General Questions:
How Do I Know If My Site Is Level Enough?
CSI provides free, on-site consultation. You don’t buy a car without driving it, right? Well, we don’t build a building without visiting the site prior to the sale of the building. We are here to provide professional guidance and feedback regarding the proper way to prepare and level your building site. If you are unable to prepare the site yourself, we can assist in providing this service.
Do I Need To Get A Building Permit?
CSI will provide all necessary drawings and truss drawings for a basic building permit. If additional engineering is required, we can provide it at an additional expense. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain the building permit from their local building jurisdiction, should one be required. Your local representative may be available to provide guidance during this process.
How Long Does It Take To Build A Building?
The average building only takes about a week or so to build. Smaller buildings go much faster and larger, more complex buildings take a bit more time. Every building is unique and different. Every site is different and offers different challenges. Weather also plays a big factor as it is unsafe to handle sheet metal in high winds or work with power tools in the rain.
If It Only Takes A Week To Build A Building, Then Why Does The Process Take So Long?
Erecting the building is only the final step in the entire process. Preparing the site, generating plans and drawings, waiting on permits, manufacturing products, etc. are all items that take time. Although many of these things can be done simultaneously, there are certain building blocks in the process that need to be complete and checked off prior to starting the next step. This process allows us to limit those last minute surprises that end up costing more time and money. Finally, the typical trump card for the entire schedule is just simply backlog. Every customer deserves their fair share of our time and attention that they paid for and it is only fair and right that we should allow them that.
UPDATE…due to supply chain issues and product shortages, many items such as doors, windows, overhead doors, cupolas, etc. have lead times that have increased by as much as 6 months. Due to the infinite wisdom of our government, we do not expect this to change any time soon.
What Are Your Common Building Sizes?
Our most common truss widths are 24’, 30’, 36’, 40, 50’, 60’, 70’ and 80’ wide. Building heights make the most sense in height increments of 2’ beginning at 8’. The only exception to that rule is 15’ tall buildings. All building heights are the inside clearance from top of finished floor to bottom of truss. Lengths are most common in multiples of 8’ because that is our standard on-center spacing for our structural columns.
I Can’t Build One Of Your Standard Size Buildings…Can You Still Help Me?
Yes. Our standard sizes are just the common sizes. While 8’ increments in length are the most economical, we can erect a structure to almost any specification. Roof trusses are not stock items, therefore there are no stock widths, just widths that are more common than others. These are more familiar to us to build and therefore more economical.
Do I Really Need All Of Those Options?
Probably not. It is rare to see a project that encompasses all of our building options. The wise thing to do is to discuss the options that are pertinent to your project with your local representative and determine which options have features and benefits that are important to your project and are worth the additional cost. Properly understanding all of the options and the added value that each option provides is the key to making an informed, sound decision.
What If I Want To Finish Off The Interior Of My Building?
While the standard building is unfinished on the interior and there is no concrete floor, there are many options and finishes that can be added to complete your building. Virtually any standard finish option or accessory choice is available in post frame construction. Finishing off your building is not a problem- we just need to know what your plans are so that we can make sure that we have adequately designed the structure for any additional loads that may be imposed. Options such as concrete floors, interior walls, second floor systems and ceilings are all options that strengthen the building system. In some cases, if we are designed for these options, the mainframe of the structure can be engineered to be more efficient, thus saving you money.
Is Post Frame Really Cost Effective?
Not all projects are well suited for post frame construction. However, standard, rectangular shaped buildings with steel cladding or wood panel sheeting lend themselves very well to post frame construction. For maximum efficiency, buildings whose lengths are in multiples of 8 feet are most efficient because our standard spacing is 8 feet. Other parameters to consider are buildings 80’ wide and under as well as sidewall heights 18’ and lower. Although, these parameters are not hard, fast rules, they are a general guideline that is easy to follow.
How Do You Structure Your Payments?
Projects are paid for in a manner consistent with the progress of the building. Most buildings only require a structure with 3 or more payments. However, larger projects or projects with special provisions may require a different payment structure. Typically, payment structures require a deposit for special order items and plans followed by payments that reflect progress such as site preparation, concrete, building material delivery, construction progress, overhead door installation project completion payments. Any reimbursements such as permit costs will be billed accordingly.
