Archive for the ‘Commercial Construction’ Category

Climate-Controlled Self Storage Is Becoming More Popular

May 6th 2008

The average size of a self storage steel building is about 43,000 square feet. That is a lot of area to heat and cool, especially in an energy-efficient manner. There are a lot of people who end up costing themselves more money just because they simply do not know any better.

Regular steel self storage buildings only have a 2 inch vapor barrier that goes in the roof to prevent moisture and condensation from forming. Climate control storage buildings, on the other hand, have actual insulation to provide temperature control and better moisture control.

Some people will just put 6 inches of insulation in the roof and 3 or 4 inches in the walls. We like to recommend 6 inches in both the roof and the walls because it helps with energy efficiency. The small extra cost is worth it. It’s just like a house in that if you have less insulation than you need, your energy bill can really go higher than it needs to. Unlike in a regular mini storage, climate control self storage depends on airflow, and moving the airflow within the units.

Some folks actually run ducts into each unit, but this is rare and expensive. Self Storage buildings require 1,250 to 1,600 square feet per ton. But, in a very hot, humid area, you can save money by installing 1,750 to 2,000 square feet per ton to cool your building. You do need several returns and duct work down the hallway. Maybe put ducts in every third unit, if you want. We have even seen people do ceiling fans in the building down the hallway to increase circulation.

Also, to control your humidity you do not need to set your air conditioning for 72 degrees which causes the unit to cycle on and off with little effect on humidity. This is more expensive. Instead, run your air conditioning continuously to lower the humidity by up to 65 percent which is an ideal range for self-storage. Humidity needs to be kept below 60 percent to prevent mold and mildew.

Climate control storage costs about $1.00 to $1.50 more per square foot in terms of building costs, but it can also make you more money than regular self storage.

With a climate-controlled self storage building, you can charge more for rent in each of the units. And there are ways to build it without breaking the bank, though it depends on what area of the country you are in. Southern construction crews are generally cheaper, and if you buy your materials in the Midwest, the pricing is better per square foot. We can help in this area.

People all over America are choosing this industry as a lucrative business venture. You can read more about this on our web site.

As president of American Steel Buildings, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I know our success is due to competitive prices and customer service. We have been in business since the 80s and have made a lot of folks happy and prosperous.

Visit us at http://www.gosteelgo.com

We specialize in the Steel Self Storage industry. We have floor plans on our site for you to get started. Our sales staff will be more than happy to assist you in this area. Or you can fill out a free quote requests and we will deliver by your choice of communication.

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Work Underway for Dubai World Central Project

May 6th 2008

Construction is underway for one of the A-380 enabled CAT-III runways as part of the Dubai World Central project. DWC will be an urban aviation community spread over 140 square kilometers at Jebel Ali. Work on the 4.5km long runway will be completed by the end of this year. In addition, the first cargo and passenger terminals at JXB will be functional by the middle of next year.

Contracts were granted for the construction of 1.5 billion AED Dubai Logistics City (DLC) project. With this, Dubai will have world’s first multi-modal logistics platform that is fully integrated. The work on this project is scheduled to be completed by March 2009. In addition, two Central Utility Complexes are also under construction. These will cater to the cooling needs of the first phase of DWC. Out of these, one utility complex will serve DLC, while the other will cater to the airport area.

DLC will comprise of logistics headquarters, Office Park, Warehousing Area, Light Industrial Area, Forwarders Area and Staff Village. Spread across 25 square kilometers, DLC will manage air cargo of about 12 million tonnes at 16 cargo terminals per year. Located beyond the customs bonded area, the Office Park will have free zone operational advantages and an easy public access. Upon completion, the Office Park will have 18 office buildings.

According to HH Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DWC and Dubai Aviation Corporation, the aviation city will bring Dubai to the fore in the field of tourism, commerce and regional logistics. This will further promote Dubai’s status as a global business hub.

Jasdeep Kaur works as a property correspondent with Property Dubai.

