Choosing the Right Metal Building Location on your Lot

Metal Building Location – You may be moving on to the next stage of arranging the site of your metal building now that you’ve taken the plunge and committed to having one on your property. Choosing your metal building’s location is one that should be thoroughly addressed before making a final decision.

The selection of an ideal metal building location is a highly personal decision, but it is an essential one. It is critical to have a clear understanding of what you want and need before you begin your project in order to ensure its success. Following are some things to consider depending on how your building will be used:

• The location of the building
• Access to public utilities
• Requirements for zoning
• Problems with soil and water
• Customers and marketplaces
• Restrictions on deeds
• Views
• Suppliers as well as the supply chain
• Easy access to rail and roadways
• Requirements for future development
• Expenses associated with site development
• Expenses for acquisition and development
• Setbacks, wells, and septic systems
• Constructing on a sloping site
• Exposure to the wind and sun
• Abutting properties

Any one of these elements can make or break a metal building location appropriateness as a business location. The search for a suitable site is a difficult task. Therefore, consulting with professionals before purchasing or finalizing a property is a wise decision.

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Zoning

The first thing to examine when looking at a potential location is zoning. Zoning laws specify the permitted uses within defined sectors, the types of structures that can be built, such as residential or commercial structures, the size of a building, the density of structures, such as the number of buildings per acre, the floor-area to land-area ratio, and the amount of open space that must be provided. Before any more progress can be made on your project, you will most likely need to obtain zoning permission.

A zoning permit and a building permit are not the same things. A zoning permit is only valid for the land use and type of structure that you intend to construct on it. A construction permit is primarily concerned with the structure of the building. It ensures that the specifics of the structure you propose to create comply with all applicable safety and accessibility regulations. A zoning permit, as well as a building permit, are typically necessary.

Soil

The strength and stability of soils can vary greatly. In an ideal situation, the soil in your chosen area will have a variety of particle sizes, good chemistry, and be capable of absorbing water. Buildings will sink if the soil is too loose; if the soil is too hard, water will not absorb; if the soil is too acidic, building materials will corrode; and if the soil has too much clay, it will cause excessive shrinking and swelling, causing difficulties with your foundation.

Maps of the Soil

The good news is that only a few places have flawless soil, and much can be done to correct or control any problems that may present. By utilizing soil maps, your engineer may assist you in identifying solutions for your specific problems. Soil maps depict the slope of the land surface as well as its biological, chemical, and physical features, as well as the possibility of water runoff, drainage, and storage. Soil maps are available for download from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey site in the United States.

Testing the Soil

If there are no soil maps available for your location, soil testing can be done, and even if a map is available, soil testing may still be necessary. The foundation of the building, as well as any roadways, parking lots, walkways, or other load-bearing structures, will require soil borings (drilling deep into the soil and retrieving a plug for analysis) and additional soil testing. It is possible that inspectors will conduct another “open-hole” examination once the foundation excavation has begun. 

These tests are used by professionals to establish how much weight your soil can support and whether or not any treatment is necessary. Furthermore, they may evaluate the type and size of foundation that is required for your construction.

Groundwater testing is done on the site as part of the soil testing. The tester will check for water in the borehole at the time of drilling as well as 24 hours later to make sure there is none. It is possible that the presence or absence of water will determine whether or not sub-surface levels can be created in the buildings. In addition, some jurisdictions have set minimum distances between a foundation and the water table, which must be followed. If you’re too close to the property, you might not be able to construct there.

Septic Systems and Wells

If you will not be able to connect to the municipal water and/or sewer systems at your location, you will be required to install a well and/or a septic system on your property. Many rules regarding wells and septic systems are in place for the sake of public health and safety; thus, it is important to plan and test thoroughly in order to comply with them.

Septic

A septic system transports wastewater through a treatment tank before discharging it into a “leach field,” where it slowly percolates through the soil, rendering it harmless. If the soil drains too slowly, the system will back up; if the soil drains too quickly, the waste will reach the groundwater before it has had a chance to be properly cleaned.

