Strong. ★ Affordable. ★ Flexible. ★ Easy. ★ Resilient.
This is an older Model 4000 Perka Building we stumbled onto recently; it has bolt on frame unsupported overhangs with custom built tack room and office under parts of the overhang on both sides. The customer has also built a “loft” storage area that is supported by posts and takes advantage of the high clearspan with no bottom chord to obstruct the headroom.
This is an Econo Model 4000 Perka Building, with two wood ends, 48″ on center girts, 24″ on center purlins, and 15′ bay spacings. The Econo, or Option 1, is an entry level way to get the Strong Perka frames at a lower cost, but still have all the head room, that Perka Hybrid Frames provide.
Team Perka’s core values include ‘Service above Self”… That comes from being involved with Rotary International. We believe in giving value with high quality in our Perka Buildings to make them not only STRONG, but FLEXIBLE and Easy. We also strive to give added value through SERVICE to our clients and also to our neighbors, brothers and sisters all.
I could not sleep this morning…
I kept “dreaming” – and hearing a voice. It sounded so much like the voice of Larry Lunsford… but strangely it also sounded like what God’s voice might sound like. “WAKE UP!” He said… as I peered at the alarm clock to read 4:11 AM., and then thinking 411 – isn’t that the “old” number to call for information?.
“WAKE UP!” he said again –“Today is the day.”
For those of you who don’t know Larry Lunsford, he is the tireless Cheerleader for Rotary International’s efforts at providing SHOES FOR ORPHAN SOULS.
I had the GREAT privilege of meeting Larry at last year’s Rotary District 6040 Annual Conference in Kansas City. And when I say privilege… I really mean that. What a bright shining light of compassion, generosity, kindness, enthusiasm, service and especially LOVE he is! He radiated a Love for what he was doing, who he was being. And he equally radiated DOING and BEING what he loved! (A magical combination!!) And if that isn’t a “living example” of what our Way Shower taught, I don’t know what is. What an inspiration to me and to all those at his presentation, what a role model to emulate. I will always remember his energy, his spirit … and I am convinced it is what woke me up this morning.
So after a couple tosses and turns… I got up. I showered. I ate… all the while remembering his message, his TESTIMONY of unconditional love & compassion that he spoke of to our group that breezy cool day in November.
So I did as he did. This morning I left my home just past 6:00 am and drove to our local WalMart. It was cool, still dark and raining… but it all felt pleasant. It felt right.
I walked in and went straight to the shoe section. Like he instructed, I found the clearance rack. I looked for a shoe to fit a young boy and then one for a young girl. I thought about young children I know — some more fortunate than others – being Thankful. Then I thought of the experience he shared – of actually meeting young orphan boys and girls from a third world country he had personally visited. How that experience touched HIS SOUL. How the orphan souls we touch can also be PART of OUR OWN!! He was very emotional about it. The room ran out of tissue! He touched ALL OUR SOULS.
I picked out two pairs of shoes. I whispered a brief prayer of Thanks for all of my own Blessings. I thought of Erin Hook and the Pay it Forward movement her family gifted our community. I thought of Larry’s words of encouragement to each of us (a mini challenge of sorts) to DO THIS as well … reminding us that giving money is GREAT… but sometimes the HARDER part is the LOGISTICS of getting, collecting and bringing the shoes in. He suggested that if we could EACH pick up two pairs of shoes and inspire two others to do the same… — you got it — the math becomes exponential!!!
This all brings to mind the natural law of “What goes around comes around”… and also sparks the teaching of Jesus as shared by Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And in the “East” it is spoken of as the Laws of Karma…
We are not only doing this for orphan children. We don’t only do this for the orphan part of our own soul. We do this for what we sow… and what we will reap for our individual and collective futures. Something more to think about.
And as I personally get older, with my own children all grown up, fortunately blessed in their own ways… I can’t help but look to grow my own circle of those to GIVE to… with compassion, kindness, inspiration, love. From young orphans, to at risk students, to young men and women who may have made a mistake, paid for their trespasses and now just need a helping hand to bring them up to be respected purposeful citizens again, and to our elderly, often forgotten, who crave for companionship, for purpose, for love; we have all so many opportunities to shine our own light, to sow love.
Erin Hook’s Random Acts of Kindness is a great example of the GREAT THINGS WE ALL CAN DO.https://www.facebook.com/groups/1399854173618922/
May Rotary International’s program of Shoes for Orphan Souls be something you can expand YOUR circle of what “Goes around, Comes Around”! (For more information on that contact ANY Rotary Club, of which we have no less than three right here in Saint Joseph.)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/102532247484/
God Bless,
Your Brother,
Martial Thevenot
— with John Murawski and 6 others.
It’s ALL inclusive!
If you are able to take a bit of time to learn ALL about Perka’s design ideology you would be very pleasantly surprised by the many benefits, advantages, positive features, money saving ideas, waste preventing forethought and just plain amazing simplicity of their steel frames. Add to that a genuine desire to serve selflessly, to assist generously and to share whatever wisdom, tips and experience the Mates at TEAM PERKA have, and you have a pretty low downside and HIGH UPSIDE product package!
To help you sift through some of that “time” – here is a list of just some of these big MONEY ($$$) affecting PLUSES!!
1. You don’t have to leave your vehicles, equipment, assets OUTSIDE in the weather! They will last longer, need less repair and will be worth more money if and when you decide to trade them in!!
2. You don’t have to work on or repair things out in the cold, wet or heat. You can have a nice comfortable dry place – which will save you time, money and trips to the doctor!!
3. You will use LESS concrete, and spend less money, in your foundation as compared to any ALL STEEL rigid frame option.
4. The building will be easier to assemble,without mis fits, do to it’s PRE-FIT process. That will save you time and money!
5. All Perka clips are pre-punched and pre-welded on the frame. That will save you time and money!
6. If you purchase a full kit package from Perka – you will get a takeoff that is conscious of waste and you will get all you need to build your building according to your approved drawings and nothing more. The building is priced accordingly so you will save money and not waste materials needlessly!
7. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with ease of assembly in mind. That will save you time and money!
8. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with ease of interior in mind. That will save you time, materials and money!
9. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with ease of insulation-ability in mind. That will save you time and money!
10. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with efficient use of the least amount of “energy” to heat or cool. That will save you money!
11. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with quality, durability and no compromise on design safety. The frames come with a 50 year warranty and over the long haul that will save you time and potentially alot of money!
12. Perka Hybrid Buildings are designed with quality, durability and no compromise on design safety and than can also save you on repairs from weather damage and possibly even on insurance premiums. That can save you time, money and aggravation!!
13. Perka Hybrid Building Frames are generally pre-engineered but never un-modifiable. Perka’s in house engineering, design and detail team can easily, quickly and inexpensively custom design ANY frame to meet YOUR exact needs. A custom building at pre-engineered price. That can save you time, money and future aggravations!!
14. Throughout the process from order taking, fulfillment, to production, packaging, shipping, construction and after sales service – TEAM PERKA aspires to always carry out the intention for an ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE product. AND THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!
Full circle closed loop thinking…
And these are just a few of many benefits… Search and browse our blog and sights for more — or just call us at 800-467-3752! WE LOVE TO HELP!
Cheers
We don’t want this do we?
Nor this?
Definitely not this!
RIGHT?
YES – MUCH BETTER!!
With a Prefab Perka Wood Steel Hybrid Building you not only get VALUE by the many great benefits and very asset driven features — but you get ADDED VALUE by the many aspects that eliminates waste in terms of time, money, convenience, comforts and even in potential liabilities or loss.
As you can see from the up to 21 great reasons (benefits) why you should consider building with a Perka Hybrid designed building that you can find here: http://www.perkabuildings.com/why-a-prefab-perka-hybrid-wood-steel-building/, here: http://www.perkabuildings.com/7-more-great-reasons-to-help-you-build-strong/, and here: http://www.perkabuildings.com/how-about-another-7-good-reasons-to-build-a-perka/, Perka’s unique approach to buildings offers you a very viable alternative to conventional buildings.
That said it also offers you MANY great SAVINGS from money, to time to just plain STOPPING ‘waste’!
If you just take a few minutes and look around WHERE YOU ARE sitting or standing this very minute, I am sure you can instantly see or count a number of things just being “wasted”. Anything from unfinished spoiling food, to cleaning up after damage from a storm, to a leaky faucet, to an open or unsealed door or window — often valuable resources, hard to find time and hard earned money are just literally being, and usually most reluctantly, and certainly rarely un-wilfully wasted away.
The men and women at Perka would like to think that they do whatever they can to help with a consciousness about these things. A kind of “closed loop” thinking… After all, “waste” just so happens to be a fairly important “pet peeve” of the stewards leading the way at Perka.
So what does that mean to you?
From the production/service standpoint Team Perka takes pride in a consciousness that encourages a total minimization of “waste” – taking into account the whole “system or process” of that effort. For that our costs are controlled while being able to still “afford” high levels of conscientiousness for quality.
For example most of the paper used at Perka headquarters is reused or recycle. From using the back side of no longer “good” paper, to using shredded paper for packaging, to bringing paper to the recycling stations. We keep costs in check – we can keep our price to you in check… That said – it must still nonetheless be done with an awareness of the total resource cost (entire loop) of doing so. i.e. if used paper is damage, filled with staples or otherwise not good for immediate use – there is awareness of the cost to “make right” that paper for re-use. So sometimes it’s not “worth” re-using or recycling if it will cost more to achieve that objective. Do you get the idea?
Similarly with its Building designs, fabrication, delivery, field assembly to materials use – a similar mindset is constantly encouraged and striven for. Of course we don’t live in a perfect world and “perfection” of this ideal is probably not a reasonable expectation. But the idea that there is awareness for this goal is tantamount to achieving any goal to minimize waste, maximize resources and optimize product output, use and satisfaction.
Stay tuned for more Blog posts in the coming days that will sharing more benefits about Perka Building designs that are not only asset optimizing but also waste and liability minimizing.
We recently received a GREAT question that lead to a fairly well presented and quite concise reply.
So we thought it would be a good thing to share it as part of this blog effort aiming at EDUCATION as much as any form of product promotion!!
J.C. Asked this question on a FACEBOOK post of building project we were doing: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152168635999104.1073741866.254254764103&type=1&comment_id=32159373&offset=0&total_comments=4¬if_t=photo_album_comment
What’s the difference between the insulation you sell with your buildings vs a spray foam?
PERKA BUILDINGS REPLY:
“Great question J.C. Actually on this particular building, for budget reasons, the insulation supplied was a lower cost (and unfortunately also a lower performing) conventional FIBERGLASS batt insulation with vinyl backing. This insulation type has the traditional R-Values that most people are accustom to having. The unfortunate part about that is it pretty much ONLY addresses conduction heat loss/gains, with some resistance to convection, (re: from the overlap). So while it may meet “codes” for R-value — in the big scheme of things it generally under-performs compared to other types.
The other main insulation PERKA BUILDINGS offers is affectionately known as P2000 Insulation. It is comprised of an Expanded Poly Styrene core board, of varying thicknesses, with either both sides covered with MYLAR or one with Mylar and one with a strong white Vinyl Barrier.
What this does, in effect, is directly addresses all three forms of heat loss/gains. While it does not actually carry a significant R-value like fiberglass does – it still quite effectively “stops” conduction much like how a foam cup prevents our hand from being scolded with hot coffee in it. (And that is with only 1/8″ thick uncovered EPS – we typically use 5/8″ to an 1″ WITH COVERINGS!!).
Simple math!
Secondly to address Convection we TAPE ALL JOINTS with the same MYLAR type material and a strong DUCT TYPE TAPE on the white side. THAT pretty much will SEAL all the possible ‘cracks’ for any convection air flow.
