Tips For Maintaining Your Metal Barn Building in The Texas Climate

The Lone Star state of the United States gets ample sunshine all year around. Clear skies and warm weather with incredible humidity take temperatures beyond 100 ℉. Tornadoes, thunderstorms, and wildfires are common phenomena in Texas. Keeping all of this in mind, we have prepared lists of tips and techniques that will help you maintain your steel building in Texas. Let’s dive in.

Tips To Maintain Metal Barn Buildings in Texas

1. Routine Inspection

Now, steel buildings are pretty robust and need less upkeep than any other counterpart. However, that does not mean you just leave your metal structure unattended. So, what you can do? Let’s see…

Check your steel structure for any damage or rusting on a quarterly basis. You can do it yourself if it is your metal garage, carport, or Barndo. For large buildings such as metal barns, you may get help from a professional. Hmm…so what if you spot a minor rusting?

First of all, don’t worry. You are going to need sandpaper to scrap off the rust from the affected area. Then, apply a coat of primer followed by the paint. And you are done. If you spot a large hole or huge amount of rusting, which is very unlikely, you would need to repair or replace that metal panel with a new one.

2. Clean It

Over time, dust and debris accumulate on the metal roof and side panels. It becomes essential to remove them as they may scratch the external paint or zinc coating. Moreover, the debris on the roof may end up increasing moisture content, which can lead to the development of mold & mildew. An unclean roof may attract birds for nesting.

Now, everyone who buys a metal building wants to avoid rusting and damage at all costs. One way to prevent it from happening in the first place is to clean your steel structure. As the famous quote says, prevention is better. So, how can you clean your steel structure?

It’s not that hard. You can clean it with a regular garden hose. Alternatively, you can use pressure washing at its lowest setting with mild detergent. Once cleaning is done, you can leave it to air dry.

3. Repair Minor Damage

As soon as you spot any damage, address it promptly. This will ensure that your metal building lasts long. Now, you may wonder, “What can a small hole possibly do?” You see, even though rusting does not spread, it is still a problem.

A small hole can expose the metal surface around it to the environment. This will lead to rusting. If not addressed sooner, the whole metal panel might get compromised and need a replacement. That will cost you money. So, fixing small holes, small rust, & minor damages leads to the prevention of large scale repair and replacement.

4. Insulation

The scorching heat of Texas can be daunting if you don’t have a properly regulated indoor temperature. A metal building with no insulation can lead to the formation of condensation. This will further promote moisture built up. And that’s not good for your building and wallet, for this insulation is the best option.

That’s not it! Texas does not have summers; it also has a rainy season and cold weather. So, what to do? An insulation acts like a barrier between your metal structure and external surroundings. Further, condensation & moisture may lead to corrosion.

Now, which insulator can you pick? Thankfully, there are multiple options to choose from according to R-value and your budget. Fiberglass insulation is the most affordable of all, with a varied range of R-values. You can also select the continuous insulation option.

If you care a little more about aesthetics and budget is not your concern, then you can opt for insulated metal panels (IMPs). Here, the insulation material is sandwiched by metal. You can even install a vapor retarder.

5. Vents

Texas weather can vary from January to December. So, to tackle the hot climate, you can install a ventilation system. You can opt for passive vents if your steel building is installed in an open surrounding. If not, active vents are your best bet.

You can even install a dehumidifier to control and regulate the moisture content in the air. Further, if nothing works, you can go for air conditioners. However, it should be your last option as it will increase your energy bills.

6. Use Sealant

Texas is blessed with a diversity of life. Every creature seeks shade from the deadly sun, from small rodents to deadly snakes. No matter how much you love nature, you don’t want any random animal under your couch or bed or in your garage. Hence, sealing all holes and cracks is essential for safety.

You can seal your doors, windows, corners, or any cracks that have developed. This will ensure that your insulator and vents are functioning correctly. It will also prevent any leakage of rainwater or melting snow.

The best part about a steel building is you don’t need to worry about termite colonies invading your frames or columns, nor do you have to worry about pest infestation.

7. Take Care of Roof

You need to maintain your Metal building roof adequately. You can opt for a vertical roofing style if you prefer less cleaning. It has ridges perpendicular to the ground, allowing dirt, water, and debris to slide off the roof easily.

To help with regular indoor temperatures, you can use a reflective roof. It works by redirecting most of the sunrays, keeping your indoors cool.

You can also use light colors on the roof, which will further aid the process of regulating indoor temperature. For colder weather, dark-colored roofs are recommended.

You can take it up a notch by installing solar panels on your roof. As metals are sturdy & retain their structural integrity over time, they will support solar roofs indefinitely. Solar panels and metal buildings are an eco-friendly combo made for each other.

In case you are worrying about the additional weight, you can talk to your metal dealer about it. Conversely, you can install innovative, flexible solar panels or opt for ‘peel & stick’ solar panels. They are lightweight & can be installed on steel roof panels.

With This in Mind

We can conclude that you don’t need to spend a lot of bucks or time on maintaining your steel buildings. All you need is a little awareness of how a metal structure works & you can easily take care of steel and handle the deal.

We further suggest that you always get your metal barn buildings in Texas from a reputed seller. By doing so, you can rest assured that you are getting high-quality material that will probably outlast you. So, beat the Texas heat with steel.