Shell Buildings
Easy To Customize Steel Shell Buildings
Every Quonset Hut building shell we sell can be customized to fit your exact needs. Our corrugated steel arch panels are self-supporting, acting as a durable protective shell for almost any building need.
Shell Building Applications
No matter what you’re looking for in a steel building, SteelMaster can create custom metal building shells that meet your needs and exceed your expectations. We work directly with our customers to plan, design, and price building shells and the customizations needed to turn them into the building of your choice. Our most popular shell buildings include:
Garage shell kits
Shell barndominium
Shell homes
Shed Shell
Shell barns
What is a shell building?
Shell buildings are curved structures that support loads through their shape instead of internal framework. At SteelMaster, we sometimes refer to the arches and/or exterior of our Quonset hut structures as a “shell.”
Just like a shell encloses and protects its interior, Quonset huts provide a protective enclosure for their contents. The entire structure acts as a single, unified shell that shelters the space inside.
Building Shell: The Benefits of Going Basic
Purchasing only the shell of a Quonset hut has several benefits that allow you to tailor your structure precisely to your needs and preferences while maintaining high quality and ease of use.
1. It's Cheaper
Purchasing only the essential shell structure means lower initial costs, making it an attractive option if you’re budget-conscious.
2. Ability to Expand
Starting with just the shell allows you to modify and expand your structure over time. You can begin with the basic shell and add features, accessories, and improvements as your needs evolve or your budget allows.
3. Local Sourcing
If you go the custom endwall route, you can source materials, potentially reducing shipping costs and supporting local businesses.
4. Adaptability
Different applications require different features. By purchasing just the building shell, you can adapt the base structure to your specific needs, making the Quonset hut an appealing solution for a variety of uses.
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Why Choose A Bolt-Together Prefab Steel Shell?
Corrugated prefab steel panels provide some of the strongest protection possible while meeting or beating traditional shell building requirements.
- Pricing: From material cost to construction cost, steel shell buildings are cheaper to plan and build than traditional wood or brick buildings.
- Ease of customization: Because the building’s arches provide structural support, you have 100% usable space to customize on the inside.
- Bolt-together construction: Built in days or weeks and not weeks and months, these DIY shell building kits can be constructed with no construction experience and a small team
Customize Your Shell
No matter the building’s application, every project starts with choosing a model, the size and if end walls or other customizations to the building are needed.
- Shell model: Choose between four different arch shapes.
- Sizes: Select the length, width and height needed for your building.
- Endwalls: If you choose to enclose the shell building, select the appropriate endwalls.
- Lighting: Use skylights and windows to brighten your shell building.
Shell Shape: Arch Model Type
Quonset models differ in the shape of the building shell with differences in the pitch of the roof and walls. This is an aesthetic, budget, and snow/wind load-based decision with each model offering different advantages.
Our most popular shell is the Model A, but the one right for you will depend on which of these three attributes matter most to you.
If your location doesn’t have major climate concerns, your choice in a building model can be based on sizing options and which shape you like the most.
Building Size
The total square footage of a building is one of the basic customization options.
Quonset huts allow you to easily expand your building by adding steel arches, making the total length of your building as long as you need it to be. The smallest width available for Quonset huts is 10 feet.
Doors
If you choose to enclose both sides of your Quonset building, you’ll want to add doors to access the building. You may choose custom door options or garage and service doors sold by SteelMaster that can be ordered with your building.
Endwalls
Enclosing each end of a Quonset hut is optional and can be done in many different ways.
SteelMaster has prefab steel endwalls that can be added to your building’s design and delivery for an additional cost, or you can use local materials to build a cost-effective endwall that matches your aesthetic.
Comfort & Climate Customizations
With buildings all around the world in a variety of climates, we’re experienced in designing building shells that can meet the needs of your area. This means engineering that can withstand natural disasters or be eco-friendly in design. SteelMaster also offers parts and accessories available to you as you’re shopping for a building.
Insulation To Keep You Cool Or Warm
Most of the buildings we sell do not require any insulation. However, if you plan to use your building for living quarters or need to protect its contents from harsh elements, you may opt for insulation.
Skylights To Let In Natural Light
Skylights allow sunlight to brighten the inside of your building without the added cost of electrical systems. Choosing to install skylights usually depends on the size of the building and its use.
Ventilation Systems To Bring In Fresh Air
Similar to skylights, ventilation is a popular choice for buildings for circulating air in and out of your building. Vents are often incorporated into endwalls but can also be installed on your roof.
Environmental Sustainability Modifications
SteelMaster doesn’t provide solar panels or water catchment systems; however, our building specialists will work with you to accommodate eco-friendly customizations. Popular sustainable modifications to Quonsets include:
- Solar panels
- Off-the-grid electrical systems
- Water catchment
- LEED-certified designs