buildings allows our customers to utilize every inch of the interior space which allows our buildings to be used for almost every application!

Check out a few photos of our retail stores and office facilities…..

Vote SteelMaster for Top Flight Award

IMPORTANT   MESSAGE  TO  OUR  FRIENDS,  CUSTOMERS  AND  COLLEAGUES:

PLEASE TAKE A SECOND AND VOTE FOR STEELMASTER!

steelmasterusa

http://www.monarchbank.com/topflight.php OR:  Text MONARCH to cox411 (269411)

We realize for our small business to have come this far, we could not have done it without YOU!  We are honored and humbled to be included in the Top Three for Monarch Bank’s “Top Flight Award” – and we thank you!  By casting your vote, and helping SteelMaster claim the top honor, you will help us win $50k which will go a long way toward our continued growth locally, nationally, and internationally.  Not only do we envision creating more jobs, but this grand prize will assist with fostering our outreach programs to help others.  SteelMaster gladly gives back – by providing shelter for individuals and families, including the People in Need (PIN) Ministry and ForKids charities.  Please – cast your vote now.  Thanks!

http://www.monarchbank.com/topflight.php OR: Text MONARCH to cox411 (269411)

Decision to Buy Steel Building was a Snap

Stop fidgeting. Look at the camera. Act natural. Smile. Say ‘cheese'.

For a photographer, getting a great shot involves a slew of events to happen at just the right time, the right angle, and with the right lighting. Add to that the directorial responsibilities of positioning people to make them look their best, plus being a wife and mother, and it is no wonder that Angela Owens from French Lick, IN needed help in handling the administrative side of her photography business, Rembrandt Studio (myrembrandt.info).

Her mother, Carla Shipman, offered to take over many of the responsibilities involved in running the business. More than three years ago, one of those responsibilities involved managing their rental space in a small one-room studio in downtown French Lick.

"We were in that space for about a year," remembers Carla. "About that time many casino owners started buying property and moving into the area and our rent was raised. It just wasn't worth it to rent such a small space when we figured out we could afford to purchase a much larger space from which we could run the business. That's what happened when we found SteelMaster Buildings."

The company, which is located in Virginia Beach, VA, has manufactured, designed, and supplied pre-fabricated arched steel structures for more than 30 years to 40,000 customers located in every state of the United States, in 40 countries, and on seven continents around the world.

1. 

"Every SteelMaster Building has been professionally designed and engineered to meet Building Officials and Code Administrators, Uniform Building Code, and International Building Code loads," says Michelle Wickum, the director of marketing for SteelMaster Buildings. "Also each building comes with professionally engineered plans verifying that it will meet your local building loads. In addition, customizing the interior of your SteelMaster Building is easy to do. With our clear span, truss-less design you can divide up the space in your SteelMaster Buildings however you want."

This is exactly what Shipman and her daughter chose to do with their SteelMaster. They partitioned it off into three sections: a presentation room to receive customers, a photography studio, and a tractor storage area as the building sits on four landscaped acres of property.

In addition, the family utilized the clear span, tall ceiling to build a loft that extends across the first two sections of the building. Shipman's husband anticipates using the loft as a classroom space once he retires.

The actual construction of the building was finished within one month, and Shipman learned quite a bit from the experience that she wishes to pass on to any future owners of a SteelMaster.

"When you first begin erecting the arches, the building seems flimsy," says Shipman. "But once you get each section up you realize it is incredibly strong. In fact, we live in an area where we get very strong winds, and we have never had a problem with the building in the three years we have used it. We also built the building on a high quality slab, and I strongly encourage others to do the same. We used a scissor lift to help us get the arches up, and that worked out very well. I would say the biggest issue to address is to make sure that you develop a very good drainage system for the building, and waterproof it as best you can at the bottom. Because of the shape of the building, large amounts of water flow off of it, so proper drainage is key. We also included skylights in the building which provides so much natural light that we save a great deal on our electric bill."

In addition to steel buildings like the Shipman's, 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.

Letters from Our Customers – XV

Once you are a SteelMaster owner, we invite you to join our Partners in Steel referral program. The program is designed to encourage you to refer friends, family and neighbors to SteelMaster that are interested in purchasing a steel building. In addition, we will contact you if we have someone in your area that would like to see your building and speak with you about your SteelMaster buildings. The letter below comes from Francis S. in Recluse, WY when he signed up to be a member of Partners in Steel.