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Green Technology and Trends In Home Construction

May 6th 2008

With the popularity of “green” products on the rise and the trend not looking to slow down anytime soon, construction products and building techniques that are friendly to the environment are seeing a rapid rise in sales. Let’s look at some of the green trends in construction:

From The Ground Up

Green practices can be incorporated from the very beginning of the building process. From the concrete. masonry, beams, doors, windows, mechanical and electrical systems, moisture and heat protection, finishes, appliances, pretty much for any aspect of building, there are green options and choices that can be made.

Flooring

There are many green types of flooring now available. Wood flooring made from wood that has been taken from old or disused buildings has gained more popularity, since this is a smart way to recycle. For new flooring products, green builders can now choose from green choices like cork, rubber and bamboo. New linoleum products are also now available that can be recycled and are less toxic than their predecessors.

Carpet

Carpets are now available that are recyclable, use little or no toxic materials in manufacturing and are also lower in cost. Carpet tiles are a very green choice and are extremely easy to install and replace.

Goals Of Green Building

The main goal of green building is not just to be more friendly to the environment, but also be a healthier place to live for the home’s occupants. In every aspect of a green home, non toxic or less toxic materials are employed. Green homes will also blend in better with their surroundings and use much less energy and water.

Advantages

There are many advantages to building and living in a green home. While there may be a bit more upfront cost, over the life of the home, the savings on energy costs alone would more than make up for any upfront costs. More cost savings will arise from energy efficiency, water efficiency, landscaping efficiency and materials efficiency. Also, for very sensitive homeowners, a green home will have used much less toxic or chemical based materials, making a green home much safer and healthier for the owner.

Green Remodeling Trends

Not only is green home construction a hot area, green remodeling has also come to the forefront. Existing homeowners can now incorporate green building practices and materials when they are remodeling their homes. For example, in a typical kitchen remodel, the appliances are all replaced. In the case of a green home remodel, the appliances would all be replaced with energy star efficient appliances. Thus saving energy and money at the same time. In the case of a bathroom remodel, simply replacing a toilet with a newer model toilet will save several gallons of water for each flush, which adds up to a significant water savings over time.

Whether you choose to use green practices to build or remodel for cost savings or environmental reasons, it’s certain that green building is a trend that will only continue to grow.

Lydia Quinn writes for Brandon’s Safety Lights, a leading provider of barricade lights and construction safety lights. Visit us at: http://www.brandonsafetylights.com/

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The Impact Of Heat On Metal Buildings

May 6th 2008

Many developers are increasingly choosing to construct their buildings out of metal for various reasons. Metal buildings are stronger and less vulnerable to the ravages of time and weather. Because metal is inorganic, the owner does not have to worry about the structural supports of the building being damaged by termites, mold, rot, or fungi. Using metal to construct the building also lessens the risk that the building will become warped during construction, allowing the building to be built with right angles and ensuring that all of the windows and doors in the building will open and close properly for the life of the building. One feature that has many individuals clamoring for a metal building is the building’s ability to withstand the impact of heat.

A metal building is better able to withstand the intense heat of a fire or explosion better than many other types of building materials. This is because the metal has a burning or melting point that is much higher than building materials such as wood. It is also an inorganic substance, so the fire cannot feed off of the metal like it would be able to off of organic building materials. It is very difficult for a fire to reach the temperatures needed to severely damage or destroy the structural supports of a metal building to the point where the building would collapse. On the other hand, buildings made out of wood or other organic materials actually feed a fire and help it to race through the structure, destroying everything in its path.

Metal buildings typically use a highly heat resistant metal such as steel for the building frame, structural supports, interior columns, and included in the slabs used to form the building for added support. This makes the most vital areas of the building extremely heat resistant and lessens the possibility that the structural stability of the building will fail in the event of a fire. In fact, a typical building fire would not generate nearly enough heat for the structural features of the building to be greatly damaged in any way, even though the walls and furnishings of the building may be completely destroyed. There are very few things that can damage a metal building to the point of structural failure.

