We all know how crucial a foundation is when constructing a house, office, or garage. Most people focus on the material used to construct the building, but considering soil and weather conditions are equally important for impeccable installation. Adding a metal garage building to your property requires checking soil and weather conditions for a robust foundation.
Often, you spend more on customization and making a building aesthetically beautiful. But no matter how much you spend on aesthetics, if the soil is not perfect enough, it can’t withstand thousands of pounds of weight. Improper soil and weather reduce a building's longevity.
If you plan to buy a steel garage, do not make mistakes like others; put your best foot forward. Check the soil types and weather conditions to decide on a suitable location for your garage installation.
Let’s dive into the details.
How Do Soil Types Impact Steel Garage Installation?
The soil beneath the location where you want to install a metal garage can be of any type, so you need to inspect it to ensure a strong foundation. There are five main types of soil, but not all are suitable for all garage sizes. Understanding these soil types and their nature will help you find the right soil for your garage building.
Clay Soils: Clay soils have a high water-holding capacity because of the presence of fine particles. They are made of more than 30% fine clay particles. Clay feels sticky when wet; you can mold it into any shape. But when it gets dry, it can crust and crack easily. So, due to its propensity to expand and contract in moisture, it exerts high pressure on foundations, which is challenging to deal with.
Rock and Bed Rock Soils: Rock or Bedrock soils can provide a highly stable foundation for your steel structure. If you want to store heavy stuff inside the building, this soil type can be suitable for bearing heavy loads. Why this is so? A hard rock layer beneath the soil's surface provides stability to a building constructed on it.
However, excavating Bedrock soil leads to higher upfront costs because of its hardness; it takes time to reach the rock layer. If you are ready for initial expenses and long-term stability, Bedrock can be the choice.Peat Soils: Peat soils are generally not suitable for installing metal garage buildings. They are made of decomposed organic matter and have a high water content, which cannot offer great stability to a steel structure. Installing a building on peat soil is still possible, but it can impact your budget for a steel garage, as the process will require extra work, labor, and money.
Loam Soils: Loam is a balanced soil because it is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. The balanced proportion of these three factors provides good support and drainage. The soil doesn’t shift, expand, or contract when the moisture level changes, which is perfect for a steel garage foundation. However, you must still do soil conditioning before commencing metal garage installation. It will help you find other layers below the ground that might not suit a building foundation.
Silt Soils: Silt contains finer and smaller particles than clay, so it is similar to clay soil. It can contain a large amount of water but shrinks down when it dries out. However, this soil is not as sticky as clay when wet. It has the same issues, like expansion and contraction, that you noticed in the case of Clay. This nature of Silt soil can cause issues like instability and structural damage over time if you install a garage building on it.
If you live in an area where you have no option but to install the garage on Silt Soil, an expert consultation can help you make the area suitable for a garage.
Weather Conditions That Impact Your Steel Garage Installation
Often, high winds uproot garage structures if they are not constructed with weather conditions in mind. This can ruin the entire investment in a garage construction. So, if you have plans to install a metal garage building, also consider weather conditions along with soil types.
Strong Wind: High winds can topple the roof of a steel garage. They create uplift forces on building roofs and sheer forces on walls. A strong foundation is required to withstand high winds and hurricane-prone areas. Consider the wind load and talk to a metal garage dealer for the best solution.
Heavy Rain: Heavy rain can extend construction time. The slippery surface can make it difficult for laborers to assemble and transport all the steel components to the site. If not handled properly, it can cause rusting issues and damage the steel components even before the installation process begins.
Snowfall: Snowfall can stress the metal garage building. The accumulation of snow often leads to roof sagging, which can impact your building's appearance. If the building is not designed and constructed with this weather condition in mind, it can even lead to structural failure. You will need to add insulation to maintain the temperature inside the building.
Get Expert’s Guidance at Viking Metal Garages
There are many factors to consider when installing a steel building so that it will serve for decades. At Viking Metal Garages, our team of experienced professionals guides you through every step of the process. With years of expertise in designing and installing metal garages, we have the knowledge to work with various soil types, weather conditions, and unique site requirements. Talk to us at (704)-741-1587 to understand what can be done to install a strong metal garage building at your desired location.