The super structure is up. It is by no means finished as we are in the dead of winter right now. The interesting part of this building is that I for the most part completely assembled this building by hand, one piece at a time. I constructed a temporary scaffolding system that I used to get to the high parts. I had help with the first two sections but that was it. Since I had to do this myself I came up with some interesting techniques. I bought a 5 pack of aligning tools. I used several welding type vice grips and clamps. A 3/8 air impact also was an important part of the assembly. I think the reason I was able to do this by myself was that I am 6'-5? tall and have a long reach. Without being able to reach around each section I don’t think I could have started each nut and bolt, therefore I would have had to wait until this year when help arrived. It took me about 21 days to complete one piece at a time. I still have to install a bout 100 nut’s and bolts. Then spend a day or so with a little help to double check the entire building’s nuts and bolts. I poured footers only instead of an entire slab. The slab will come in the spring, close in the ends, grout the bottom of the panels, install electrical/lighting and at that point I should be finished. I certainly will buy another in the future.

Steelmasterusa

Offering Affordable Steel Buildings is Only the Start

Seventeen years ago, James D. "Danny" Hendricks of Woodland, GA was leafing through farm and home magazines when he came upon an advertisement for a company in Virginia Beach, VA that sold steel buildings. Since he was scouting out options for a workshop, Hendricks called to request literature on the buildings and established a rapport with the director of marketing.

"I was fortunate to talk with David B. Adams, who at that time was the director of marketing with SteelMaster Buildings, and after speaking with him, I was convinced that this was the building that I needed because it would fit my needs from a quality and durability standpoint," says Hendricks. "He was very informative from my first conversation with him, and we became very good friends."

For more than 29 years, SteelMaster Buildings has manufactured, designed, and supplied pre-fabricated arched steel structures to 40,000 customers located in every state of the United States, in 40 countries, and on seven continents around the world.

SteelMaster prefabricated workshops have been used by all types of hobby enthusiasts including wood workers, metal shops owners, classic car professionals, as well as numerous types of businesses around the globe. The company’s workshop kit, prefabricated workshops, and metal shops provide 100 percent unencumbered, usable space to organize, store, and protect valuable tools and machinery as well as provide comfort, security, and durability against fire, snow, and hurricane-force winds. People who own a SteelMaster workshop have the flexibility to truly customize the inside of their building because the unique clear-span design allows them the opportunity to hang lighting, run conduit, build shelving, add a loft, insulate, and heat/cool the building.

Three years after Hendricks bought his workshop, he purchased a second building for machinery and hay storage. Then three years later, he bought yet another building to use for storage of lawn and garden equipment. He says that part of the reason he continued buying from SteelMaster was because of the level of customer service he continued to receive after he first started communicating with Adams.

"On one occasion after the purchase of my first building, a stranger drove into my yard," says Hendricks. "As this man stepped out of his car, he said, 'I am David Adams with SteelMaster Buildings, and I was passing through your area and wanted to stop by to meet you and see your building.’ We had a very good visit, and our friendship lasted."

According to Michelle Wickum, who is currently the company’s director of marketing, SteelMaster has always taken this approach with its customers.

"Our company was founded with a mission to be the best in the business, and we are," says Wickum. "To be the best, that doesn’t just mean delivering the highest quality buildings at an affordable rate, it also means going the extra mile for our customers and touching base with them after their building is constructed to make sure that it is everything that they need it to be. We genuinely care about the people we serve."

Hendricks says he believes in SteelMaster and its buildings so much that he hasn’t been shy about spreading the word to others.

"I appreciate that the ease of which I have been able to assemble and construct my buildings as well as their durability, quality, and the fact that they blend very well into my farm layout and the landscape, says Hendricks. "As a result, I have helped SteelMaster sell numerous buildings in this area of Georgia. The picture that is shown in the Georgia section of the SteelMaster website shows the back side of my three buildings. I am proud of my buildings, and I appreciate them being a part of the company’s website."

