Once delivered, proper handling of building materials is critical. To prevent rusting, materials should be placed on blocks and sloped to drain water off. Covering materials is preferable and tarps should be kept open at the ends to ventilate and keep water from collecting and creating rust on the steel and oxidation spots on the panels.

Here’s the answer to why and how finishes are damaged:

The materials for your steel building have been designed specifically for a long life after erection. When delivered to the jobsite, the materials are often nested tightly and sitting flat. In this position, water does not run off or evaporate but instead pools and starts to oxidize. During this time, if there is extreme heat with the rain, the heat robs oxygen from the packaged materials and creates an aggressive interaction between the elements in the water and the protective zinc coating on the steel. Keeping materials out of the elements or protecting them when exposed to moisture will protect the material when it is in this vulnerable state.

There’s my quick fix! Do you have questions? Comments? Want more details? Send me a comment below. And stay tuned for more quick fixes to keep your job on schedule, on budget, and on the move.