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