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Since the latter part of the 1700’s when iron columns were first utilized in an English textile mill, the maturation of steel and metal buildings has been remarkable in the past two hundred years in both building economy and technical development.

Construction utilizing steel beams and framing was used in the late 19th century on the mainland of the continental U.S. and has continued to grow since then. The presence of metal as a useable resource for a primary building material came about largely due to its nonflammable character. In addition, at this point, the emergence of the initial pre-fabricated metal buildings was recorded.

As the auto industry was in its growing phase In the early 20th century, the use of metal or steel for construction was mainly limited to use as garages. Although first constructed of a blend of wood and metal this popular auto storage structure was upgraded to a total metal construction so that there would be an enhancement of the fire resistance elements of the garage and lower the cost. Butler Manufacturing was the first to generate these.

Pre-engineered fabrication, as pertinent to metal framing, was initiated in the early 20th century an Ohio firm known as the Austin Company. The capacity to provide low cost metal driller buildings for oil exploration on the plains of Oklahoma, starting in the nineteen twenties, gave credence to a corporation called Star Building Systems.

During the early 1940’s, when aircraft hangars were produced employing a 100% steel construction for use by the Armed Forces, it produced the largest boon for metal building popularity. Very recognizable buildings known as Quonset huts came into widespread use furthermore, at this juncture. These structures were very popular with many citizens as storage buildings as well as with the services for use as motor pools and barracks. The Quonset hut was famed for being cheap but unfortunately was unappealing in appearance. These buildings required only the aid of small number of workers and common tools to erect and owing to this tens of thousands of these particular steel buildings were manufactured.

Companies producing pre-fabricated building systems after World War II accentuated the quick assembly benefits and bargain prices in the absence of beauty to persuade people to buy. The external look of these buildings was not as essential to the buyers as the protection it could offer to perishables on the inside of the steel structure. A classic roof pitch of four on twelve was used with this second origination of pre-engineered steel building set up, although its exterior was very simple. The questionable and inexpensive quality and sturdiness of these early pre-fabricated steel buildings placed uncertainty in building purchasers’ minds as these uninviting structures were left to rust and fall apart in America for several decades.

But upgrades in pre-engineered steel structures swiftly would bring about a different wave of construction that would become very favored.