Big Lake, Minnesota
Thorough Custom Metal and Steel Buildings in Big Lake, MN
A steel shop is a harder fit in Big Lake than in the townships around it. The city runs about 2.9 square miles, and the 1990s and 2000s lots inside it are platted small, so setbacks and lot coverage decide the building size before we ever talk about frames. On the larger parcels and out along Lake Mitchell there is room, and then hail is the design question.
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Hail is what tests a steel roof here
The National Weather Service measured a four inch hailstone in Big Lake just after midnight on July 14, 2024. That is well past the size that fractures asphalt shingles, and it dents steel too. Ribbed panel sheds it better than a shingle roof does, but panel gauge and the finish are what decide whether you are looking at cosmetic dimples or split coating and rust in five years, so we spec heavier panel on the roof and on any wall a driveway faces. The other constraint is space. On a platted lot in one of the newer subdivisions there is nowhere to set a delivery truck, a dirt pile and a lift at the same time, and the neighbor's fence is close. We stage in phases and haul out as we go. If your use is simple storage, prefabricated buildings may be the faster and simpler way to get covered space.
Custom Metal and Steel Buildings in Big Lake
What matters on a Big Lake lot
Panel gauge chosen for hail
Four inch stones fell here in July 2024. On the roof and on any wall facing open ground we spec heavier gauge and a tougher finish, because a dented panel that splits its coating rusts.
A staging plan for a small lot
Trucks, steel bundles and a lift all need somewhere to sit. On the small platted lots in this city that means scheduled deliveries and hauling debris out daily instead of parking it on the grass.
Setbacks checked before design
We measure to the lot lines and the utility easements first, then draw a building that fits. Finding out the shop has to be narrower is cheaper now than after the steel is ordered.
A building that suits the street
Next to 1990s gable and hip roofed houses a bare box looks like what it is. Matching the roof pitch, the color and the trim keeps a detached shop from fighting the house.
Shoreline lots handled carefully
Older cottage lots on Big Lake and Lake Mitchell come with shore setbacks, slope and softer ground. We look at all three before promising a footprint anywhere near the water.
Doors placed for a short driveway
On a tight lot the approach angle matters more than door width. We put the overhead door where a truck and trailer can swing in from the street without a three point turn.
How we work on a tight lot
Deliveries scheduled, not dumped
Steel arrives when the crew is ready for it. On a small lot that is the difference between a working site and a blocked driveway for a week.
Storm and insurance work is routine
After the 2024 hail we spend a lot of time documenting damage for adjusters. If your existing steel or shingles took stones, we can handle that claim alongside the new building.
We say when the lot says no
If the setbacks, the septic or the approach mean the building you want will not work, we tell you at the estimate. A quote that ignores that is worth nothing.
Free estimate before any drawings
The site visit, the measurements and the written quote cost nothing and carry no obligation. You can take the numbers and sit on them as long as you want.
Neighbors kept in the loop
On lots this close together the build affects the people beside you. We keep the street clear, sweep up fasteners and let the neighbors know which day the lift is coming.
What people near Big Lake say
The crew arrived early and spread tarps all around the house to capture every bit of debris. By 3:00 PM, my entire roof was completely finished.
Hazel JamesRoof replacement, Minneapolis, MN Orange Exteriors fixed a minor leak that involved replacing flashing and a few shingles blown off our roof. Timely, quality work. Great ideas to keep our roof going long term.
Jim ThomasStorm damage repair From sales to construction crew to upper management, they helped make an insurance battle a breeze. This is the best contractor interaction I have ever had.
Jim NormanRoof replacement
Common questions in Big Lake
What people in Big Lake ask us about this work. If yours is not covered, call and ask.
Will a steel building handle Big Lake hail better than shingles?
Generally yes, and it is not close. The four inch stone the National Weather Service measured here in July 2024 fractures asphalt outright. Steel dents instead. The catch is that a light gauge panel can dent deeply enough to crack the coating, and that rusts. Heavier gauge and a good finish are what keep hail a cosmetic problem.
How small a lot can hold a detached shop in Big Lake?
It depends on setbacks, lot coverage and where the driveway can enter. Big Lake is only about 2.9 square miles and the newer subdivisions are platted tight, so many lots will take a two or three stall shop and nothing larger. We measure the lot, the easements and the approach, then tell you the largest building that actually fits.
Do you build on the lake lots or only on open ground?
Both, with more care near the water. Shoreline parcels on Big Lake and Lake Mitchell bring shore setbacks, sloped ground and softer soil, which affects the pad and sometimes the footing depth. Open ground away from the lakes is simpler to build on. We look at the soil and the grade before we commit to a footprint.
Price a steel shop for your lot
Send us the lot address and what you want to store. We will check the setbacks, look at how a truck gets in, and lay out in writing what the building would take.
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Tell us what is going on with your roof, siding, windows, or gutters. We will take a look and give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you can wait.
- Phone(612) 600-8529
- Emailadmin@orange-exteriors.com
- Office6600 City West Pkwy Suite 375, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- HoursOpen 24 hours, Sunday to Saturday
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