Featured Content

As wildfires rage across the American West, hurricanes intensify in the Southeast, and insurance markets tighten nationwide, the demand for fire-resilient, climate-ready buildings is no longer theoretical—it's urgent. What was once seen as rare or exceptional is now becoming the new norm, both in the U.S. and globally. In the metal construction sector, leaders are taking note and taking action.

Whiting, IN — Most metal suppliers are middlemen.You place an order, they check with someone else. Then you wait. Sure they sell metal, but they don’t serve your business the same way. Some disappear until there’s a problem. Others know how to step in with real support, respond when plans change, and keep your project moving before delays ever hit. That’s what separates a service center from a supplier. At East Lake Metals, being a service center means more than just stocking coils. It means having the right outside team ready to help your jobs stay on schedule, remain stocked, and avoid headaches during the ordering process.

Boulder, CO - Building a new structure, whether for residential, agricultural, or commercial use, comes with endless decisions. One of the biggest? Choosing the right materials. While wood has long been a trusted favorite in construction, metal buildings have become an increasingly popular option. But choosing metal doesn’t mean abandoning traditional methods—it’s about finding the best solution for your specific project needs.

Sheffield Village, OH - Real wood siding gives home and building owners that authentic, unique natural look they may be looking for, but it also comes with problems, like fire hazards, rotting, pest infestation, and mold. One way to get the look of wood without the drawbacks is with wood grain metal panels, like those soon to be available from Sheffield Metals. So how do you help architects and building owners find that natural look while also using functional materials that will last? One popular alternative in recent years has been metal that looks like wood. These are panels that are coated to look like real wood – and the technology has only improved so that now some panels are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

Delray Beach, FL - Selecting the appropriate framing style is one of the foundational steps in designing a durable and functional metal building. The choice of framing directly affects a structure’s integrity, usability, and overall cost-efficiency. Key factors influencing the selection of the best framing style include building size, intended purpose, budget, and local environmental conditions. Understanding these variables enables future building owners to make informed decisions tailored to their specific needs. MBMI Metal Buildings is committed to providing expert guidance throughout this decision-making process, ensuring that its customers select the ideal framing style for their unique projects.

Portland, OR - Sustainability starts at home with every improvement decision homeowners make. That’s the timely message from the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) during Earth Day month, which also happens to coincide with the start of the busy spring re-roofing season. For homeowners looking to increase their sustainability, now is an ideal time to separate the facts from the myths about how the roof they choose may impact the planet.

Lutz, FL - Metal roofs move. Expansion and contraction caused by temperature change, as well as loads caused by snow and wind, create engineering issues that need to be solved when installing a metal-over-metal retrofit system. The patented Model T from Roof Hugger has a field bend-out bracket that fastens to the existing roof ribs and helps resist the drag loads caused by snow, wind or thermal expansion.

Boulder, CO - The “good old days” were great for many reasons, but maybe not so good regarding paper bidding. Construction bidding software has been helping contractors streamline the bidding process, create more accurate bids, and improve efficiency in recent years. Bidding software offers a range of advantages that ultimately help construction companies compete more effectively in the market.

Aurora, CO - Owning a portable rollforming machine can open new revenue streams and upgrade the quality of your metal roofing, siding, or seamless gutter business. However, these machines aren’t just “plug and play”. Portable rollformers require proper setup, operation, and maintenance. Training can help you and your team get the most value from your machine, minimize downtime, and produce consistently high-quality metal panels or gutters.

Delray Beach, FL - Metal buildings are increasingly favored for their durability, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. However, certain projects present unique challenges that demand specialized expertise, and that's where the metal building experts at MBMI Metal Buildings can help.

Newton, MA — Navigating a turbulent economic landscape has become the order of the day for the metal construction industry. In a recent webinar hosted by METALCON Online, industry leaders came together to discuss the impacts of tariffs, supply chain disruptions and shifting market dynamics on the metal construction sector. With METALCON 2025 approaching, now is the time to engage in these critical discussions.

Whiting, IN — Not all metal roofing warranties are created equal. Plenty of companies slap a warranty on their product because it looks good in a brochure, but when you dig into the details, they’re full of exclusions, fine print, and loopholes. If your metal roof fails in the elements, too bad; the warranty probably doesn’t cover it.

Boulder, CO - SmartBuild construction bidding software is a revolutionary tool that simplifies the building design and bidding process for post-frame structures. This web-based software quickly generates a 3D model, material lists, pricing, proposals, and construction documents for almost any building.

Portland, OR - For years, asphalt has been the most widely used residential roofing material in the U.S. and Canada. Homeowners often turned to asphalt roofing as a cheaper, readily available commodity product that could be slapped on top of homes without much trouble or forethought. But as the Metal Roofing Alliance points out, residential roofing sectors in both countries may be on the verge of a seismic shift from asphalt to metal roofing.

Boulder, CO - Cost overrun is a dirty word in the construction industry, for good reason—it has the potential to derail a project. The majority of construction projects experience an average cost overrun of 28%. Identifying the root causes of excess expenditure can help projects succeed and thrive.

Houston, TX – For some roofers, winter means a lot of downtime, waiting until temperatures reach allowable levels for installing materials like asphalt shingles. That’s not the case with stone coated steel roofing, which can be installed in all winter conditions and in lower temperatures than traditional asphalt shingles. By following a few best practices, you can keep jobs moving all year long without worry.

Portland, OR – Is 2025 the year to replace the roof on your home? Prior to connecting with potential installers or contractors, it's important that homeowners take time to brush up on some basic re-roofing terminology. There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to a quality re-roofing project, so understanding the terms your installer may use is to your advantage.

Boulder, CO - In previous articles, SmartBuild Systems has shown how to create bids in just 15 minutes. This time, they dive into the details of one of the most important aspects of a construction project: creating accurate materials takeoffs.

Whiting, IN —From the first brainstorm of a blueprint to the final unveiling of a completed project, roofing plays a pivotal role in architectural success. It’s more than just a functional cover, defining a building’s character and ensuring its longevity. So, why settle for materials that fall short of expectations? Armored Coast is the roofing solution that architects can specify with confidence, trust for performance, and love for its design versatility.

Boulder, CO - SmartBuild Systems (SBS) - offering a complete design system for metal buildings, post-frame buildings, barndominiums, metal roofing and more - has a sister company, International Steel Framing (ISF). ISF specializes in selling roll forming machines, a crucial component in the manufacturing process of interior framing for construction projects. That's not all - the collaboration between SBS and ISF is remodeling the industry.