SteelMaster’s steel and metal pre-engineered buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial applications including Garages, Workshops, Carports, Quonsets, Airplane Hangars, RV Storage, Military Buildings, Commercial Warehousing, and Industrial Storageas well as a wide variety of Custom Building applications including Athletic Facilities, Retail Stores, Churches, Bus Stops, Smoke Shacks, Doggie Dorms, and Correctional Facilities.

SteelMaster Receives Compass Award

At the recent Virginia Conference on World Trade banquet held in Norfolk, VA., SteelMaster Buildings was awarded the Commonwealth of Virginia Compass Award for Excellence in International Trade. The Compass Award was presented by Paul H. Grossman Jr. from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Emma Granada and Rob Poellnitz accepted on behalf of SteelMaster Buildings.

The Commonwealth of Virginia presents this award to recognize a Virginia business that has excelled in global trade. The award recipient will have increased its international profile while promoting the best interests of its employees and surrounding community, contributing to the economic health and quality of life of Virginians while positively representing the Commonwealth in the international arena.

Steel Storage Holds Sky High Potential

Often people are loyal to certain brands and never stray. Be it a specific type of chewing gum, laundry detergent, soda, or even breed of dog, among the hundreds of choices available in the marketplace, folks tend to go with what they know.

Such is the case for Stan Saloff of Lompoc, CA, but his brand loyalty in one particular instance is a bit unique-it’s to a type of steel building.

"I looked high and wide, as we say on the farm, for steel buildings when I first got the idea years ago," says Saloff. "I talked to people with steel buildings and finally decided that the ease of construction, durability, price, and looks of all things, went into my final decision-and that is SteelMaster Buildings. As you can tell, since this is my third one, I happy with them."

For more than 29 years, SteelMaster Buildings, which is located in Virginia Beach, VA, has manufactured, designed, and supplied pre-fabricated arched steel structures to 40,000 customers located in every state of the United States, in 40 countries, and on seven continents around the world.

Saloff bought his first SteelMaster building 15 years ago to use as a hangar for his homebuilt airplane that he planned to store on his friend’s property in San Luis Obispo, CA.

"I got side tracked for a few years and that building is now used as storage by my friends," says Saloff. "It still looks new."

The second one is located on Saloff’s property in Grover Beach, CA, and features a large garage-type door as well as a personal door.

"I now rent my house, and the tenant is using the building as a workshop doing commercial granite work," says Saloff. "He told me it’s really a perfect work shop."

His third SteelMaster building is located at his retirement home property in California City, CA, and will be used as a hangar.

"My small airplane is almost completed, and we plan to start the engine this weekend and have it flying by Christmas," says Saloff. "The wings fold on this airplane so it fits easily in the 16X28 foot building. This way I won’t have hangar expenses ($400/month) when I retire, and the building will outlast me."

How is it that one brand of steel building is able to perfectly fit the bill for each one of these uses?

"Versatility" say Michelle Wickum, who is the director of marketing for the company. "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 Quick and Easy Construction of our kits makes them ideal for the "do-it-yourselfer. The unique design of these steel garage buildings provides security and durability against Fire, Snow, and Hurricane force winds, while remaining aesthetically pleasing

For Saloff, the opportunity to construct the buildings himself not only provided cost savings, but also a little bit of fun.

"I have constructed all three by myself and a few friends," says Saloff. "The last one was completed with the back wall in three days. We figured a very effective and safe way to raise each section in the desert wind-we put a loosely attached bolt at each end on the channel and used a rope with a large step ladder to rotate (raise) it up in place. We used battery powered drill motors to secure the nuts. It was just simple tinker toy type assembly. It’s actually fun putting it together."

Saloff added that he was also please that there was no need for an expensive concrete slab.

"I don’t use a concrete slab, says Saloff. "I just use SteelMaster’s inverted channels lag bolted to railroad ties for the outer footing. Then I dump a load of gravel for the floor. It’s a farm type set up and really works well for my application and is economical."

If you find yourself looking for Saloff toward the end of 2011, you aren’t likely to find him tinkering around in any of his SteelMaster buildings or in any other building at all for that matter.

"The airplane I am currently building is a homebuilt model called a CH701; kit by Zenith Aircraft in Mexico, MO," says Saloff. "It’s about 23 feet long, carries two people, and only goes 85 miles per hour; perfect for an older pilot. It will be so much fun just puttering around the sky at slow speeds."