Generally, people envision more industrial-looking buildings or barns when they think of post-frame buildings. Post-frame construction is commonly misperceived as being primarily used for agricultural structures. Rather you can use them for any tall structure, towers, basements, warehouses, and many more similar buildings.
What you may not realize is that post-frame structures are also ideal for a variety of commercial facilities. Acquiring the services of post-frame building contractors to design efficient post-frame building styles is the next best step to take.
Here are some advantages of post-frame buildings.
Flexibility In Design
They have a flexible and highly adaptable interior design. The roof of a stud wall building is typically supported by the walls built throughout the structure. If you want to demolish a wall, you must consider how it will affect the structural integrity of the entire structure.
Post-frame structures with clear-span trusses do not require additional roof support structures from wall to wall. Want to add or remove a wall for a new interior design? Go right ahead.
Use Less Energy Than Steel Construction
Steel framing conducts heat and cold, causing temperature fluctuations that increase your heating and cooling costs.
Because post-frame structures do not have exterior steel framing, they have higher-quality insulation values on the exterior walls and ceilings. Plus, with all of the other costs associated with running a commercial business, saving money on your energy bill will be a welcome relief.
Less Costly Than Architecturally Designed Structures
Architects are expensive and they cannot design a building as efficiently or affordably as a post-frame construction company. Working directly with a post-frame construction company allows you to avoid paying an architect fee and often results in a lower cost per square foot.
A post-frame building system does not require as many load-bearing walls. This means lower material costs, less time spent framing and building, and lower labour costs.
Professional post-frame building designers can design and engineer for structural integrity, but it's up to contractors and construction crews to make it a reality.
Infinite Options For Exterior Finishing
Most people associate post-frame construction with steel. However, steel is only one option for the exterior of a post-frame building. Indeed, post-frame structures can be finished with a mixture of materials such as brick, plaster, wood and concrete.
As long as your design does not exceed two stories, post-frame construction may be able to meet your needs. Here are some examples of commercial structures that are built with a post-frame design:
- Manufacturing – including warehouses and industrial buildings
- Retail – ranging from strip malls to convenience stores
- Municipal – including fire stations, offices, multi-purpose structures, and bus garages
Cost-Effective Heating And Cooling
Post-frame buildings are less expensive to insulate and do not suffer from thermal bridging. Another advantage of post-frame construction is the considerable space between the columns on the walls. These spans enable continuous blankets of fiberglass insulation, resulting in less thermal leakage.
Did you know that wood has natural insulating qualities, contrary to steel frames, which easily transfer heat and cold? That is correct. As a result, post-frame buildings are more energy efficient than steel-frame buildings. Steel frames, on the other hand, are inherently inefficient in terms of energy efficiency.
Steel conducts heat 300 to 400 times faster than wood, reducing wall insulation's insulating properties by 60%. This is known as thermal bridging, and it occurs when the heat takes the most conductive path out of your building.
They Are Compatible With Large Access Routes
Post-frame structures work well with large openings in the wall, such as massive hydraulic doors. This is especially important if large equipment needs to be moved in and out of the structure, as common in warehouses.
The reason for this is due to the column and truss design, which does not rely as heavily on the walls for reinforcement as a stud-wall construction building does.
They Are Compatible With Building Finishings
Any good commercial structure will have an HVAC system, plumbing, electrical wiring, and drywall or other internal wall materials. Post-frame frames are compatible with all of these critical components.
Floor Plans With Many Functionalities
Who says a structure can only be one thing? Post-frame buildings can serve as barns, storage sheds, workshops, and even homes—and in some cases, they can serve as more than one of these functions at the same time.
As the posts are the only necessary part of the interior of a post-frame building, it can be as open as you like, and as much as walls, stalls, lofts and stairs can be added for extra functionality.
A post-frame building is essentially a blank canvas that can be transformed into whatever you desire.
Conclusion
Your options are not limited to steel-frame and stud-based commercial building designs. Using a post-frame structure can provide you with more flexibility and cost savings than other designs, all while maintaining a customizable, sleek, and appealing appearance.
If you're looking for a building that provides design freedom with a flexible layout at a low cost, a post-frame building is hard to beat. An experienced team can make the process of planning your new building as comfortable and seamless as possible.
0