The perc test and the deep hole test are two types of tests that can be used to establish whether or not your soil is sufficiently permeable to allow leaching to occur. Although a deep hole test may be performed first, many municipalities require perc testing. Check with your local officials to see if there are any unique regulations in your community. 

The lab will test for permeability and signs of seasonal high-water levels in the soil collected from the test site, regardless of how the test is conducted. It is possible that your region will require a separate test for high water levels.

Tests may also fail as a result of:

• Slopes that are too steep
• Land that has been reclaimed (Native soils are typically required.)
• Wetlands, floodplains, or other similar areas
• The drainage patterns on the site.

If your tests come back negative, some places may allow you to use certain cleanup techniques or alternative septic systems. If you are unable to find an alternative position, you will be unable to construct in that location.

Wells

A predicament similar to this one arises if you need to furnish your own water on the construction site.. In most cases, a separate permit is required for well drilling. Typically, the cost of drilling is determined by the depth at which water can be found. Drilling can become prohibitively expensive if the water table is located at a great distance from the surface of the earth. Aside from that, you may need to check many areas, and there is no guarantee that you will find water. 

For more information, consult with nearby landowners about the depths and locations of their wells. Maps of the local aquifer may be available to aid in the search. A knowledgeable well driller can provide you with advice on the finest techniques to follow in your particular area of the country.

According to the Zoning Ordinances, a minimum space must be maintained between the septic tank and leach field and any structures on the property such as buildings, property lines, water pipes, wells, or open water. Local governments have a great deal of latitude in defining these requirements and approving deviations. Be careful to incorporate your local government official in the planning process as soon as possible.

Services Provided by the Municipality

If your site has the ability to connect to existing water and sewer systems, none of the testing listed above will be needed. You should expect to pay “tapping” costs in addition to additional charges dependent on the length of pipe required to connect your building to the mains water and electricity. Connection rates to electrical, gas, and cable services will be the same as they are for telephone connections.

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Additional costs associated with site development

Building site development expenses can range from tens of thousands of dollars to several hundred thousand of dollars, depending on the complexity of the project. Among the many factors that might increase the cost of construction are utilities, wells, sewers, and soil tests. Consider the following items while selecting a building location and preparing your budget for construction:

• Surveys
• Paving: roads, driveways, and parking areas
• Septic system design and installation
• Sidewalks
• Well drilling, pumping, and connection to the building
• Groundwork: excavation, cut-and-fill, and grading
• Permits, fees, and inspections
• Landscaping
• Legal fees
• Impact fees
• And more

The assistance of a professional land developer or real estate agent can help guarantee that you evaluate all of the concerns and that you appropriately estimate the price of the project.

Setting the Structure in Its Proper Placement

Finally, you must be able to locate your new metal building on the site in a way that not only complies with all applicable building and zoning regulations but also suits your needs and appeals to your sense of aesthetic appeal. Your building’s placement on the land will impact how easy or difficult it is to reach, how visually appealing or visible it is from the road, and how much and what type of natural light it receives. 

These considerations have an impact on business traffic, advertising, tenant contentment, usability, and even the design of new buildings in some cases. Even more importantly, if your site is sloped, be certain that you can locate the building away from water drainage channels in order to assist reduce future water difficulties.

Walk around the property at various times of the day to get a sense of the terrain to aid in getting a feel for the metal building location. Drain pathways and erosion caused by rainwater should be avoided at all costs. Ideally, you want a grade of 10 percent or less, and you want to locate your building as close to the top as feasible. Water concerns might occur in lower-lying portions of a building’s footprint. Drive through it from various angles to get a sense of how accessible it is and how apparent the signs may be on the property. A professional architect may be able to provide assistance with these concerns.

Conclusion

It’s critical to choose the correct materials for your metal building construction, but it’s also critical to find the right location. To ensure the longevity of your constructed metal structure as well as your budget, choosing the proper site is critical.

Making the decision on metal building location might be a difficult undertaking. Successful project outcomes, however, are dependent on smart decisions being made here. The subject is sufficiently complex and significant that entire volumes have been written about it.  In other words, do your homework! 

As early in the process as feasible, consult with professionals such as real estate developers, government planning and zoning authorities, architects, and licensed engineers. Then you can take pleasure in your new structure for a long period.