Many individuals choose to construct buildings out of metal because it is very rare that the entire building will need to be replaced because of damage. Walls and furnishings can be replaced easily and usually within a matter of weeks, but individuals that have constructed a metal building typically will not have to worry about replacing the entire building due to some unforeseen event. Metal buildings not only have the ability to withstand the heat of a fire, but can also withstand small explosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tornados. All of these natural and man-made disasters can cause a great deal of damage to the building and its contents, but the building will not be destroyed. In many cases, it is mainly the metal buildings that are left standing after a disaster.

Future Steel manufactures self-supporting and pre-engineered metal buildings. Our metal building kits are tailored towards commercial applications and are easy to assemble.

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The Most Popular Buildings, Bridges, Structures Around The World

May 6th 2008

There are hundreds of thousands of buildings, bridges, and structures that have been built in numerous locations around the world. Each one serves a specific purpose, whether allowing people to travel from one place to another or providing a place for individuals to live, work, or play. Out of all of the building, bridges, and structures in the world, only a few have the distinction of being the most popular ones in the world.

There are many reasons why a building, bridge, or structure may be designated as one of the most popular of their kind. One common reason may be that the appearance of the item attracts a large number of individuals to view it. Whether the item is considered beautiful or just unique, many individuals will flock to view it and take pictures to document that they were there. The appearance of the item may also cause it to be documented in a variety of different mediums, including movies, books, and postcards.

One of the most popular buildings in the world is the Empire State building, located in New York City, New York in the United States of America. This building is the largest building in a city full of large buildings and has helped define the New York City skyline since 1931. Considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, the Empire State Building is nearly 1,500 feet high and has 102 floors. The observation deck, located on the 86th floor of the building, has been visited by more than 110 million individuals.

Another one of the most popular buildings in the world is the Notre Dame de Paris, located in Paris, France. This cathedral has been immortalized in numerous films, plays, and literature and is considered the most familiar cathedral in the world. The features of the cathedral make this building a classic example of French Gothic architecture and the building took nearly 200 years to complete, beginning in 1160 and finished in 1345. It is estimated that more than 12 million individuals visit the Notre Dame de Paris each year.

One of the popular bridges in the world is the Millau Viaduct, located in southern France. The bridge is considered the highest vehicular bridge in the world, spanning the valley of the River Tarn at a maximum height of 1,125 feet at its highest point. Dedicated in 2004, the construction of the bridge has broken three world records; highest road bridge deck in the world, highest mast in the world, and highest pylons in the world. The bridge also has the designation of having the longest cable-stayed deck in the world.

One of the most popular structures in the world is the Great Wall of China, considered the world’s longest man building structure made structure and is also the largest man-made structure when considering mass and surface area. In fact, the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that is visible from space. The Great Wall stretches over 4,000 miles, stretching from the city of Shanhaiguan in the eastern portion of the country to the city of Lop Nur in the western portion of the country. Because the construction of the Great Wall began before bricks became widely used, the entire length of the Great Wall was constructed of wood, stones, and earth.

Future Steel Buildings offers self-supporting, pre-engineered metal buildings. Our metal building kits are tailored towards commercial applications.

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Commercial Construction Financing - What’s In A Good Construction Loan Package?

May 5th 2008

As a commercial mortgage broker I converse with aspiring commercial developers on a daily basis. Often times I am surprised by their lack of specific knowledge as to what it takes for a commercial construction project to obtain financing. This article will discuss what should be included in a good loan submission package for a commercial development project.

The last thing you want to happen to your financing proposal is have it land on the bottom of the pile on a bank loan officer’s desk. Every loan package for a commercial construction project should contain a few essential elements or it will be ignored, or even denied.

The first element of a good commercial construction loan package is the executive summary. The executive summary describes the project in paragraph form and it describes the project, location and general strengths of the deal.

The second essential ingredient to a loan package is the detailed resumes of the project principles and the general contractor if he is not already a principle. The resume should include a detailed list of actual projects completed. Specific experience is a key component of the loan package.

Pro-forma projections on the project and the net income expected are required. A detailed cost breakdown and analysis should also be included. Information on the property-demographics, absorption studies, marketing and management plans, etc should all be included. The more detailed the information the better.

A personal financial statement for all partners, the general contractor and all business partners for the last three years is required.