Finally with a MYLAR (plastic) reflective material on at least ONE side – we also, very effectively, control heat loss/gains from RADIATION. i.e. in winter we KEEP any radiant type energy INSIDE the building and in summer prevent the HIGHLY penetrating SUN rays from virtually cooking everything inside!
So with our best offer, the P2000, you get a material that can address ALL THREE forms of heat transfer, and all with just ONE APPLICATION.
Note also that the EPS that is used in P2000, is a CLOSED cell type of foam – which has virtually an infinite shelf life from decomposition or drying.
Now, depending on the type of SPRAY FOAM you get – you will address at least two of the heat transfer types… (Note however some foams are not closed cell and can thus dry up and decompose over time.) A thick enough foam will give great R-value and being fully applied throughout all the nooks and crannies, will definitely prevent convection heat transfers. Unfortunately without a radiant barrier of some sort, be it MYLAR or aluminum… you will still experience radiant heat penetrations.
One last note on the difference between MYLAR and ALUMINUM radiant barriers. Both can more than adequately reflect the radiation from any heat source, the main difference is that aluminum is also a METAL and can add BACK some conduction properties. While MYLAR is more like a PLASTIC (and by the way is also the same material used by NASA for most space insulators)… it actually has shown experiential properties of DIFFUSING the radiant heat as much as reflecting it back OUT!
One added thought here: ADD to all these great benefits and features of a great insulation material like P2000 – a building that uses WOOD for the purlin/girt runs and you get an ADDED Thermo Break from wood being a HUGELY less (if significantly) at all conductor especially as compared to STEEL. So this will also great help with your overall building’s insulation-ability!
EASY TO APPLY!
Make sense? If you have ANY questions about any of this – feel free to call and speak to any TEAM PERKA Mate. It is worth understanding this as it can literally save you hundreds of dollars in not only your installation costs but your overall energy costs as well!
Stay comfortable friends!!
REAL COMFORTABLE!
Venus Project
The Venus Project operates out of a 21.5-acre Research Center located in Venus, Florida.
Proponents of this project say that when one considers the enormity of the challenges facing society today, we can safely conclude that the time is overdue for us to reexamine our values and to reflect upon and evaluate some of the underlying issues and assumptions we have as a society. This self-analysis calls into question the very nature of what it means to be human, what it means to be a member of a “civilization,” and what choices we can make today to ensure a prosperous future for all the world’s people.
At present we are left with very few alternatives. The answers of yesterday are no longer relevant. Either we continue as we have been with our outmoded social customs and habits of thought, in which case our future will be threatened, or we can apply a more appropriate set of values that are relevant to an emergent society.
Experience tells us that human behavior can be modified, either toward constructive or destructive activity. This is what The Venus Project is all about – directing our technology and resources toward the positive, for the maximum benefit of people and planet and seeking out new ways of thinking and living that emphasize and celebrate the vast potential of the human spirit. We have the tools at hand to design – and build – a future that is worthy of the human potential. The Venus Project presents a bold, new direction for humanity that entails nothing less than the total redesign of our culture. What follows is not an attempt to predict what will be done – only what could be done. The responsibility for our future is in our hands, and depends on the decisions that we make today. The greatest resource that is available today is our own ingenuity.
While social reformers and think tanks formulate strategies that treat only superficial symptoms, without touching the basic social operation, The Venus Project approaches these problems somewhat differently. They feel we cannot eliminate these problems within the framework of the present political and monetary establishment. It would take too many years to accomplish any significant change. Most likely they would be watered down and thinned out to such an extent that the changes would be indistinguishable
The Venus Project advocates an alternative vision for a sustainable new world civilization unlike any social system that has gone before. Although this description is highly condensed, it is based upon years of study and experimental research by many, many people from many scientific disciplines.
The Venus Project proposes a fresh approach–one that is dedicated to human and environmental concerns. It is an attainable vision of a bright and better future, one that is appropriate to the times in which we live, and both practical and feasible for a positive future for all the world’s people.
The Venus Project calls for a straightforward approach to the redesign of a culture, in which the age-old inadequacies of war, poverty, hunger, debt, environmental degradation and unnecessary human suffering are viewed not only as avoidable, but totally unacceptable.
One of the basic premises of The Venus Project is that we work towards having all of the Earth’s resources as the common heritage of all the world’s people. Anything less will simply result in a continuation of the same catalog of problems inherent in the present system.
Throughout history, change has been slow. Successive groups of incompetent leaders have replaced those that preceded them, but the underlying social and economic problems remain because the basic value systems have gone unaltered. The problems we are faced with today cannot be solved politically or financially because they are highly technical in nature. There may not even be enough money available to pay for the required changes, but there are more than enough resources. This is why The Venus Project advocates the transition from a monetary-based society to the eventual realization of a resource-based global economy.
We realize to make the transition from our present culture, which is politically incompetent, scarcity-oriented and obsolete, to this new, more humane society will require a quantum leap in both thought and action.
Food for thought eh?
In the meantime Perka Buildings forges ahead with a simple ideal on sustainability. Build for the long haul preserves by not having to REDO things. Use WOOD where WOOD serves best. Use STEEL where STEEL is needed. The combination of these offers a more sustainable approach to resources by minimizing waste, optimize energy efficiency while being a reachable attainable goal — HERE and NOW!
For more info on this project visit: http://www.thevenusproject.com/.
For more info on PERKA BUILDINGS – visit www.perkabuildings.com/.
WE LOVE TO HELP!
Cheers
Over the past several years we’ve been seeing trends towards building stronger homes.
As the building codes for commercial, industrial, institutional and even agriculture and residential structures have had to BEEF UP load tables due to increasing wind/snow limits (based on last 100 year patterns), more and more folks are looking to STEEL framing for their homes! And why not? If we’re going to beef up protection for our toys, hard assets and animals it makes sense to do so for our families and loved ones! YES?
