Quonset huts are multi-purpose steel buildings that are typically used for shelter and storage. However, they have limited customizable options.

First of all, the doors and/or windows can only be placed at the end walls. There is also limited overhead clearance for certain uses. Straight wall steel buildings or rigid frames, offer more flexible solutions than Quonset huts.

Straight wall designs are more visually appealing than the traditional look offered by Quonset huts. When compared to other traditional methods of construction, straight wall steel buildings are cheaper and more durable.

There are five types of straight wall designs for steel buildings – straight column, clear span gable, clear span single slope, beam and column, and lean-to.

The straight wall column design provides a lot of open space that can go up to 70 feet in width. It is best suited for applications such as RV storage steel buildings, small retail stores, and other commercial functions.

Clear span designs are either gable-shaped or single-sloped and can be as wide as 150 feet. They also provide large open spaces that require no interior support. Typically, they are used as aircraft hangars, storage buildings for big vehicles, and athletic facilities.

For a steel building that needs to be wider than 150 feet, the beam and column design is a perfect choice. This model makes use of interior columns for even weight load distribution, reducing frame and foundation costs. The beam and column design is the best steel building option for a factory or a large warehouse.

A steel building with a lean-to or “Wing” style is designed to extend a pre-existing building without modifying it. It can even be finished using the same material as the original building, making this design suitable for all sorts of purposes.