Information should be provided on all pre-sales along with proof of the pre-sales. Banks and lenders like to see at least 50% of the project pre-sold.

The three most important ingredients in a commercial development loans are money, experience, and pre-sales. You need to have 2 of the 3 to have a shot. You need all 3 to be assured.

Most of these deals fall down in the financials and the pre-sales. And upon digging, often lack of experience shows up as well. The minimum you need to get a quote is the executive summary and the pro-forma. The rest is needed to submit.

If you are new to investing in commercial apartment buildings I highly recommend you read my e-course, “Buy Your First Apartment Building E-Course”. This course not only gives you all of the in-depth information that you need to purchase your first apartment building but it also gives you all of the interactive forms that you will need to figure out the cash flow and expenses. This course will actually teach you exactly how to determine if your apartment building will be a profitable investment. You will also get access to the names and phone numbers of 25 banks nationwide who specialize in commercial lending on apartment buildings. Visit http://www.ApartmentBuildingInvestor.com to learn more.

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Scope for Group Housing Project in Haryana

May 5th 2008

Haryana is one of the most rapidly developing States of India’s its growth rate ( 8.6 % ) is exceeding the national average growth rate. It is commanding the second highest per capita income ( Rs. 26, 632 ) in the country. About 91 percent of its population is living above poverty line.

These towns / urban agglomerations are accommodating more than 78 percent of total urban population of the state. Haryana has the privilege of it’s better location as it’s one third part is covered under the National Capital Region ( NCR ) which is the biggest employment center of Northern India. Scarcity of houses / flats is the main problem of all urban centers located within this region. The following map describes the area covered under National Capital Region.

Multi National Companies of the World are preferring NCR for the setting up of their business. There is a great demand for flats from the highly paid professionals, Managers, Engineers and other workers of the Multi National Companies which give the facility of loan on easy terms to their employees.The Group Housing culture has already been developed at Gurgaon, Faridabad and Panchkula. This culture is further trickling down to other District headquarters of the State specially the district headquarters having population of more than 1 lac persons.

In order to regulate the ownership of common facilities of group housing projects, the Haryana Govt. has enacted the Haryana Apartment Act, 1983.In addition, for the purpose of ensuring planned development, the Haryana Govt. has formulated planning norms and have also laid down procedures for colony licences for Group Housing Projects under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975 and the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963.

Due to availability of well settled statutory provisions for the development of Group Housing colonies, a good environment is prevailing in Haryana State for obtaining licenses for the said projects. For understanding the rest of the points related to selection of group housing sites, group housing parameters, documents required for submission of license applications, license fees, conversion / development charges and procedure for obtaining licenses etc. study of “Haryana Town Planning Guide” along with related Developent Plans which are available at this site is recommended.

Vinay Choubey
SEO Manager
For more details on Group Housing project in Haryana visit http://www.townplanning.in

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Renovating A Commercial Property

May 5th 2008

Commercial real estate investing, just like residential real estate investing, has a strong renovate and sell component to the overall calculus of profit and loss. Many commercial real estate investors see properties they hold solely in the context of the revenue stream generated every month, rather than as an asset that can be improved over time. In the current competitive commercial real estate marketplace, this could have you falling behind the curve on getting your maximum return on investment.

There are several good reasons to renovate commercial real estate. Renovate your current property to greatly improve the re-sale value. Buy another cheap property in a good area. Then renovate it for future resale. Consider subdividing your property into smaller offices and retail spaces to increase the number of tenants and therefore, the amount of rent collected. Or, simply command higher rents for premium facilities. All of this is about improving the attractiveness of the property for tenants and potential buyers, making it easy to get a solid return on your investment.

As with all real estate investing, you need to determine if your strategy is to buy-and-flip or to buy-hold-and-lease. In particular, if you’re planning on hosting your own office in the facilities, buying and leasing makes a fair amount of sense; on top of this, there are tax incentives available for commercial real estate held for seven years or more, to help fund and encourage renovation work. This is all part of the process of encouraging businesses to remain in communities, and foster a good employment market.

