Used steel buildings look cheaper at first glance, but they often do not pay off: the structure was calculated for a different site and a different use, the documentation is missing and adaptations cost money. We recommend a new building designed for your plot and your needs. Below we explain why, and what to check if you are still thinking of buying a used one.
In short
- A building's structural calculation applies to the site and the use it was designed for.
- With a used building, the price is not all that matters: so do its condition, its history of use and its suitability for the new site.
- Missing documentation and adaptations bring extra costs.
- A new building is made to measure, with documentation and predictable costs.
Why are used steel buildings not always cheaper?
With used steel buildings, the purchase price is not the only thing that matters: so do their actual condition, their history of use and their suitability for the new site. Wear, missing documentation and necessary adaptations can bring extra costs that only show up during the move and re-erection.
On top of that come the costs of dismantling, transport and re-erection, which a new building does not have.
The structural calculation applies to one site
Structural calculations and design follow the current Eurocodes and take into account the loads at the building's site, such as snow and wind. A building calculated for a lowland site is not necessarily suitable for a place with a higher snow load. Before it is put up again, a structural engineer must therefore check whether the structure suits the new site, and may have to specify reinforcements.
Prefabricated steel buildings
More on thisWhat should you check on a used steel building?
- Documentation: the design, the structural calculation and the declaration of performance for the structure.
- Condition of the steel: corrosion, deformation and damage to the zinc coating.
- Condition of the panels or sheeting, the flashings, doors and windows.
- Fit with the new use: height, span, doors and any crane runway.
- Suitability for the new site: snow and wind loads, and the foundations.
When is a new building the better choice?
A new building is designed around your needs: the dimensions, site, use and equipment are taken into account from the start. The structure is hot-dip galvanised and made in execution class EXC 2 to SIST EN 1090-1 and 1090-2, with full documentation.
The initial investment may be higher, but a new building is often the more reliable and economical solution in the long run. To find out what affects its price, read our article steel building cost.
Author
Konstrukcije Gajšek team
The designers, production staff and installation crews of Rastlinjaki Gajšek d.o.o.
