Written by Rocky Mountain Metal · Reviewed by Micah Hostetler, Owner · Based in Penrose, CO, serving Colorado.
Post-frame buildings stand on wood columns; steel-framed buildings stand on an anchored steel frame. Both can wear steel panels. Rocky Mountain Metal sells steel-framed only, because steel keeps wood out of the ground and opens up the interior.
Key takeaways
- The skin can look the same; the skeleton is different.
- Post-frame: wood columns and trusses carrying a metal skin.
- Steel-framed: a steel structure anchored to its foundation, engineered by the manufacturer for your loads.
- Steel framing gives clear spans, no rot and no insects in the structure.
- Rocky Mountain Metal does not build post-frame. We sell and oversee steel-framed buildings from 1st Choice Metal Buildings and Carports.
How is each one built?
Post-frame. Wood columns run along the walls and carry wood trusses. Horizontal girts and purlins carry the metal panels. The wood structure is what holds the building up.
Steel-framed. The manufacturer engineers a steel frame for your dimensions and your site's snow and wind loads. The frame is anchored to a concrete foundation, and steel members carry the roof and wall panels. There's no wood in the structure.
How do they compare side by side?
| Post-frame | Steel-framed | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Wood columns and trusses | Steel frame engineered as a system |
| Foundation | Depends on how the wood columns are set | Anchored to a concrete foundation |
| Interior | Columns and truss spacing shape the layout | Open clear span with no posts in the way |
| Rot and insects | Wood needs protection from both | Steel doesn't rot and isn't food for insects |
| Fire | Combustible structure | Non-combustible structure |
| Long-term upkeep | Wood framing to watch | Panels, fasteners, doors and coating touch-ups |
Why does Rocky Mountain Metal sell steel only?
We chose to stand behind one kind of building and do it well. A steel frame on a proper foundation:
- Keeps wood out of the ground. Nothing in the structure is waiting to rot.
- Opens up the floor. Clear spans mean you park, work and store where you want.
- Is engineered as one system. The manufacturer designs the frame, panels and connections together for your site's snow and wind loads.
- Holds its shape. Steel doesn't warp, twist or shrink with Colorado's dry air and big temperature swings.
That's why every garage, carport, workshop, ag building, RV storage building and small warehouse we sell is steel-framed.
How do snow and wind factor in?
Every building we sell is engineered to your site's snow and wind loads. On the eastern plains around La Junta and Lamar, wind often governs; in higher country around Salida and Alamosa, snow often does. The manufacturer adjusts the framing to match. See are metal buildings good in heavy snow and high wind?
Can you insulate and finish a steel building?
Yes. Steel buildings take blanket insulation, liner panels and other packages, and you can frame an office or room inside. See how to insulate and heat a shop in Colorado.
What about durability?
A steel frame on a proper foundation asks very little of you. The panels, fasteners and doors need the same care on any metal-skinned building. See how long does a steel-framed metal building last? and why steel framing avoids rot.
What's the next step?
Tell us what the building is for and how big it needs to be. We'll look at your site and plan the right steel building for garages and workshops or ag and commercial use. We place the order, the manufacturer's crew from Texas installs it, and we oversee the project. Start with a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is a steel-framed building stronger than a post-frame building?
Any properly engineered building is designed to carry its required loads. What steel framing adds is clear span, no rot and a structure engineered as a single system, which is why we sell steel only.
Can I have a metal building without any wood in it?
Yes. That's exactly what a steel-framed building is, and it's the only kind Rocky Mountain Metal sells.
Can a steel building look like a barn or a house?
Yes. Wainscot, lean-tos, porches, color choices and trim let a steel building fit a ranch, a farm or a home site. Have a look at our completed buildings.
Do you build post-frame or pole barns at all?
No. Rocky Mountain Metal sells steel-framed metal buildings only.
