r/metalbuildings

One thing I don't understand about drafting:

Why don't more people intentionally practice?

Most of us get better by doing the job.

- You work through projects.
- You get corrections.
- You learn new systems as they come up.

But you're also trying to hit a deadline.

I've found it helps to carve out time where the only goal is to get better at something.

- No project.
- No deadline.
- No pressure if you mess it up.

When I wanted to get better at sheet metal fabrication, I spent time making practice parts and messing with bend deductions and K-factors.

I could try something, get it wrong, figure out why, and try again.

That kind of practice is different from learning while you're buried in a live project.

I think more drafters would improve faster if they treated practice like part of the job instead of something that only happens on the job.

https://preview.redd.it/58rld8oot5kh1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=669072b5795e0f86ad7562baf0a43ea17778688a

Curious if other drafting teams actually build time in for this.

I’m building a 4500sf metal building. It will have 3 bays of garage doors on one side.

I’m trying to figure out how many man doors I should put in. I’m thinking of a door on each of the 3 other walls. But my concern is security, 2 sides face other parcels of undeveloped land. Those doors would easy the weak point. I’d put cameras on those sides. But they would be hidden from my house view.

Without the doors I’m worried that the building only has exits on 2 sides in case of fire or emergencies.

What have you guys done with your building?

I saw few vendors online but they were very expensive so if there's another reputable manufacturer which you guys know please reply

Started with the braced bay, stood columns, added girts, set rafters, eve struts, peak purlins, and x bracing ensuring everything was square. Moved to end wall, repeated process, now we are running into some rafter twist and rack that is making the purlins incredibly difficult to get in place. A few of the bolt holes are almost an inch out. Retook measure and the bays are square, anchor spacing is all correct, using a plum line the rafter peak is 3.5 inches racked toward the front end wall that isn’t erected yet. Not sure how to correct the rack and twist in rafter when columns are perfectly square on the 20 foot side of bay wall. Measuring across the 40 foot opening under the rafter we are 3/4” out of square and the rafter mounting plate on top of each columns measures 1 inch narrower than plan says. Not sure what the next step is to correct. Considering loosening all connection points to hand tight and squaring everything again? Any ideas or advise would be greatly appreciated.