While barns have been historically used only for agricultural and farming purposes, they have seen an uprise in commercial and industrial applications due to their highly flexible and versatile properties. Operating businesses is a challenging task as they require adequate strategic planning and in-depth research while making each and every decision. It is probably because of smart decision-making that many businesses are now moving towards a metal commercial barn as it offers a high return on investment.
Whether you are an established entrepreneur looking for your next office site or someone planning to launch a new restaurant, you should consider steel barns. They are incredibly durable, long-lasting, robust, and cost-effective structures that can be tailored to offer the proper infrastructure for your business.
Commercial Barns — How Can Businesses Maximize Utility?
A commercial barn is an enclosed structure that has two lean-tos attached on both sides. Starting with a width of 32 feet, these can be as wide as 300 feet. They are clear-span metal buildings that allow you to utilize unobstructed space as you please. Essentially built to house a variety of business models, these barns offer immense opportunities in terms of customizing them to meet your specific requirements.
To maximize utility and functionality along with minimizing loss of productivity, a metal commercial barn can be customized for a range of industries, including:
Offices: Metal buildings can be easily customized into modern offices by adding ample lighting, separate offices, storage rooms, along with desks and chairs. As these structures are technologically adaptable, they also support the hassle-free addition of numerous digital devices and Wi-Fi. You can design the layout of your office and set up workstations to enhance productivity.
Retail stores: Whether planning to open small storefronts or large retail stores, prefabricated metal buildings are ideal as they can house different display units, storage rooms, as well as design elements. You can also curate the layout in a way that enhances customer flow within the structure. You can install multiple windows, doors, and signage to improve the structure.
Restaurants: Many owners think it is not easy to find a suitable space for their restaurant that not only meets their aesthetic requirements but also offers enough space to carry out various activities. With metal commercial buildings, you can design specific seating arrangements, kitchen areas, bars, and even dancing spaces. By adding a lean-to, you can also get an extra outdoor space. Plenty of lighting and large doors can help you achieve a grand look. Upon choosing 12-gauge steel frames and vertical roofs, you can ensure that your restaurant is safeguarded against environmental wear and tear.
Warehouses: Steel structures are perfect to be transformed into warehouses as they can efficiently accommodate your storage needs. Their fire- and pest-resistant nature also protects your goods. Install large doors for huge warehousing packages and equipment like forklifts. By increasing the height, you can also add mezzanines within the building to enhance storage capacity. Moreover, installing proper insulation and ventilation within the steel commercial building will prevent moisture buildup, keeping your products safe and lowering your energy usage. By designing temporary sections, you can also ensure a streamlined process in regard to storage and assembly.
Auto repair: In 2024, the American Automotive Service Market was estimated at USD 188.13 billion. A commercial steel barn's structural integrity, immense space, and size options make it optimal for auto repair or tire shops. It would help if you designed separate areas for repairs, engine diagnostics, and tire changes, which are optimized with the proper tools and equipment using hooks, shelves, and pegboards. It is ideal to keep a mobile tool cart, which can be moved for enhanced efficiency. It would be best if you also considered adding separate storage areas and waiting spaces.
Fitness studios: You can easily convert a metal building into a large fitness studio that houses areas for gyming, changing rooms, and a Zumba studio. Along with setting up partitions for each segment, you will have to install proper lighting, heating and cooling equipment, large windows, gyming gear, and yoga mats. A commercial steel barn can efficiently span up to 300 feet and bear the load of multiple clients and heavy machinery.
Automated car washes: Within your custom commercial building, you can easily house long conveyor equipment, pre-soak sections as well as cleaning equipment. Depending on the size of your operations, you can also increase the height up to 40 feet and install car lifts, allowing you to work on multiple vehicles at once.
Aircraft hangars: As they are highly sturdy in nature, a metal barn is ideal to house your aircraft hangars to protect them from sun damage, heavy snowfall, or discoloration. They can shield your commercial aircraft while allowing you to house multiple airplanes of different sizes. Aircraft hangars with column-free interiors can be as big as 240 feet wide and 250 feet long.
Cost-Effective: High Roi And Low Maintenance
A metal barn is a highly durable structure that can withstand severe weather conditions as well as environmental hazards. Using galvanized steel, you can improve the strength and rust resistance of the barn to enhance its life.
High return on investment
While a metal commercial barn is at par in terms of initial costs, its durability, low maintenance, quick installation, and longevity ensure a higher return on investment when compared to traditional materials. Here is a breakup:
Metal | Wood | Concrete | Brick and masonry |
Up to $40 per square foot | Up to $50 per square foot | Up to $100 per square foot | Up to $150 per square foot |
Longevity
A commercial steel barn can last at least 50 years. However, with proper maintenance, these structures can live for longer, offering stability to your business. Unlike wooden or concrete structures, they are not susceptible to cracks and have higher structural strength.
Maintenance
A metal barn also requires less maintenance and is resistant to fire, pests, decay, and mold. On average, businesses spend about 1% to 3% of their building’s cost on yearly maintenance. This is significantly less than wooden buildings that cost at least $1 to $4 per square foot in annual maintenance.
Installation time
Metal | Wood | Concrete | Brick and masonry |
2 to 6 months | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months | Up to 24 months |
Prefabricated commercial barns are the easiest and quickest to install. The time taken may depend upon the complexity of the structure and customizations. Compared to other materials, like wooden constructions, which can often halt due to environmental factors, they are the best.
Energy efficient
As businesses are increasingly moving towards green models, it has become imperative for your commercial structures to be eco-friendly not just to save money but also to be conscious of the environment. Using strong vertical roofs to install solar panels, you can minimize your operational costs.
High resale value
Along with enhancing the value of your property, a commercial metal barn will also have a higher resale value. As they have versatile applications, commercial metal barns retain higher value for an extended period of time. So, if you decide to move your business, you can easily sell the pre-engineered metal building without worrying about the depreciation of its value.
All In All
A commercial barn has plenty of potential to function effectively and make your business a safe and better place. No matter the type of business, they can easily be transformed to fit your requirements. Ensuring the smooth functioning of your organization, they can be tailored to enhance the efficiency of your operations.
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