Since making a home in ALL STEEL can have some of the “disadvantages” found in building with Steel frames & Steel Purlins/Girts (http://www.perkabuildings.com/builders-information/fire-performance-highlight/) & (http://www.perkabuildings.com/builders-information/all-steel-buildings-advantages-disadavantages/) more and more folks are looking to the BEST of both worlds — The PERKA PREFAB WOOD STEEL HYBRID BUILDING SYSTEM!!!
Not only do you get STRENGTH where STRENGTH is needed by using Structural Steel Main Frames for the super structure – you also get flexibility and warmth where you would need those best by using THERMO BREAKING wood purlins and girts. (Find many more great reasons here: http://www.perkabuildings.com/why-a-prefab-perka-hybrid-wood-steel-building/).
Many are concerned, however, if it will look and feel like a “steel shed”??? Our answer is an emphatic NO!
Besides saying that, you will also have ALL KINDS of flexibility in your construction by NOT having many of the limitations conventional wood / stick built homes have:
FOR EXAMPLE:
1. You WILL have easy OPEN clear span spaces to design rooms/walls how and where you want,
2. Hybrid shell design ALSO allows for EASY and EFFECTIVE insulation options for a consistently WARM or COOL, COZY and COMFORTABLE home.
3. This same hybrid shell and Perka’s UNIQUE stand alone Structural Steel frame design allows you to be able to finish your outside envelope wall(s) and roof with ANY FINISH! You do not have to use steel panels!!
These are just some of the advantages… (Visit links above for even MORE!)…
I know — words are words, and sometimes don’t carry much weight — so how about some pictures? … and you can thus SEE for yourself! RIGHT?
Have a look:
EASY OPEN ROOM CONCEPTS
Matching house and garage designs are a cinch.
Your imagination is the only real limit
Easily added porches and decks
By combining different frames and models you can achieve ANY layout or look!
I know this is a church – but it shows brick finish and architecture…
Multi frame layout
Creative back yards with deck overlook.
Nice brick front finish with patio entrance way.
Nice and cozy…
Easy to combine home and shop in a picturesque setting…
Nice and cozy on inside too!
Nice high ceilings for added open air comforts
How about waking up to this view???
Easy!
Makes for very nice settings…
Stucco finish is easy!
Windows of any shape… just pot them in.
Want a fancy porch?
Full bay windows too!
How about a grand entrance?
Need a hip roof!
Santa Fe Style.
Easy to finish
Make for easy breezeways.
Easy to decorate.
Nice ceiling beams
Home Shop Combo
Nice big clear span halls
Large family gatherings?
Lotsa space…
Interiors built just like any other…
Fancy stone front
Man cave anyone?
Nice all wood finish with custom door ways?
Spacious
Wet bar?
Even steel cladding can still look nice.
Need a fireplace? No problem!
Clean, practical lines.
Let your imagination FLY!!
Nice head room
Spacious Kitchen…
Look over these illustrations comparing a typical Perka Model 4000 Hybrid System Building Frame and a Pole Barn.
What do you see?
1. Do you notice a difference in head room? Is this important to you?
2. Do you notice how you can get a HIGHER – BIGGER door in a lower profile (eave height) building? Is this important to you?
3. Do you notice the extra space you might find in BETWEEN each frame or rafter? Could this be of importance to you?
What else do you see?
We invite your comments, suggestions, opinions which you can share by emailing to perka@teamperka.com.
Or feel free to call and discuss with any of our PERKA TEAM MATES at 800-467-3752.
WE LOVE TO HELP!
Cheers!
TEAM PERKA
Good choices indeed.
In fact when we (Perka) started back in 1981, Quonset Buildings were REAL popular. They were cost effective shelter buildings, fairly easy for the do it yourselfer and readily available with dozens of manufacturers making them all over North America!
Fast forward 30+ years — and they are still relatively cost effective (though alot less so) and not much has really changed about them so they are still relatively easy to put up, if you like putting in thousands of bolts to put it all together!
Back then they were “sold” without much engineering calculations to support them. Today there is much more of that available – but of course it closed the gab in the cost range. If you are going to build something to CODE – it must be able to withstand the earth quake, wind and snow loads… So they had to beefed up in many cases to do that. Just like with Pole Buildings or Stick Built structures – if not built to code — SURE THEY WILL BE CHEAP! If they are — the price will go up – and sometimes quite significantly! So it’s always about EDUCATING yourself and KNOWING what it is you are really buying!
With alot less manufacturers – shipping costs can be a significant add on too. Something else to watch for.
Another thing to be careful about is – actual “size comparisons”!!! A 40 foot wide Quonset will not have the same VOLUME of space as a straight wall. And even between straight wall designed buildings some have BOTTOM CORDS with TRUSSING all above that and so you will get LESS HEAD ROOM! Get some sketches with dimensions if you can!
Below is an example comparing the Quonset sizes on a “40-19” model vs and 40-14 Perka Model 4000 Hybrid!
The moral of this story here is: — ASK QUESTIONS. Know what you are buying — hopefully BEFORE you do that!
The Common Law of business balance by Ruskin sums this up best:
“There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person’s lawful prey. It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money — that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot — it can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.”
The question is will you be able to afford actually paying for it LATER (usually more), if you don’t put some extra in NOW!
Make sense?
Here is that comparison!
COMPARE BEFORE YOU BUY!!
If you have ANY questions about ANYTHING regarding buildings — there are some pretty good chances TEAM PERKA can help! We have over a century of industry experience here and been actually putting building SOLUTIONS together for OVER 30 years!
Feel free to call 800-467-3752. WE LOVE TO HELP!
Someone once said that KNOWLEDGE is power…
The FACT is — it’s the USE of KNOWLEDGE that is POWER!
OK…. so without “thinking” which would you choose? —
regardless of purpose?
WOOD or STEEL?
