Written by Rocky Mountain Metal · Reviewed by Micah Hostetler, Owner · Based in Penrose, CO, serving Colorado.
An install crew needs three kinds of room: a route a truck and long trailer can drive, a firm laydown area beside the pad, and clear working space around the building. Tight sites can work with early planning.
Key takeaways
- Long steel members and panels arrive on long trailers; the driveway and gate have to fit them.
- Plan a material staging area beside the pad, on firm ground, out of the way of the work.
- The crew and its equipment need room to work all four sides of the building.
- Overhead lines, low branches, soft ground and steep grades are the usual surprises.
- Tell us about constraints at the site visit so the delivery and install can be planned around them.
Who is the crew?
Rocky Mountain Metal is a dealer for 1st Choice Metal Buildings and Carports. The building is manufactured in Texas, and the installation crew comes from the manufacturer. Micah Hostetler plans the building with you, places the order and oversees the project, so the access questions get answered before the crew arrives.
How does the truck get in?
- Width and turns. Delivery trucks with long trailers need wide, sweeping turns. A sharp turn between fence posts or a tight gate is a problem; a gentle curve is fine.
- Gates. Measure the opening. Many ranch gates are narrower than a delivery trailer.
- Overhead clearance. Trees, power lines and phone lines over the driveway. A loaded trailer and lifting equipment are tall.
- Surface and grade. A steep, soft or rutted approach can stop a loaded truck in spring mud. A firm road-base driveway solves it.
- Bridges and culverts. Make sure they can carry a loaded truck.
If the truck can't reach the pad, materials get unloaded where it can and moved, which takes more time.
Where does the material sit?
Steel framing, panels, trim and doors need a flat, firm spot beside the pad:
- Plan for a laydown area close to the size of the building if you can; less can work with planning.
- Panel bundles should sit off the ground and slightly sloped so rain and melt drain off.
- Keep the laydown clear of the driveway and out of the way of the work around the building.
How much working room goes around the building?
Standing the frame and sheeting walls takes equipment and people moving around all four sides. Give the crew clear, reasonably level ground around the pad. Buildings tucked against a fence line, a slope or another structure can sometimes still work, but they need to be planned for ahead of time.
What about ground conditions?
Equipment sinks in soft ground and tears up lawn. Spring in higher country and irrigated pasture in the Arkansas Valley can stay soft for weeks. A road-base pad and drive protect the site. See how to prepare your site.
What's overhead and underground?
- Power lines near the pad are a safety issue for lifting long steel. Sometimes the building needs to move to keep clear of them.
- Underground utilities, septic and leach fields can't be driven over by loaded equipment. Mark them. See where can I put a building?
What do tight sites look like?
Town lots in Cañon City and Florence, steep rural parcels and subdivisions with narrow drives across our service area all come with their own limits. The fixes are usually planning: where the truck stops, where materials sit and what order things happen in. They're manageable when everyone knows in advance.
What should you bring up at the site visit?
Mention gates, trees, lines, soft spots and neighbors' fences during the site visit. Planning access is part of every visit, and it's why we come to you instead of quoting from a satellite photo. Start with a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can a building go in if my driveway is narrow?
Often, yes, with planning around where the truck can reach and where materials are staged. We'll look at it during the site visit.
Will the equipment damage my yard?
Tires and equipment can leave marks, especially on soft ground. A firm pad and drive minimize it.
Do I need to move fences or trees?
Sometimes a gate needs widening or a low branch trimmed. We'll point it out before delivery is scheduled.
How long is the site under construction?
It depends on the building's size and options, and on the site and foundation being ready when the crew arrives. See how long from quote to done?
