The winter months are hard on everyone. It’s cold, dreary, and often full of wintery weather. And if you’re the type that enjoys the outdoors, it can be especially troublesome staving off cabin fever. Metal Garages provide you with a way to mitigate that. They offer a private space to maintain vehicles, complete woodworking projects, and just about anything to keep you busy through the coldest, darkest days of winter.
Typically, metal garages and steel buildings aren’t constructed with insulation included. And for some warmer regions, insulation may not be entirely necessary. However, insulation is the industry standard for maintaining an even internal temperature. So, if you plan to use your metal building for anything other than a large freezer this winter, you’ll want to continue reading! Below, we’ll dive deeper into how to keep your metal garage or workshop warm during the colder winter months.
Tips for Keeping Your Metal Garage Warm and Comfortable
When it comes to prepping any structure for colder weather, there are several tasks you can perform that will do wonders for making your building warm, hospitable, and inviting. By making this effort, you can transform a cold garage into a much-needed workshop and living space to stay busy this winter. Let’s look at just a few ways you can ‘winterize’ your building.
1. Insulation
As we’ve mentioned, insulation is one of the most effective ways of maintaining an even ambient temperature all year round. By adding it to the interior frame of your structure, your building will naturally stay warmer during the winter and cooler in the summer. There are several types of insulation available.
• Radiant Barrier Insulation
This type of insulation consists of material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it. But in addition to keeping your building cooler, its sealing quality will allow your building to conserve heat.
• Spray Foam Insulation
This type of insulation is sprayed along the interior paneling of your structure, where it works to trap heat, reduce noise, and seal off any cracks where heat may be lost.
2. Winterize Your Metal Workshop
If your structure has plumbing, sub-freezing temperatures can cause pipes to burst, resulting in significant damage. To prevent this, you’ll want to ensure it’s appropriately winterized with pipe insulation. This will require closed-cell foam tubes that fit around your pipes.
3. Pay Attention to Building Location
If you’re building a new structure, you’ll want to pay special attention to how it’s placed. Structures with facades that face the sun will maintain a higher ambient temperature. Additionally, having a shorter roof height can help minimize heating costs.
4. Seal Windows, Corners
Despite the precise engineering that makes metal structures some of the most energy-efficient buildings on the market, small gaps between the construction still allow heat to dissipate needlessly. You can minimize this heat loss by sealing all window edges and corners with caulk or sealing compound.
5. Install a Heater
There’s no better way to make your building comfortable than a heater. This can be achieved in several ways:
• Radiant Heater
A radiant heater will quickly heat smaller spaces, ensuring you’re always cozy in your building, workshop, or home office.
• Electric Space Heater
Another great way to heat your building during the colder months is with an electric heater. Although this may not be as cost-effective as other methods, it’ll keep you warm during the coldest chills!
• HVAC System
If you have the proper infrastructure, an HVAC system is the most efficient way to heat and cool your metal garage.
6. Your Building’s Color
Another way to ensure your building is fully prepped for winter is a coat of paint. Structures with darker paint schemes can better conserve radiant heat from the sun, while lighter colors reflect this heat. Choosing the right color for your structure can significantly affect its warmth.
The Benefits of a Steel Building During the Winter
There are many advantages to owning a steel building of any kind. They’re strong, durable, and capable of being customized in many different ways. But let’s take a look at a few ways these structures benefit you during the coldest parts of winter.
1. Prevents Pests
When the weather outside turns cold, creepy crawlies try to make their way indoors. For traditional structures, rodents, insects, and spiders can be especially troublesome. However, steel buildings won’t provide these animals with any source of food or bedding, effectively preventing them from setting up shop in your structure.
2. Excellent Energy Efficiency
A metal building is one of the most energy-efficient construction types when properly insulated. They’ll keep your energy costs low and your building warm during the coldest months.
3. Reduces Moisture
In addition to promoting an even internal temperature, a properly insulated building is very effective at minimizing interior moisture. That way, you won’t ever have to worry about your items being at risk of moisture damage or mold.
4. Prevents Storm Damage
High winds and violent storms can be devastating for some structures. Luckily, metal buildings are engineered to stand up against intense winds, storms, hail, and even fires, making them highly effective for almost any environment or climate.
5. Extends the Life of Valuables
There’s no better way to ensure that your vehicles, equipment, and valuables remain safe than with a metal building. By keeping your cars in a metal garage, you can significantly extend the life of their paint jobs and components.
DIYer? Here’s What You’ll Need to Know If You’re Building a Garage Using a Kit This Winter
If you possess the DIY spirit, a metal garage kit is a highly effective way to take on a project and minimize installation costs. These kits come with everything you’d find in a traditional metal garage, except you perform the installation yourself. However, constructing a building isn’t as easy as grabbing your toolbox and rolling up your sleeves. You’ll need to know some essential things to get the most out of your structure.
1. Develop a Budget
Every construction project will need a budget. This budget will allow you to plan for any extra expenses you may encounter and will keep you financially on track throughout your build.
2. Pour Your Foundation Before the Freeze
Concrete will set better at moderate temperatures, so laying your foundation early in the fall will be much easier than in the dead of winter. You’ll also want to ensure your concrete foundation is fully cured before the installation of your building.
3. Plan Your Build Schedule
As with many construction projects, unexpected events and challenges often delay the completion of a structure. As such, you’ll want to pad out your schedule and plan for any unforeseen circumstances that may obstruct the construction process.
4. Take Advantage of the Weather
Like installing your foundation early, warmer weather makes construction more manageable and palatable. Therefore, you’ll want to complete as much of your installation as possible while the weather is in your favor.
5. Maintain Safe Habits
Staying safe on the construction site can be challenging. But taking the time to plan and implement your moves safely will ensure that everyone remains secure throughout the construction process.
AA Metal Buildings Has the Perfect Metal Garage for You
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a steel garage or a metal building kit; AA Metal Buildings delivers quality products and exceptional customer service for every customer. Our buildings are designed and engineered with modern manufacturing techniques, built to provide an unparalleled level of strength and longevity for customers all around the country.
In addition to delivering an excellent metal garage price for every customer, we’re proud to offer flexible financing options that give you the power to own a metal garage no matter your budget.
So, if you’re ready to finish your metal garage, workshop, or home office space before winter sets in, give us a call today at +1 (877) 244-4470! Our dedicated building specialists will be happy to help you design and customize a steel structure for your specific needs!
