“Details matter. It is worth waiting to get it right.”, are the famous lines by Steve Jobs. Indeed, details are significant even for metal buildings. One detail that is hard to miss out is the nuts and bolts. They are the connecting pieces that hold the entire steel building together.
We keep hearing in the news every now & then about accidents that happened because of a loose nut or improper fitting of bolts. It may seem like a little tool, but it has great significance in keeping the whole structure from falling apart. Be it airplanes or steel building houses, nuts & bolts are vital in maintaining the structural integrity of any building.
Role Of Fasteners In Metal Prefab Building
1. Strength
If we have to describe the function of nuts & bolts in one word, that would be – secure. Yes, the core job of fastener is to act like glue to metal frames, panels & posts. When your steel building house is installed correctly with all its fasteners in place, they make the entire building robust.
One missing nut can cause catastrophe not just for metal buildings but also for airplanes, military aircraft, engines, or amusement park rides. They are that important.so, if you are DIY-ing a prefab steel building house, ensure that all fasteners are secured in their place properly.
2. Maintains Integrity Of The Whole Metal Building
Once the screw is secured into your metal structure, it is hard to take it out unless you are doing it on purpose. Now, with wood, you have a problem of moisture gain & loss. This may lead to shrinking, warping, cracking, and twisting of the timber frame or panel. Constant movement within wooden parts leads to loosening of the screw with time.
The good news is – steel is resistant to moisture build-up. It does not gain or lose moisture. There is no worry about the loosening of nuts & bolts. It may get rust, but that can be avoided with galvanized steel screws.
3. Nails Vs. Screws
But why screws instead of nails. No matter what material you use for constructing your house, a screw will give you a superior grip anytime than a nail. They are the little joins that make the whole building stand up against the worst of nature’s forces.
You don’t even have to believe us. Take a wooden plank, drill in a nail, and screw both. Now, try to put it out. You will see that nails are easy to pull out as compared to screws. That’s how strong a screw can be when properly placed.
4. J-Bolts
To connect your posts with the concrete foundation, you would need J-bolts. These are hook-shaped, durable fasteners that are commonly used by metal construction workers while installing a new building. The length of the J-bolt determines how deep it can be embedded into concrete. The deeper it is, the more loads bearing capacity it has.
J-bolt anchors connect perimeter metal walls, piers, slab, posts, & doors’ jamb with the concrete slab. Usually, your contractor will decide the size and length of anchor deepening on the building size, type & soil.
5. Finishing Screws For Exterior
Typically, you would like your metal building to have a seamless look from the outside. This is where finishing screws come into play. Their top part is designed so that they can be integrated into your metal structure.
Nowadays, many steel manufacturers offer colors for screws to make your steel building look seamless one-piece structure.
6. How Many Of Them Do You Need?
It all boils down to how large your building is and what kind of location you live in. Generally, in a prefab metal kit, all nuts & bolts are pre-packed. Some metal builders may not provide details about foundation & anchor bolts when you buy a DIY kit as it can vary with individual choice, type of foundation chosen, and, more specifically, the local codes.
Common Types Of Fasteners For Metal Buildings
- General screws
- Washers
- Structural screws
- Anchors (J-bolts)
- Bolts
- General nuts & bolts
- Nails
- Clamps
- Drill screws
- Metal clips
- Rivets
- Buckles
- Pins
General Causes Of Loosening Nuts & Bolts In Steel Building Houses
Vibrations: Small movements with time can lead to the loosening of nuts & bolts over time.
Thermal Cycling: When undergoing extreme heating and cooling cycle, nuts & bolts can get loosened due to structural change.
Over Tightening: Over tightening nuts & bolts can damage its thread and may even cause structural fatigue over an area.
Under Tightening: When nuts & bolts are not secured properly, they can rotate, come out, or even cause an imbalance in the load distribution.
Damaged Due To Rusting: Over time, metal screws can get rusted due to no upkeep or external environmental conditions.
Poor Installation: Any nuts & bolts out of place or not screwed in place during DIY installation of a prefab metal building can cause structural failure.
Tips To Make Your Fasteners Long-Lasting In Metal Buildings
Use mechanical locking methods: It gives assurance of adequate locking of nuts & bolts.
Use washers to prevent vibration: The washer will act as a shock absorber and prevent the metal screw from displacing.
Thread locking patches: A thread lock is an adhesive that protects, provides strength, and seals fasteners in place.
Hire a professional: If you are unsure about DIY, it is always a good option to consider a professional construction team. They have all the required tools to finish the job correctly.
Finally, Putting All Nuts & Bolts In Place, We Can Say That
Despite being insignificantly small & minuscule, fasteners are the life support of steel building houses. Without them, every home, regardless of the material, would be like a house made with a deck of cards. As American basketball coach John Wooden has said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”