There is much written about the benefits of wood AND steel.
The POWER is in KNOWING where and when to use EACH!
Someone also said — a PICTURE is worth 1000 words.
Well here are just two!
NO BRAINER?
For a live discussion on this topic and MORE PICTURES visit: https://www.facebook.com/PERKABUILDINGS/posts/10152188528584882
Custom built Residence made with a Perka Hybrid (M4600) building! Getting Maximum Use Benefit here!!
Quality in a product or service is not in what a supplier puts INTO them, it is what a client GETS OUT OF THEM.
We believe clients should only pay for what is of use to them and gives them value in the big picture, at the completion of the project and over time. This is a fundamental understanding and intention of those who make up our family: “Team Perka”.
(Paraphrased from Peter F. Drucker quote)
Here are 7 more GREAT Reasons Why it would serve you well to put up a Perka Building System.
Continuuing from 2 previous post at: http://www.perkabuildings.com/7-more-great-reasons-to-help-you-build-strong/ AND – http://www.perkabuildings.com/why-a-prefab-perka-hybrid-wood-steel-building/…
15. 50 year factory warranty on Perka Frames – We put our money where our mouth is. Most other companies only offer one year. Or more with all kinds of conditions!! PERKA IS MADE TO LAST!
16. Because we typically use expandable ends, future additions or building expansions are made easily. All you have to do is take out the posts, girts and sheeting and add on another frame. If you are thinking of the FUTURE we can make that work easily for you!!
17. We’ve been awarded the Gold Key of Excellence 9 times and 6 years in a row. This is voted on by contractors and we receive it for our commitment to superior service and quality. WE BELIEVE IN DELIVERING ONLY THE BEST FOR OUR CLIENTS!
18. With Perka, while we do have a standard roof pitch for our prefab hybrid buildings — we can design the building with ANY pitch you want. No cookie cutter designs that will limit you. Always “MADE TO ORDER”!
19. We can even mix wood with steel to the point that you can have a wood frame with clear spans on one end and steel or steel expandable frames on the other end and for all clear spans we would use steel. TOTALLY FLEXIBLE AND INGENIOUS DESIGNS!
20. We have over 500 different frames with 5000 different configurations. There is no need to be “stuck” with a particular configuration… WHATEVER YOU NEED – WE GOT IT!
21. Since you are reading this – you are probably in the top 10% of the informed building consumer public. This means you are doing your homework and you deserve the absolute RIGHT BUILDING, FOR YOU, based on YOUR NEEDS. And THAT is what we do BEST as TEAM PERKA. We listen and we will deliver. Call us now – 800-467-3752. WE LOVE TO HELP!
Here are 7 MORE GREAT Reasons Building with Perka can serve you BEST!
8. Because of the use of steel frames (trusses) for core super structure you can have wider spans and longer bay spacings than wood buildings. This makes for easier floor planning by being more flexible and practical!
9. Because steel frames have longer bays and wider spans, you can have fewer columns and this means less foundation “holes” than wood (pole) buildings. Plus having columns sitting on piers is always better than wood poles in the ground. In fact most poles actually do not meet codes. (See: http://www.perkabuildings.com/pole-barn-collapse-educate-yourself-before-you-buy-all-wood/). This makes your building more durable!
10. Perka offers TOTAL Design flexibility; you can get the EXACT building you want and need, not one that might work for you. We can design and build to the INCH… If you need anything more – ASK! (ie. Inside width and height can be made to the inch and the length is endless.) YOUR PLAN is what we derive the BEST SOLUTIONS FOR!!
11. Perka has IN HOUSE house design team – we have our own engineers, draftsman and detailers who check and recheck all our designs for OPTIMUM efficiency and accuracy. And we can tailor the building EXACTLY how you want it! YOU GET QUALITY FRAMES, MADE FOR YOU, THAT YOU KNOW WILL FIT TOGETHER!
12. You can get anchor bolt plans in less than 5 days, engineered data drawings in 7-10 days and the building can be delivered in as little as 3-6 weeks. If you have any special circumstance we will always do our best towork something out WITH you. You can count on FAST NEIGHBORLY SERVICE!
13. Perka’s unique steel frame STAND ALONE design permits for UNLIMITED exterior finish choices. By turning the wood purlins to a vertical position you can virtually add ANY finish you want. Just like a roof/wall in your house! You can have the nicest looking building in your area – with STEEL inside! Instead of looking like a “shed” it can look just like your house or existing business. EASY TO WORK WITH AND FINISH!
14. Perka has an easy to read and nicely detailed 32 page assembly guide made with the “Do-it-yourselfer” or carpenter builder in mind. PERKA BUILDINGS ARE REAL EASY TO PUT UP!
For more info and details on any of the above benefits and feature contact your PERKA TEAM MATE!
Here are 7 GREAT Reasons Why it would benefit you to purchase and build with a Perka PREFAB HYBRID WOOD STEEL BUILDING System. (Put simply — for more detailed info – call your Perka TEAM MATE or find out who from HQ at 800-467-3752).
1. Using wood for the purlins and girts is a GREAT ENERGY SAVER…. Wood is NOT a conductor of hot or cold and energy costs are rising through the roof! You Save MONEY!
2. Perka’s attachment clips are pre-welded on! NO assembly required by YOU or your contractor. You Save Time!
3. Wood girts allow for easier door and window installations. Hammer and nails are easier than a blowtorch or welder. You can install the openings whenever and wherever you want. You get convenience and save Time & Money!
4. Because Perka spaces their wood purlins and girts typically at 24” inch centers, the interior is already prepped to be finished. You don’t have to BUILD another building INSIDE your building to finish it! Easy to work with!
5. With all steel buildings using steel ZEE purlins, Tek screws and washers are used to attach metal and typically in 5 years or so the screws and washers leak. Wood will not leak because the wood will swell to seal the hole. Maintenance Free building!