Once you’ve chosen to renovate, for any, or several, of the reasons above, the question becomes “what sort of renovations will return the best value for the money invested.” If your property under renovation has tenants, they’re the first people to ask. If it’s just been vacated by a tenant, it’s also a good time to ask what sort of renovations and remodeling would be desired. Typical renovations that are worth doing include checking the plumbing, adding conferencing space and making the foyer more open and airy. All of these renovations will help you qualify for the tax relief programs being offered for long term commercial real estate holders.

If you don’t have any tenants, the renovations possible are much more extensive - you aren’t disrupting someone’s business workflow while you undergo the renovation process. Consider green renovations first. These can be as simple as replacing the windows with triple glazed thermal protection windows to a panoply of more extensive changes, like elevators that capture electricity when they descend, using regenerative breaking. If you’re looking to sell the building, using recycled materials in a renovation can greatly improve your ability to sell it, particularly to younger business owners who consider green buildings to be a mark of prestige, or a moral obligation.

While it’s possible to sink more money into green renovations than the property is worth, there are several things to seriously consider. The three most common include solar collectors on the roof, rainwater collectors that can be used for the toilets and other gray water facilities, and using a solar wall with black piping to let the sunlight do part of the hot water heating for the building. Regrettably, much of the furor about making green housing pay for itself in reduced utility bills boils down to poor math. Most businesses will spend more on green features than they’ll earn back over the expected time they’ll remain in the business at foreseeable energy prices. What you’re doing when you do these sorts of capital investments in your property is staking a fiscal position that the price of energy is going to rise in the near future, and that you’re improving the resale value of your facility. This isn’t to say they aren’t worthwhile - a lot of the green innovations in building construction make the building more habitable, and they do reduce the costs of operation. The unquantifiable benefit is the price value of reduced environmental impact.

The hazards of renovation include the usual hazards involved in any sort of construction endeavor. Contractors can run late, or run over budget, or both. You can have renovations that result in disasters. When looking to do renovations, take the time to interview your contractors carefully. Work through the entire process with them, and set up metrics for what needs to be done as well as when it needs to be done. Work with your contractors as closely as you can afford to, without joggling their elbows or “backseat driving” the job.

Above all else, make plans and stick with them - renovations are big projects and big projects more than anything have a tendency to take longer and go over budget, as the final specification becomes more and more of a moving target.

If you’re going to be building a new facility on a lot, you’re likely going beyond the bounds of renovation. That being said, there are several options that are easier to facilitate into a new building, than into an existing one. Among them are baseline water heaters (which heat and cool rooms by running water through pipes under the floor), energy capture facilities like solar arrays integrated into south facing walls, a property designed heating and cooling system with an energy star compliant ventilation system, and proper insulation.

Make your renovation budget work in your favor to increase the value of your property. The capital outlay now will give a substantial return on the investment, either as a flip, or through increased leasing revenues.

Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

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Which Buildings Can Stand Earthquakes Better, Metal Or Concrete Buildings?

May 5th 2008

In many areas of the country, it is important to construct the buildings in the area to stand damage from earthquakes. Because most earthquakes are unexpected, the building’s developer cannot depend on an early warning system to prevent harm to the individuals inside the building in the event of an earthquake. The building has to be able to withstand an earthquake that can occur at any time. For this reason, many researchers have compiled mounds of information on the best way to construct a building to stand earthquakes.

Most commercial structures that are built today are comprised out of either concrete or metal. These are the two most popular materials to construct commercial structures out of because of the numerous advantages of using these materials. Both materials are extremely strong and durable, creating a structure that will be sound for a very long period of time. Both materials are inorganic which makes them invulnerable to rot, fungi, termites, and mold. The materials do not break down as easily as some other types of building materials may. But when it comes to standing earthquakes, which material is better; concrete or metal?

Although this may be surprising to many individuals, the answer is metal. Buildings that are designed to stand earthquakes are designed to be flexible and move without breaking. The unyielding nature of concrete means that the building may crack and collapse on its foundation if it is hit with a sizable earthquake. However, metal can be formed to flex and bend without breaking to allow the metal building to sway with the movement of the earthquake, thereby reducing the stress on the building and helping the building to remain solid. By using metal supports in the building, the developer can greatly improve the chances of the building standing an earthquake.

