A-Frame
A roof style where two slopes meet at a central ridge, forming the shape of a capital A. Standard for most steel garages and enclosed buildings.
Anchor Bolt
A bolt embedded in concrete that connects the building's base rail to the foundation, preventing the structure from shifting or lifting in high winds.
Anchor Kit
A set of anchors and hardware used to secure a steel building to the ground when no concrete foundation is present. Required in most high-wind areas.
Base Rail
The bottom horizontal member of a steel building's frame that rests on the foundation and connects to the anchor bolts.
Bay
The space between two adjacent frames or columns. Bay spacing is typically measured center-to-center and affects how the interior of the building can be used.
Building Code
A set of regulations governing the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings in a given jurisdiction. Steel buildings must meet local code requirements.
Certified Installer
A trained and authorized contractor who has been certified to install a specific manufacturer's steel building product. Certified installers ensure the building is assembled correctly and warranties are maintained.
Column
A vertical structural member that supports the building's frame. Columns transfer loads from the roof and walls down to the foundation.
Cupola
A small dome or tower structure placed on top of a roof, primarily for ventilation or aesthetic purposes.
Dead Load
The weight of the permanent components of a structure — the steel frame, panels, doors, and any fixed fixtures. Used by engineers when calculating structural requirements.
Eave Height
The vertical distance from the ground to the bottom of the roof at the sidewall. Also referred to as leg height. A taller eave height gives more usable interior clearance.
Endwall
The wall at either end of a steel building (the shorter sides). Endwalls are perpendicular to the ridge.
Engineer Stamped
Drawings or calculations reviewed and approved by a licensed structural engineer, who stamps them with their seal. Required for most building permits.
Fascia
The flat, horizontal board running along the lower edge of a roof. On steel buildings, fascia trim covers the transition between the roof and sidewall.
Footing
The concrete or other material poured below grade to distribute the building's load into the ground. Required for larger or heavier structures.
Galvalume
A steel sheeting coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminum for superior corrosion resistance. Common in steel building panels and roofing.
Galvanized Steel
Steel coated with a layer of zinc to protect against rust and corrosion. The zinc acts as a sacrificial barrier — it corrodes before the underlying steel does.
Gauge
A measurement of steel thickness. Counter-intuitively, lower gauge numbers indicate thicker steel. 12-gauge is heavier than 14-gauge, which is heavier than 26-gauge.
Girt
Horizontal structural members that run between columns on the sidewalls and endwalls, providing support for the wall panels.
Ground Anchor
An earth anchor driven into the ground at an angle, connected to the building's frame with cable or strap. Used when concrete anchors aren't an option.
Header
The structural member running horizontally across the top of a door or window opening, carrying the load from above.
Horizontal Roof
A roof style where the metal panels run horizontally (parallel to the ridge). A-frame horizontal is the most common mid-grade steel building roof style.
IBC
International Building Code. The model building code adopted (with local amendments) by most U.S. jurisdictions. Steel buildings should be designed to meet IBC requirements.
Insulation
Material added to a building's walls and roof to reduce heat transfer. Common options for steel buildings include fiberglass batt, spray foam, and rigid board.
Jamb
The vertical side members of a door or window frame.
Lean-To
A single-slope addition attached to the side of an existing building. Can be open or enclosed, used to add covered space without a full structure.
Live Load
Temporary or moveable loads on a structure — people, vehicles, snow, or stored items. Engineers account for live loads when certifying a building.
Mezzanine
An intermediate floor level added inside a building, typically used for offices or additional storage. Steel buildings with sufficient eave height can accommodate a mezzanine.
Permit Ready
A building that comes with or can be provided with engineer-certified drawings suitable for a building permit application.
Purlin
Horizontal structural members running along the roof between frames, supporting the roof panels. Heavier purlins allow for longer spans without intermediate columns.
Rafter
The sloping structural member that forms the roof frame, running from the ridge down to the eave. Rafters support the purlins and roof panels.
Regular Style
The original carport style with rounded corners where the roof meets the legs. Less expensive than A-frame, but not recommended for large spans or high-wind areas.
Ridge
The highest horizontal line of a roof, running the full length of the building where the two roof slopes meet.
Roll-Up Door
A door that coils upward around a drum above the opening, common on garages and warehouses. Available in manual chain-operated and motorized versions.
RTO (Rent-to-Own)
A financing arrangement where the customer makes monthly payments to use a building, with the option to own it outright after completing the payment term. No credit check required.
Skylight
A transparent or translucent panel installed in the roof to admit natural light. Available as an add-on option for many steel buildings.
Snow Load
The weight of snow that a roof structure is designed to support. Engineer-certified buildings specify the design snow load in pounds per square foot.
Soffit
The underside of an overhanging eave. On steel buildings, soffit panels close off the space under a roof overhang.
Span
The width of a building measured from outside column to outside column. Wider spans require heavier steel and more robust framing.
Tensile Strength
The maximum amount of tension (pulling force) a material can withstand before breaking. High-tensile-strength steel allows for longer spans and higher loads.
Threshold
The bottom horizontal member of a door frame, sealing the gap between the door and the floor.
Translucent Panel
A light-transmitting panel used in place of standard metal panels to allow natural light into a building without full windows.
Trim
Decorative and functional metal pieces used to finish the edges, corners, and transitions of a steel building — including corner trim, ridge cap, and base trim.
Truss
A triangulated structural framework used to support roof loads. Steel building trusses distribute weight efficiently across large spans.
Turn-Key
A building that is delivered fully assembled and ready to use — the customer just turns the key. All Benchmark structures are delivered and installed turn-key.
Vapor Barrier
A material installed in walls or under the floor to resist moisture migration into the building. Important in humid climates and for climate-controlled buildings.
Vertical Roof
A roof style where metal panels run vertically from ridge to eave. The most durable roof style — sheds water and debris efficiently and doesn't collect debris in the seams.
Wainscoting
A decorative panel installed on the lower portion of an exterior wall, typically in a contrasting color to the main wall panels.
Walk Door
A standard hinged entry door, typically 36 inches wide, used for pedestrian access to an enclosed steel building.
Wind Load
The pressure exerted on a structure by wind. Engineer-certified buildings specify the design wind speed and corresponding wind load in pounds per square foot.