6. It is easier finding carpenters to put up a wood/steel building. Steel erectors cost more, have less flexibility and are generally often less “creative”. Carpenters are often experienced tradesmen, with more options and usually with alot of creativity to make things work. This makes building alot asier and less costly!
7. In the event of wind up-lift, snow or ice loads or fire, unlike typical ALL STEEL OR ALL WOOD DESIGNS you’ll never lose a whole building. You may lose a bay but that’s it! If a fire breaks out in a all steel building, because the metal twists and bends, the steel purlins pull the other frames in collapsing the whole building. Perka Buildings have purlins and girts in wood – that burn up and allow the roof section to collapse but not the whole structure. Also unlike WOOD poles and trusses, Perka’s STEEL frames are designed to stand alone… AND in the case of that God Forbid Fire, this actually vents the heat and the Perka steel frame remains untouched. The frame survives, stands up and after the clean up, the building’s steel structure will be ready for new wood purlins and girts to be replaced and the new exterior to be put on. A safer better investment!
For more in depth info contact TEAM PERKA at 800-467-3752 or email to perka@teamperka.com.
Pole barn collapse kills 5 cows and injures 2 more.
Check out this link on the International Building Code Website regarding post frame/stick built/post and beam construction:
http://www4.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=000885
It’s also reproduced below.
This is something you can share with friends, family, neighbors thinking of building with pole barns or post frame alternatives – we know these will be priced MUCH LOWER… as they should be… question is: “is it really worth the risk?”
Note there are post frame companies that do build to code… but there is NO WAY they can price it much less if at all than our PERKA BUILDING Model 4000 – let alone the ECONO MODEL!
Cheaper is seldom “BETTER”!
PASS IT ON — Knowledge is POWER!
I have a question for the code enforcement community as it pertains specifically to building code enforcement for post frame buildings. Why do you generally NOT require engineering design documents for post-frame buildings?
Post frame buildings are highly stressed, structurally indeterminate structures that most generally rely on wall sheathing (wood or metal sheathing) for stability. By my estimate there are a minimum of 10 connections and structural elements that require structural analysis to insure building code compliance. Checkout loanload for financial needs. A fairly comprehensive list for a simple building follows:
1. Main columns (posts) solid sawn or laminated
2. Post embedment (constrained and non-constrained)
3. Post footing thickness and diameter
4. Truss to post connection (uplift and down load)
5. Roof purlins
6. Wall girts
7. Wall sheathing
8. Roof sheathing
9. Gable wall posts
10. Lateral bracing for gable posts and trusses
The analysis of a post-frame building is more akin to aircraft analysis than stick-frame analysis. By the time a simple, box post-frame building is ready for review by the Building Department a design package should include about 23 pages of calculations and seven 8.5″ x 11″ (A size) drawings.
Since there is no prescriptive code for post-frame buildings (I would write one myself and FIRE all of these expensive engineers and designers if I could write one myself) and since the job of Building Officials and Plans Examiners is to insure building code compliance and, thereby, public health, safety and welfare, it seems reasonable to me that engineering documentation would generally be required for these structures. Not only is this not the case I find that a significant fraction of code enforcement officers and Building Departments are complicit in the circumvention of the building code.
There are several counties here in Oregon and Washington that actually hand out design documents whereby non-compliant, unsafe buildings are allowed to be permitted and constructed. I gathered up all of these documents that I could find and ran a structural analysis on them all. I found 400% overstresses in all cases. When I complained to the Engineers Board about this problem, they (the weenies) claimed to have no jurisdiction over the activities of Oregon Building Departments. I complained to the Building Codes Division of the State of Oregon. BCD claimed to not only not care about the situation they claimed that THEY had no jurisdiction over the local Building Departments. I might add that when I asked the President of the Engineers Board what he would do to me if I turned in such documents. He replied “Oh, we would revoke your license.” Indeed.
Non-engineered buildings fall down at an alarming rate. We had a little sprinkle of snow here in Oregon and Washington over Christmas of 2008. Afterward I took a tour of two Oregon counties with a contractor that I work with. He was licking his chops at all the building collapses. It looked like Godzilla had walked around in those counties. Buildings had gone down in less than half the local design snow load. And that was deemed to be an “Act of God”. It was no such thing. It was the act of a bunch of incompetent contractors and Building Departments that refused to do their job.
I spoke to a woman recently whose building had blown over in a little puff of breeze the day after the contractor left the building site. The woman owned two acres and a llama. The county Building Department had done her a favor and given her an Ag Permit. The Ag Permit saved her money and kept her from having to comply with the Building Code. It also kept her out of the clutches of the engineers. Some favor. She had absolutely no recourse. The disheartening thing is that collapse could have been prevented by the installation of a few pieces of pressure treated wood that the contractor left behind in the scrap pile.
Oregon and Washington are not the only states that don’t enforce the Building Code for post-frame buildings. I am licensed in 38 other states and ALL of them hand out Ag Permits like candy. “It’s just a pole building, who cares?” I care because when one of them falls over or blows down I have to help pay for it through my increased insurance premiums. We all do. Hell, I did an as-built analysis on an equipment storage building for a county road department that had been ag permitted. When the road maintenance supervisor found out about it HE required the analysis not the county Building Official.
I could go on. I won’t because I know I’m already boring everyone. But my question remains – Why don’t Building Departments enforce the building code? I’m sorry if I hurt any feelings out there but I personally believe that the building code is a good thing that insures the public health, safety and welfare. And I further believe that code enforcement officers and licensed design professionals should live up to the duties and obligations that have been entrusted to them by the citizenry. Thank you – Nicholas Jasper, PE
Perka Buildings manufactures their own proprietary stand alone sovereign steel frames that are specially designed for EZ install by unskilled labor as well as for Do-It-Yourselfers.
Furthermore, the Engineer’s design process puts the load on the Perka Frames without necessarily taking into account the extra re-inforcing that comes from ADDING the side wall wood girts and the roof wood purlins. On top of that there is also inherent “strength” in the total BUILDING SYSTEM that comes from adding the exterior envelope material – typically steel siding… This offers much stronger steel frames and adds to the security of the building’s safety.