There are several different types of metal that can be used to improve a building’s chances of coming through a strong earthquake unscathed. The most common type of building material used today is steel or steel rebar. Steel is extremely strong as a building material but also has the ability to flex and stretch far beyond what many individuals would expect. By using steel for the supports of the building, the developer lessens the chances that the frame of the steel building will crack or collapse under stress. Although the strength of the earthquake may visibly deform the building, the frame of the building will stand greatly lessening the number of injuries that will occur inside the building as a result of the earthquake.

Many buildings that are built to withstand earthquakes today are vastly different than the buildings built by previous generations. Besides using steel in the construction of the buildings, the building now typically have numerous supports located on the first floor of the building. Previously, the first floor of the building was very open while the higher levels had more walls, frames, and supports. Researchers found that during an earthquake, the bottom floor typically collapsed, ruining the rest of the structure. By adding more support to the bottom floor, the developers lessened the risk that it would collapse damaging the floors above.

Future Steel Buildings manufactures steel and metal buildings. It has a wide selection of steel building kits and pre-fabricated buildings that will exceed your expectations.

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General Steel and the Cost Benefits of Steel Buildings

May 5th 2008

The cost-economies help of a pre-fabricated broad Steel structure can offer inclusive economies of time and money when compared to conventionally built structures of related volume. Whether you vital a small garage or a large warehousing overhaul broad Steel can originate and reserve you with a structure that will accept you money primarily and through many days of overhaul.

A key original tread in forecast your steel structure pitch is to exchange with a solitary supplier. Broad Steel can offer you with a pre-fabricated steel structure that can be quite originated and rigged through our crowd exclusively. We assign a pitch coordinator to your structure from the leave of your pitch through completion to answer and address any issues that may happen. The pitch coordinator is offered at no additional control to our honest customers and will also offer structure documentation such as attach bolt patterns, construction devices, and wheedle licensed drawings. This precludes the vital for additional documentation fees and annoying to manage sending schedules of structure resources from different suppliers. Your pitch coordinator is also unfilled to consult with your contractor or founder if you so implore. Your pitch coordinator is a solitary thrust of commerce in our crowd who will offer vital and accurate communication to you throughout the life of your broad Steel structure pitch.

At broad Steel we employ notebook technology to design strict originates, calibrations, and devices. The steel structure resources are then pre-cut, pre-drilled and pre-welded to obtain specifications at the factory. This helps to assure that all resources fit suitably and closely during meeting. This can allow your erector or contractor to perfect your pitch closer and incur fewer job place sweat outlay. No uncial overkill structure resources are shipped to help keep expenditures at a least.

Before we go a further, let’s take a moment to review what we have learned so far about this amazing subject.

Steel structures from broad Steel are adaptable in originate and simply expandable. Your structure will be custom originated to harmonize your obtain specifications and can be constructed at a part of the outlay that related volume more traditional structures would cost.

A broad Steel structure can be hurriedly erected. Our structure arrives at your pitch place inclined to be erected. The structure is then laid out, raised up and bolted together. This can cut outlay considerably when compared to more conventional structure construction outlay.

A steel structure from broad Steel is simply insulated to help keep energy custom outlay low. The steel panels on our structures overlap once assembled and the firm gear and connections help keep the basics out.

There is fewer maintenance vital on a broad Steel structure because the panels come with an aluminum compound coat to make the structure well strong to rust or rust.

Your indemnity outlay can be seriously abridged by investing in a steel structure from broad Steel. As steel is non-combustible the peril of scratch from fire is seriously abridged and can findings in drop premiums on your structure.

Broad Steel has been and will last to be successful in economy many of our customer’s time and money on their structure pitches.

What you have learned while reading this informative article is knowledge that you can keep with you for a lifetime.

Gino Vic writes for http://www.steelbuilded.com where you can find out more about Steel Building and other topics.

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