Bolt Up vs Weld Up Metal Buildings

When determining what type of metal building to buy, many people are left deciding between a bolt up or weld up metal building. The main factors that most people are concerned with when selecting a metal building are cost, delivery, design, and build quality.

Cost

Total costs to build a bolt up and weld up building are typically similar. Bolt up have higher purchase prices, but weld up have higher erection costs.

Delivery

Weld up often have shorter lead times because they are welded on site as opposed to in a factory.

Design/Engineering

Weld up

• Typically not engineered

• More difficult to attain engineering stamp

  • Buildings inside city limits often require an engineering stamp

Bolt up

• Engineered for your specific conditions (wind, snow, etc.)

• Easier to attain engineering stamp since buildings are pre-engineered based on your location

Build quality

It is more difficult to get consistent welds in the field vs a factory/shop. This does not mean that weld up buildings have inferior quality, it just means that it is more difficult to get consistent welds. The quality of the welds will impact the strength of the building.

Conclusion

Our preference is to use pre-engineered metal buildings. We often recommend bolt up because it is easier to achieve a higher weld quality. If you do decide to select a weld-up metal building, we highly recommend ensuring that the building has been engineered to meet the conditions for your specific location.