Most other pre fab building manufacturers design their structures as a SYSTEM. These designs are very strict as wells as restrictive with regards to being able to make ANY changes after design. They are typically designed ONE way and must remain so. Also their built in SAFETY factor would be much narrower on a SYSTEM designed building over one like Perka’s as “stand alone” frames!
Perka is also very conscious of our product and overall business carbon footprint, and choose to incorporate features into our product process to save on materials, time and effort, not only for assembly, but for insulating, maintenance, future add ons and finish.
The Perka Frame is versatile and flexible enough to be able to accept virtually ANY earth friendly material for it’s envelope, thus not only facilitating the “organic home”, “ecobuilding” or ”Greening” ideals, but also provides a still very important concern for strength and integrity for structure and content safety, including a longer lifespan which is also consistent with a closed loop sustainable construct.
For more info about how Perka is always looking out for it’s clients of today as well as for the generations of the future contact any TEAM PERKA mate at 800-467-3752!
In it for the long haul!
Cheers,
(Paraphrased from Father Athol Murray’s “The Notre Dame Man”. Father Murray was head of small High School “Notre Dame College” in Wilcox, Saskatchewan)
Our World today
is looking for men and women,
Who are not for sale. Who are honest,
Sound from center to circumference,
true to the heart’s core.
With consciences as steady as the needle to the pole.
Who are steadfast if the heavens totter and the earth reels.
Who can tell the truth and look the world right in the eye.
Who neither brag nor run – Who neither flag or flinch.
Who can have courage without shouting it.
Who know their message and tell it.
Who know their place and fill it.
Who know their business and attend to it.
Who will not lie, shirk or dodge.
Who are not too lazy to work.
Who are willing to eat what they have earned,
and wear what they have paid for.
Who are not ashamed to say “No” with emphasis.
Our World is looking for them, men and women,
who can unite around a common faith,
who can join hands in a common task .
Not only are they better prepared to fulfill their
duties to their world, they make a better friend,
a better husband, a better father,
a better wife, a better mother. Because free people do.
They are better prepared to live, and when their hour comes,
they will know better how to die, because free people do.
This, is a PERKA TEAM MATE. Are you?
Would you like to join our TEAM?
Call us at 800-467-3752 or email to perka@teamperka.com
All the wonderful traditions of Christmas and Holiday gatherings offer us a great opportunity to take a breath, think about where we are at in our personal evolution and appreciate any and all of our blessings… Like YOU!
And if we are experiencing challenging times and/or having tough experiences we can also realize that they usually offer great opportunity… for new realizations.
i.e. We actually can choose to focus on some of the non-tangible aspects of our existence and consciously take action to connect with our loved ones in true Christmas Presence!
And as part of the “presents” that we’ve been gifted this year there are 4 things that stand out:
1. The rewards we received were typically in exact proportion to the SERVICE we gave.
2. The more energy, effort or “work” we applied the greater it seemed our “payback” was!
3. How we treated others always seemed to be almost exactly how we were treated in return.
4. And as long as we focused on IMPROVING things every day (not dwelling on any shortcomings) things DID improve, in many ways, day by day…
This Holiday season we would like to offer you our “Presence” – as Service, as Effort, as and in the exact manner we would like to be treated…
And so as fellow humans being, (brothers/sisters) we wish to offer you, that you need never have to face a challenge alone… if there is ever ANYTHING in (our) stewardship that can be of service to you, IT IS THERE FOR YOU AS WELL. JUST ASK!
As you would be there for your family, friends, neighbors, clients,
WE DESIRE TO BE THERE FOR YOU.
Even after Christmas 2013 becomes a beautiful memory, we pray that each new day brings us renewed realizations of our connectedness as friends, family, neighbors and humans being.
Let us BE the Reason for this Season… and may that Season be EACH AND EVERY DAY!
From all your friends, family, neighbors at TEAM PERKA!
“Joyeux Noel!!”
Perka’s Wood Steel Hybrid Buildings are designed to be easy to assemble, easy to insulate, easy to finish – even easy to pay for… from the money savings in it’s being practically used, it’s energy efficiency, comfort, durability, just to name a few.
A Quick Guide to Choosing a Prefab Steel Building
Perka has plenty of prefab steel buildings for sale. We offer custom engineered drawings and over 12 popular “standard” frame models to choose from. The Perka advantage has always included fast delivery, active builder support, building value and our pre-fit guarantee that our prefab hybrid wood/steel buildings will always be job site ready.
Perka has been a quiet leader in the steel building industry. All our prefab steel buildings are engineered and fabricated at our factory. Once made, all steel frames, beams, and fasteners are delivered to your job site. All prefab steel buildings come with detailed assembly guides and active builder support is only a phone call away. The advantage in Perka’s wood/steel hybrid buildings is how you can drastically shorten construction time over a traditional building. Another advantage is the simplicity in assembling our prefab steel buildings. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or professional builder, all that is normally required to assemble Perka prefab steel frames is general carpentry skills. If you prefer to work with a local licensed general contractor, ask us about our approved builder list; when you want it done right and by someone who is a professional, we can help.
Our steel building frames come in all shapes and sizes. Perka hybrid wood/steel buildings commonly are built with interior heights of 8’ and up. A prefab steel building is perfect for enclosing large, open spaces, like a warehouse, barn, riding arena, church, home or industrial building. From as small as a 10’ X 20’ shed or as large as 200’ wide by unlimited lengths. Perka’s factory is equipped to design and engineer any shape or sized prefab steel building.
