What Is a Red Iron Building?
Red Iron buildings are strong, steel-framed structures built to last. They get their name from the red oxide primer used to coat the steel—this protects it from rust and corrosion for decades. These are not “kits” or cheap carports. This is the real deal: industrial-strength steel built into a permanent structure on your land.
Why Red Iron?
- Durability: Built with I-beam steel for long spans and heavy loads
- Corrosion Protection: Red oxide primer keeps the steel safe from rust
- Custom Fit: Designed specifically for your needs—width, length, height, clear span, or with columns
- No On-Site Welding: Everything is pre-welded, pre-punched, and bolts together during construction
How a Red Iron Building Gets Installed (Step-by-Step)
We keep it simple. Here’s how the process works from start to finish:
1. Pick Your Building
- Decide what you’re building and how you’ll use it
- Set the width, length, height
- Choose open-span or interior columns
- Shell-only or full interior finish
2. Basic Drawings
- We create a simple layout for your local permitting office
3. Design & Budget
- Choose a floor plan and discuss your budget
- Decide on financing if needed
- Sign a letter of intent to move forward
4. We Handle the Heavy Lifting
- We coordinate with engineers, concrete teams, fabricators, and erectors—or manage the whole process for you
5. Renderings Delivered
- You get detailed renderings to review and confirm
6. Permits & Quotes
- We finalize the design, confirm engineering needs, and get quotes from all involved parties
7. Proposal & Payment Plan
- You receive a complete proposal with engineer drawings, timelines, and pricing
- We lay out the payment plan and lock in your approval
8. Documentation Sent Out
- All parties get the final specs, schedule, and terms
- Deposits are secured
9. Concrete Work
- Foundation is poured and prepped
10. Material Delivery
- All building components arrive at the job site
11. Construction Begins
- The structure goes up: steel frame, doors, windows, everything
12. Project Wraps Up
- Final touches done, interior if needed
- Your building is complete
Common Uses for Red Iron Buildings
Red Iron steel buildings are tough, adaptable, and built to handle whatever you throw at them. Here are a few real-world ways people use them:
Warehouse Facilities
- Open-span layouts allow forklift access and high-density shelving
- Easily customized for cold storage, inventory, or fulfillment operations
- Fast construction and low maintenance make it ideal for growing businesses
- Designed to meet local code for wind, snow, and fire protection
Sports Facilities
- Clear-span design gives you wide-open play space—no beams in the way
- Great for basketball courts, indoor soccer, wrestling gyms, or multi-sport complexes
- Add insulation, HVAC, and lighting to turn it into a year-round facility
- Customizable with locker rooms, restrooms, and mezzanines for seating
Livestock & Agricultural Buildings
- Perfect for protecting animals from extreme weather
- Use for horse barns, cattle shelters, or indoor arenas
- Easy to clean, ventilate, and configure with pens or feeding areas
- Strong enough to support fans, feeders, and water systems
What It’s Made Of
- Primary Framing: I-beam columns and rafters with welded clips—your building’s skeleton
- Secondary Framing:
- Girts: support wall panels
- Purlins: support the roof
- Eave Struts: sit where roof and wall meet for extra strength
- Wall Panels: 26-gauge PBR (Purlin Bearing Rib) panels with tight overlaps for better weather protection
- Roof Panels: Same strength, but with a Galvalume+ coating to fight the elements
- Trims & Gutters: Sculpted gutters and corrugated downspouts made from 26-gauge steel—keeps water out and looks sharp
- Weather Sealing:
- Fasteners with gaskets
- Foam closures, butyl tape, caulking
- Vapor barriers to prevent condensation
- Flashing to keep seams watertight
- Expansion allowances so metal moves without breaking seals