Agricultural Archives

Agricultural applications need building solutions that are durable, effective, cost-efficient and versatile, which is why MBCI’s high-quality metal building products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they will meet or exceed the aesthetic and structural requirements of any agricultural building initiative—from general farm facilities to barns, pole barns, sheds, horse stables, riding arenas, ranches, livestock stables, crop storage buildings, machinery storage and garages, animal shelters and more.

Why use metal panels on agricultural applications?

Metal is an excellent choice for agricultural applications because of its durability and longevity, ease of installation on new or existing buildings, its ability to provide a weathertight seal and its low maintenance requirements.

The lifespan of metal roofs and siding can be up to 60+ years. MBCI’s metal panels are built with high-quality material and are backed by some of the industry’s leading warranties. Durable and low-maintenance agricultural steel panels are a perfect fit for the demanding nature of farm and ranch buildings, offering resistance and strength under extreme temperatures, high winds, heavy snowfall, strong storms and other harsh weather conditions. In fact, during hot summers, metal panels can help keep your building cool and energy costs low, while in the winter they shed ice and water to prevent damage. Metal, indeed, has a distinct advantage in its ability withstand the elements and not rot or warp over time.

MBCI’s agricultural metal roof and wall panels are also sustainable—made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable at the end of the building’s life.

As far as design options go, you can choose from a variety of styles, profiles and colors for your metal barn siding, pole barn siding, metal shed roofing and more. Exposed fastener panels are the most commonly used on agricultural buildings because of their economical pricing and durability. MBCI offers up to 10 different exposed fastened panel profiles to choose from, depending on your preference and the region you’re in. Examples include: Rain Guard®, Perma-Clad®, WeatherSafe®, and Stormproof®, which can be used with DripStop technology to control condensation.

What to Consider

Once you’ve made the decision to use metal for your agricultural building, determining the particulars will depend on a number of factors. Here are some preliminary questions to consider.

Purpose: What are you using the building for? For instance, is it for equipment storage? Livestock? Is it a hobby building or a workshop?
Size: How much lot size do you have available?
Entry points: Where are your entry points? How big do the doors need to be? Do you need certain types of doors? For example, if the building is being used for equipment storage, what are you going to be moving in and out of there?
Aesthetics: What “look” are you trying to achieve?

Design Trends

As far as aesthetics, metal panels come in a multitude of colors (MBCI offer approximately 25 color options), so you have a lot of versatility with the color scheme for your agricultural project. Traditionally, what we see is a single color for the roof panels and then an alternate color on the walls, and the trim typically matches the roof panel. Another trend is a wainscot panel or a designer panel, which is basically a smaller strip around the base of the building to add an accent color. From there, many customers will wrap that with stone or masonry, too, to make it more decorative. Plus, with the merger of MBCI’s parent company with Ply Gem, our customers now have access to stone products as well.

Beyond Panels

Metal building options don’t end with roof and wall panels. To that point, MBCI prides itself on being a complete building envelope solution. If a steel frame building is your desire, then MBCI has that covered as well. From new construction to repair and remodel, MBCI offers a vast line of primary and secondary steel structural products and resources to meet the project’s needs. MBCI also partners with many great customers nationwide to offer componentized steel structures that can benefit any agricultural application.

Additionally, with the recent Ply Gem merger previously mentioned, MBCI is better positioned to give customers access to windows, walk doors, stone, and many other components needed to further enhance agricultural projects—all from a single source supplier.

Whether you need a complete structure, metal roof or wall panels, or simply components for a repair or addition, MBCI has the right products and accessories to meet any agricultural building requirement.

For information about MBCI’s agricultural metal building products and solutions, contact your local sales representative.

Metal building components have been in use ever since iron and steel became commonly available during the 1800s. However, coordinated metal building components as we know them today really got their start during the 1900s, with a lot of significant developments happening just in the past 40 years. Here’s a quick overview:

1970s:

During the 1970s, the emerging metal buildings industry was primarily focused on providing pre-engineered solutions for commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers, mostly in the range of 10,000-square-foot buildings or less. The use of lighter-weight, tapered-end steel sections and bolted end-plate connections was beginning to be developed for widespread use, based on industry research. The development of technology that allowed for new methods of steel fabrication created growth for existing companies and helped new ones to form, such as MBCI in 1976. The energy crisis of the time brought interest in creating better insulation solutions.

MBCI Lubbock, Texas Plant

1980s:

This was a period of growth along with the rest of the construction world. New plants and facilities were opening up in response to growing customer and market needs. New coating technologies were coming available that provided better corrosion resistance and allowed for more customers to consider using metal buildings. Technical research into wind loading for walls and wind uplift for roofs brought updated means and methods to address these critical structural engineering conditions.

1990s:

During this decade, the volume of metal buildings and tons of steel processed nearly doubled. More building types were being constructed out of metal building components as architects, engineers, and owners saw the flexibility, time savings, and cost efficiencies involved. Retail facilities, offices, even schools started to incorporate metal buildings and their components into their planning and construction. With this growth and expansion, technical issues such as snow loads and employee issues such as OSHA regulations were hot topics of research and focus.

Legacy Junior High School Featuring PBU Metal Panels

2000s:

With strong momentum and growing success around the country, the industry began to offer more-diverse product offerings and components. Insulated metal sandwich panels with both interior and exterior finishes became more common. New roofing finishes and appearances became available. Structural research into seismic effects on metal buildings was conducted in response to California earthquakes, and solutions were determined. Further work was done on energy performance of metal buildings in response to energy codes and customer requirements. Additional work was undertaken on updated engineering guidelines for tapered structural members and exterior wall and roof finishes and styles. This included the use of horizontal instead of vertical siding systems and smooth-surface solutions.

A Look at Today in the Metal Building Components Industry:

The metal building industry has clearly evolved and come a long way from somewhat humble beginnings. Today, full systems or components can be found in a wide range of buildings types, creating highly attractive solutions that are often not recognized as metal buildings. Continued industry research helps manufacturers provide high-quality products that meet the demands of the larger building industry. Continued collaboration and partnerships are helping to foster diversified product offerings and new market penetrations. Overall, the past 40 years or so have been just the beginning – the future of the industry looks strong, and prospects remain high for continued growth.

Tag: Agricultural

Benefits of Metal Panels For Agricultural Applications