Learning Center
Metal Building Glossary
26 steel building terms in plain English, from snow load and setbacks to lean-tos and roll-up doors, most linked to a guide that explains it.
- Agricultural exemption
- A county rule that can relieve a building used for farming or ranching from some or all building-permit requirements. Who qualifies, and what proof is needed, varies by county.
- Agricultural exemptions in Colorado →
- Anchors
- The hardware that ties a steel building's frame to the ground or the concrete beneath it so wind can't lift or shift it. The anchor type is set by the engineering and the foundation.
- Does a steel building need a slab? →
- Building department
- The town or county office that issues building permits and inspects construction. Inside town limits it is usually the town; outside, the county.
- Permits & codes by town →
- Building permit
- Written approval from the building department to build. It usually comes with plan review and one or more inspections.
- Do I need a permit? →
- Carport
- A steel roof on a steel frame, open on some or all sides. It protects vehicles and equipment from sun, hail and falling snow.
- Metal carport vs metal garage →
- Clear span
- Open floor space with no interior posts holding up the roof. Steel framing makes wide clear spans possible; the width depends on the engineering.
- Planning a small steel warehouse →
- Concrete slab
- A poured concrete floor that also serves as the foundation most enclosed steel buildings are anchored to.
- Does a steel building need a slab? →
- Condensation
- Water that forms on the underside of a metal roof or wall when warm, moist inside air meets cold steel. Insulation, a vapor barrier and ventilation control it.
- How to stop condensation →
- Dealer
- A local business that plans a building with the customer and orders it from the manufacturer. Rocky Mountain Metal is a dealer for 1st Choice Metal Buildings and Carports.
- How buying through a dealer works →
- Easement
- A recorded right for someone else, like a utility, to use part of your land. You generally can't build on an easement.
- Setbacks, easements and HOAs →
- Engineered building
- A building whose frame has been designed by an engineer for specific snow and wind loads. Many building departments ask for this documentation.
- What are stamped engineered drawings? →
- Gable end
- The triangular end wall under the peak of the roof. Doors on the gable end stay clear of snow sliding off the roof sides.
- Galvanized steel
- Steel coated with zinc to resist rust. Framing and panels are commonly galvanized or coated for outdoor life.
- Gauge
- A measure of steel thickness. A lower gauge number means thicker steel.
- What drives the price of a steel building? →
- Lean-to
- A roofed addition attached to the side or end of a building, open or enclosed. Lean-tos add covered space for equipment, hay or vehicles.
- Can I add on to a steel building later? →
- Loafing shed
- An open-front shelter that lets livestock come and go out of the weather.
- What size loafing shed do I need? →
- Rent-to-own
- A payment plan where you make monthly payments toward owning the building. Rocky Mountain Metal offers rent-to-own through RTO National.
- How financing a metal building works →
- Roll-up door
- A door made of steel slats that coils up into a drum above the opening. Common on garages, shops and storage buildings.
- How tall does an RV garage need to be? →
- Setback
- The minimum distance a building must sit from property lines, roads or other buildings, set by the town or county.
- Setbacks, easements and HOAs →
- Side wall height
- How tall the long walls are, from the base to where the roof starts. It decides which doors and vehicles fit.
- How tall does an RV garage need to be? →
- Snow load
- The weight of snow a roof must be designed to carry. It changes with elevation and location, and your building department sets the number for your address.
- Snow load and wind load →
- Stamped drawings
- Construction drawings signed and sealed by a licensed engineer. Often required for a building permit.
- What are stamped engineered drawings? →
- Vertical roof
- A roof whose panels run from the peak down to the eave, so snow and rain slide straight off. Often recommended where snow is heavy.
- Do I need to shovel snow off a metal roof? →
- Wainscot
- A band of different-colored panels along the bottom of the walls. It adds contrast and is easy to replace if damaged.
- Walk door
- A standard hinged door for people, separate from the large vehicle doors.
- How to lay out a workshop →
- Wind load
- The force wind puts on the walls and roof. Exposed sites need buildings designed for higher wind loads.
- Are metal buildings good in snow and wind? →
Don't see a term? Browse every guide, see real buildings with prices, or ask us directly.
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