Steel building on not-quite-level site

mkirsch · Apr 6, 2012

I want to put up one of those all-steel buildings that some of the machinery dealers are handling these days.

Problem is my site isn't perfectly level. It's not like the surface of the moon or anything, but it does have a slight slope to it.

Anybody know how these buildings get anchored to the ground? Do they set on concrete or wooden piers, or are they held down with glorified tent spikes?

BCnT · Apr 6, 2012

if youre talking about those glorified car ports,most are just spiked to ground.

Janicholson · Apr 6, 2012

The building If permitter from the local govermental agencies) will be required to be compliant with code and inspection. Most want the building to be bolted to concrete or steel foundation/piers that are frost depth plus in depth. My recomndation is to use 1 foot diameter piers 1 foot below frost line with anchor bolts to match the plate of the structure.
The concrete should be a few inches above the soil surface such that rusting is minimized. This idea is subject to being non compliant, and is only what I would want as a minimum method. Jim

donjr · Apr 6, 2012

I've put two steel buildings in the past twenty years, a 'quonset' type, and a column type open building that's 50'x100'. The quonset required a footer with a 4"x7" channel that the building was grouted into. The base is about two feet wide, and varies s bit in depth with the down slope, the one end being about a foot deep, and the other end about two feet thick.

The column building has close to two feet of fall in the grade, and rests on foundation pillars which we made from concrete filled sonotubes. The hold down bolts were set in patterns and placed before we poured the sonotubes, and the columns are bolted on top of the pillars.

The quonset wasn't as hard to pour, but had to be formed fairly close before we poured the base. The sonotubes were not hard to work with, but the grade and patterns had to be pretty close for the building to go up correctly and without much extra adjusting.

Both buildings are clearspan.

Leroy · Apr 6, 2012

I would think that is what he is talking about and some are fairly large, big enough for 3 cars wide and 2 deep. and sides and ends are avaible for them.

TomA in CA · Apr 6, 2012

We have put up a couple of the car port type. They are made so the base can be put on a slight slope and there is about 6" adjustment so the building can be leveled.

The quonset type must be sloped slightly to one end for drainage.

We have used what they call the vertical style which uses purlins and the roofing is attached conventialy. These are level.

BCnT · Apr 6, 2012

yeah,thats what i bought when putting up a new shop...poured a slab and closed it in...like usual i shoulda went 4 times bigger but paid cash and its all mine.

Truck · Apr 6, 2012

If it is a TNT carport or similar structure, do your best to have the two strips of ground where each side sits level and at the same height. Yes, they are adjustable but as you adjust them they get all out of kilter and you create more fit problems than you cure. We occasionally would install Railroad ties on a level gravel base for the carport to be installed on..

If you are enclosing the ends the whole site needs to be leveled. Buy some gravel and level it out with your box blade, using a transit to measure with or a lazer level.

Of course the best installation would be anchored to a nice concrete Alaskan slab but that would double the cost.

Steel building on not-quite-level site

mkirsch

Well-known Member

BCnT

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

donjr

Well-known Member

Leroy

Well-known Member

TomA in CA

Member

BCnT

Well-known Member

Truck

Member

Similar threads