Best Metal Building Upgrade

Written By Nick Rodriguez

Got a few more dollars to spend in your budget or want to make sure that you’re building stands out from the crowd? Upgrading your metal building can dramatically enhance performance, comfort, and long-term value. The “best” upgrades depend on your specific needs. This guide will help you select the optimal upgrades for your metal building across a few different categories:

  • Structural Upgrades

  • Durability Upgrades

  • Aesthetic (Curb Appeal) Upgrades

  • Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Structural Upgrades

Increasing Eave Height

  • Taller eaves make a building feel more spacious

  • Allows for lofts in barndos, additional vertical storage in warehouses, or installation of mezzanines in industrial applications

  • Building height cannot be easily increased in the future so optimizing for future building use is critical

  • Estimated upgrade cost - 1-3% increase per foot

Durability & Performance Upgrades

24ga Panels

  • 24ga panels are ~30% thicker than 26ga panels, improving dent/ding resistance

  • Common upgrade for roofs in hail-prone areas or panels in industrial settings

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $1-2 per building square foot

Galvanized Secondary Framing (Purlins and Girts)

  • Girts, purlins, and angle are the thinnest steel members on a building

  • Galvanizing these members increasing corrosion resistance and significantly improves building longevity, especially for items like base angle

  • Estimated upgrade cost - 2-5% increase in total building price

Standing Seam Roof System

  • Greater longevity and leak resistance than screw-down panels

  • Estimated lifespan of 40+ years

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $1-2 per building square foot

Stone or CMU Wainscoting

  • Lower 2-3 ft of walls are the areas most prone to damage

  • CMU, stone, etc. has significantly higher resistance to dents, dings, and scratches

  • Adds visual interest and hides dirt buildup at the base of walls

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $10-15 per wall square foot

Liner Panels

  • Protects fiberglass insulation from damage

  • Useful in commercial interiors and manufacturing spaces

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $2-3 per wall square foot

Aesthetic Upgrades

Increase Roof Pitch

  • 1:12 is typically most affordable roof pitch in southern areas

  • Most people prefer the look of a higher roof pitch

    • 3:12 and 4:12 are most common for residential applications

    • Pitches above 5:12 are significantly more expensive

  • Higher pitches also drain water better from the roof

  • Estimated cost - 3%-5% for every 1:12 increase

Colored Roofing

  • SMP or Kynar finishes improve a building’s appearance and increase the finish warranty by 5-15 years over galvalume

  • Estimated cost - $.5-$1 per panel square foot

Concealed Fastener Wall Panels

  • Standard 24ga for improved dent and ding resistance

  • Lack of exposed fasteners improves panel longevity and reduces chance of leakage

  • Estimated cost - $2-4 per panel square foot

Premium Panel Finishes

  • Wood-look panels, corten steel, and metallic finishes are available

    • Provide similar look to copper, wood, etc. with improved lifespan and reduced maintenance of steel

  • Estimated cost - $2-$4 per panel square foot

Roof Overhangs, Lean-tos, and Door Canopies

  • Creates shade and weather protection

  • Enhances curb appeal

  • Estimated cost

    • Roof overhang - $2-3 per building square foot depending on roof and soffit panel selection

    • Lean-tos - $15-$20 per square foot

    • Door canopies (steel) - $40-$60 per square foot

Walk Door Upgrades

  • Depending on door location, adding a window or upgrading hardware will improve visibility and security

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $200-$400 per walk door

Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Rigid Foam Insulation

  • Enhances energy efficiency by providing thermal break between panels and framing

  • Available as stand-alone insulation boards or insulated metal panels (foam sandwiched between interior and exterior panels)

  • Ideal for conditioned buildings like offices, workshops, or barndominiums

  • How much does this actually improve energy efficiency? (reducing monthly electricity bills)

  • Estimated upgrade cost

    • Rigid Foam - $1-$2 per wall/roof square foot over double layer system

    • Insulated Metal Panels - $6-$10 per wall/roof square foot over double layer system

White Roof Panels

  • White roofs reflect significantly more sun than colored roofs

    • Required to meet code for roof pitches <= 2:12

  • How much does this help?

  • Estimated upgrade cost - $.5-$1 per building square footage

High Velocity, Low Speed Fans

  • Circulation improves how “cool” or “warm” a building feels

  • Every 1* increase in thermostat temp reduces monthly A/C bills by 3-6%

  • Estimated cost - $10k-$20k per fan

Summary: Top Upgrades

Here are a list of Nick’s best bang-for-your-buck upgrades:

  • Standing seam roofing - improves roof durability, longevity, using a white roof will also improve energy efficiency

  • Galvanized secondary framing - improves building longevity

  • Increase roof pitch - improves aesthetics and water drainage from roof

  • CMU wainscot - acts as liner panel, significantly reduces likelihood of wall panel damage

Nick Rodriguez
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