If you've already ordered a carport, metal building, garage, or any other steel structure, or if you're currently in the process of placing an order, this guide is designed specifically for you. It will help ensure that when the time comes to install your metal structure, the process will be smooth and perfectly planned. This guide will assist you in preventing any problems that could arise from the ordering process all the way through to installation.
An overview of the process
The typical process of ordering a metal structure, such as a carport or metal building, involves 3 key steps:
Ordering
Preparation
Installation
Understanding each one of these parts can play a huge role in ensuring the structure you ordered gets delivered and installed just as you planned.
1. Ordering Your Structure
The first thing to consider is ordering your steel structure. Legacy Carports offers various metal structures such as carports, RV covers, and garages that are all made to order. We can customize your structure to fit your needs with options such as width, length, height, steel gauge, roof type, panel colors, orientation, and the inclusion of doors, windows, and garage doors. Other options may include type of anchors, the use of colored screws, frame-outs, lean-tos, and more. Essentially there are a lot of options to choose from, so it is important that we get it right.
The Importance Of Getting It Right
When you place an order, it is extremely important that we have all of the right information to ensure you are actually getting what you want. Once you have placed an order with us, it is extremely difficult to make any changes to that order. Our speedy process only takes 24 hours to get your order from our building specialists to the manufacturing department.
Because our process is very streamlined, we require a deposit (normally between 10% and 15%) to begin the manufacturing process. The deposit you pay is non-refundable because we start manufacturing immediately. Once we have started the manufacturing process, we cannot make any changes and if you wish to cancel your order, your deposit will be held for time, energy, and material used to start this process. (Please refrain from canceling your order at all costs as it is not our wish to keep a deposit for a structure that didn't get delivered and installed.)
Tips for Success
Before ordering, it is important to know the size of the structure and ensure that you have enough room on your property. We require all structures to have a minimum of 4 feet around the structure for our installers have enough working room to move, climb, and use ladders all the way around the structure during building process, unless otherwise approved by management. For larger structures that require a lift, the required perimeter is 30 feet instead of the standard 4 feet. Additionally, some zoning regulations in your city or county may have restrictions that should also be investigated before placing your order.
Once you have received a quote and are ready to sign our purchase agreement, we ask that you read over the document and make sure that everything on the document is correct and accurate. We typically ask you to read over the entire document twice, including the fine print that exhibits expectations, warranties, limitations, exclusions, and all of your typical terms and conditions of placing an order for a steel structure.
2. Preparation
Preparing your site for installation may be done before or after placing your order. It is much more streamlined to prepare your site before placing your order; however, it can also be done after your order is placed. We suggest you do your preparation in the beginning so that we dont have to push back your install date for any unforeseen reasons. Site preparation may include: excavation and grading your site for levelness, spreading a material such as gravel, pouring concrete, paving asphalt, marking the site and marking for underground utilities.
Excavation And Grading
Excavating and grading is of the utmost importance when preparing for your metal carport or steel structure to be installed. If the land you plan on having your structure installed on is unlevel, it is vital to correct the unlevelness before installers arrive. The baserail of the structure is the key component of all of our carports, garages, and steel storage buildings that allows us to build from. The baserail is galvanized square steel tubing with smaller pieces of square tubing welded to it at 90 degree angles every five feet. This baserail has to sit on a level surface to ensure that the legs or posts of the structure will stand upright.
Selecting Surface Type
We can install carports and other metal structures on various surface types which include: dirt, gravel, asphalt, and concrete. For dirt and gravel, the site just needs to be level and our installers will take care of the rest. Asphalt and concrete also need to be level; however, it is highly recommended that these surface types are obtained through a professional service.
Asphalt paving requires the use of hot asphalt millings to be poured onto the site and then compacted into place using large rollers or compactors. Working with hot asphalt is not for the faint of heart. Getting the asphalt compacted and smooth is an art form, while it can be completed by a homeowner, it should really be left to a professional.
Pouring concrete, while more simple than paving, is still an art form. Getting concrete smooth and giving it a finished look is still a tough job, even for an experienced handyman. Concrete companies have special floats and finishing tools to make your concrete perfectly smooth. Again, we recommend seeking a professional to pour your concrete.
Marking The Site
Marking your job site is one of the more important things that needs to be done to make sure your structure goes exactly where you want it and to make sure installers aren't hitting underground utilities when they are anchoring it down. It is important that 811 is called to come and mark underground utility lines. Some of these utility lines include power, gas, water, sewer, cable and phone lines. When installers are putting your ground anchors in the ground, it's important that these utilities are marked to prevent any damage to them. Hitting an underground gas or power line can completely ruin the day for you and the installers and can result in bodily harm and even death. It's extremely important to call 811 at least 3 working days before the install date.
Also marking the site with white paint will help installers know exactly where the structure needs to be placed at on the property. We suggest getting a white water soluble spray paint and marking exactly where baserails should be placed. This will ensure there is no confusion.
Installation
it's finally the day you get your metal structure installed. If you have performed all of the other prep before installers arrive, installation should go smoothly. Although everything has been planned in advanced for this day, it is important that you are on site for the installers.
The crew will need your help to locate the power source they can use to power their tools. In addition, it is best for you to confirm the location of the baserails with the crew before they anchor them down. This step is crucial because once the baserails have been anchored, the structure is set in place and is not intended to move.
Also, if you have custom elements in your structure such as frame-outs, walk in doors, and windows, you may want to make sure these items are placed exactly where you want them. Although these details are disclosed in the order, its beneficial to see them go in with your own eyes.
Conclusion
In summary, getting your metal structure just right involves careful planning from start to finish. When you order, be clear and concise about what you want since changes cannot be made once your structure begins the manufacturing process. Before installers start, make sure your site is ready - level ground, marked properly, and all utilities marked. Then, on installation day, be there to help out and confirm things like where the structure goes and any special features. It's like putting together a puzzle, and if you follow these steps, you'll end up with the perfect metal structure built to last a legacy!
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