Have you heard of a fabric-covered building? Perhaps you are thinking it is a building made out of fabric. Perhaps you are thinking it is a building that has fabric draped over it. Perhaps you have no idea what to think. Regardless of what you are thinking, we are here to set the record straight. There are a lot of wonderful benefits to having fabric structures. Whether that is for work, for your side job, for entertainment, or for recreation, there are tons of reasons why people are jumping on the fabric-covered building train. Keep reading as our experts explain these reasons to you.
Perhaps you’ve seen them on a drive through the countryside housing livestock or being used in some other capacity on a farm. Maybe you’ve seen them in industrial settings, at an airport or have even been inside of one for a sporting event. Fabric buildings have incredibly extensive uses from those mentioned above to being used for maintenance sheds, for housing salt and sand for road crews, for warehouses, and even for emergency shelters, with many other possibilities available.
Considered a pre-engineered building, fabric buildings can be custom designed and built according to customers’ needs, with sizes ranging from a home garage to hundreds of feet wide and over a mile long. Although commonly used for temporary uses, the durability of high quality, heavier weight fabric building could allow it to be used permanently for years.
Steel, wood, rigid plastic or aluminum is used to construct the frame. It’s important to know what the frame is constructed of and how long you plan to keep the structure in place. Potential corrosion and break down due to the elements should be considerations when selecting a fabric building. Once the frame is erected, the fabric cover is stretched over the frame and tensioned to ensure stable structural support and to create a tight-fitting cover. Covers are made from extremely durable but extremely lightweight polyethylene plastic or PVC, making them impenetrable to water and other adverse weather conditions.
Why would you choose to install a fabric building versus a permanent building? First of all, because of THAT reason…permanency. Sometimes it’s necessary to erect a structure, but the intent is not to keep it there long-term. Seasonal operations; rotating crops; changes in the needs of certain industries like oil exploration; remote job projects; venues such as concerts, county and state fairs, and trade shows are just a few of the places and industries that an easily movable fabric building would be the preference over a brick and mortar building. Not just in remote settings or in transitional job sites, but for all of those listed and many others, the portability, durability, and convenience of installation and tear down are all reasons for having a fabric building accompany the crew.
Maybe you’re in need of expansion on your warehouse or industrial site, or you need a covered loading or unloading area, or a temporary worksite. Maybe there are additional demands or activities that weren’t part of the original plans. You would be able to configure a building to meet the needs and space quickly and efficiently by erecting a custom-fitted fabric building. In addition, installation is considerably easier on uneven terrains or in inhospitable environments, where it would otherwise be difficult and costly to install a permanent structure.
Because there is little architectural planning, installation is quick and a fraction of the time and building materials are extremely portable and are considerably less expensive than what’s required in a permanent structure, the fabric building is an extremely cost-effective method for creating the building you need for the job you’re trying to complete. In addition, you won’t need heavy machinery to haul building materials or to pour a floor. If you consider what’s involved in the maintenance of a permanent structure over time (painting, shingle repair, etc) the long-term maintenance of a fabric building is a fraction of the cost. And yes, they can withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions, corrosive environments, and intense UV rays. Special coatings can be added to accommodate extreme conditions, ensuring the strength and longevity of the structure.
The translucent fabric used in Fabric buildings offers natural light, which can reduce energy and operational costs, can help to generate warmth in the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer, and can make this option extremely energy efficient.
Also due to the natural light, it has proven to be a positive environment for any livestock housed here and for any workers who utilize the space for either work or living purposes and makes for excellent greenhouses.
Another potential money-saving reason for installing a fabric building versus a permanent building is that costs associated with permits and taxes may be lower. In many jurisdictions, this will be considered a temporary structure and could affect overall location costs. This will vary depending on location.
As you can see, there are so many great benefits to purchasing a fabric covered building. Not all of them are the same and so many of them can be used for different functions. If you are using it for work, it’s great to know that it can be transported to a new area. Even if you are not, it’s always great to know that option is available to you. We hope you learned a lot from this article and are soon on your way to purchasing a new fabric-covered building for your specific needs.