Do you have a special building need? Most prefab steel building manufacturers only offer you one size, set location of doors and windows and limited pitch of the roof, all served in a square box. Perka’s prefab hybrid wood/steel buildings offer much more flexibility for customization. Whether it’s an arched truss, special roof or a building on an odd lot, there’s nothing Perka’s engineers can’t design and manufacture. The interior is easy to finish and insulate thanks to Perka’s use of wood purlins and girts. Another benefit, is mixing and matching of different frames or parts of frames to come up with your ideal building layout.
Did you know that wood/steel prefab buildings are less expensive to build than almost any conventional style of construction? This is because they are less finished on the inside. A very basic steel building can be built for as little as $15 to $25 per square foot. More finished metal buildings are usually $20 to $30 per square foot and extensive customized buildings with brick facades, unusual shapes or complicated construction can reach $40 and up. Prefab steel buildings have improved appearances in recent years. Perka’s wood/steel hybrid buildings can be constructed with any choice of material for the envelope. It’s stand alone design makes your choice of building solutions virtually unlimited.
… Sometimes when you pay a little more – you get something MORE!
There are more and more folks thinking of building their own homes, shops, garages, etc., either as a do it yourselfer or as their own “General Contractor”… This is to not only for the freedom to be able to design it all exactly the way they would want, but to also substantially save on costs. This is always a good thing!
Once that is decided the next question that often comes up is: What materials is best to use for the superstructure?… Wood, Steel or otherwise?
We can share from many experiences being involved in the building industry for now well over 100 collective years… #1 is a steel framed building structure for your home, business or shop will give you many advantages! Here are just a few…
1. IT IS MORE DURABLE
A steel framed home, shop or shed or garage will be much more durable and sturdier from day one and, more importantly, for the long haul. As you might expect – STEEL is definitely a stronger material than wood! It will last longer and withstand much more in terms of wind, snow loads or even .
2. IT CAN OFFER LARGE CLEAR SPAN OPTIONS
With Steel frames, you will be able to create nice, clean, clear span, unobstructed rooms. Steel can span larger dimensions easier, while not requiring posts or beams to support the roof trusses. And some Perka Models will even be able to offer clear vaulted ceilings offering even more advantages with getting higher door openings, more open access and even space for mezzanine lofts, 2nd floor areas or even practical attic storage.
3. STEEL IS MADE MOSTLY FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS
Wood is a great organic material – but it is also being depleted faster than it’s being renewed! While a renewable resource – it does take time. Most steel these days comes from recycling old steel… from cars to old bridges and structural steel scrap. This is a good thing for the environment.
4. WOOD HAS IT’S ADVANTAGES TOO
Of course going with all steel does sound pretty “COLD”… As stated above, wood is a very organic material and does offer a certain “energy” to a living or working space. So using a HYBRID Wood and Steel system – will give you the best of both worlds. You will be able use steel where steel is needed in and for the superstructure – and then can frame all the rest – including any openings for windows, doors etc, with wood where it serves best! There are a few Hybrid Building Companies around like Perka Buildings. www.perkabuildings.com
5. AREN’T STEEL HOMES/BUILDINGS HARDER TO KEEP WARM IN WINTER AND COOL IN SUMMER?
Steel Frames are not necessarily harder to heat or cool if you create the right THERMAL BREAKS. By using a product like one with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) core (i.e. www.p2000insulation.com), you will be able to effectively and easily insulate the home against ALL THREE forms of heat transfers.
a) The EPS – especially on wood purlins and girts – will virtually stop conduction since it pretty much blocks the transfer of heat to the cold (like a coffee cup – but 5 or 8 times thicker?).
b) The coverings that are offered like reflective Mylar will handle the heat loss from radiation due it’s ability to reflect back most of the radiant heat.
c) And finally, by sealing all the board joints with their overlap, foam sealants and or tape systems, you will prevent any heat transference from convection (air flow)…
And that’s it – ONE application on a wood steel hybrid building and you have a virtually perfectly super-insulated system!!
6. QUICK, EASY AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO ERECT.
If you get the right steel building frame design system (i.e. with pre-welded and pre-punched clips, pre-fitted to assure accuracy, minimal connections for simplicity, and well thought out and designed to eliminate as much shimming, splicing and retrofitting) – it will actually be allot quicker to erect, finish and insulate your home or building – and this will save you allot of time, money and “headaches”!!
So, it’s always good to do your homework. Check out the various steel building frame and insulation options that are available. Know who you are buying from.
You can easily have a well built, well insulated building or home that will not only be very affordable, but be low maintenance, energy efficient, strong, secure, comfortable and last for generations.
Cheers!
TEAM PERKA.
More and more folks are finding themselves on tightened budgets these days. Concerns about economic slow downs, cut backs, and job insecurity has got people really counting their pennies and not spending them faster than they absolutely need to. And that is perfectly understandable!
Most people are also aware of the fact that you can only GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!
PERKA’S HIGH STANDARD OF QUALITY
As many of you may already know PERKA is synonymous with quality, integrity, reliability, accuracy, service, dedication to client satisfaction and much more. These are inherent values you will ALWAYS get from PERKA products.
Now many people will say we are kind of like the “Cadillac” of the building world. We have many standard options that are ALREADY included. We hold to very high standards of design, workmanship, inspections and accountability from start to finish. Of course all these virtues do add more time and attention to the product process and thus give it even more value.
THE LAW OF BUSINESS BALANCE
According to John Ruskin the law of business balance simple states you just can not get something for nothing – so all of Perka’s value added elements end up built into the cost of producing the product and providing service.
In today’s world, more than ever, this is not always an easy aspect to accept! Many people hope they can get all this extra attention and commitment and essentially get it for the lowest price going out there! Believe me, we’ve tried to trim in various places to help bring the numbers down to help more folks get into a PERKA BUILDING. And let’s face it – most people love the “luxury car” feel and amenities – but can’t always justify or accept the extra initial cost on their budgets. (Even though in many cases there is a substantial saving on maintenance, depreciation and wear and tear items.)
Well all this to say PERKA is not about to compromise any of their value added elements. So there really is no room for cost cutting there. We have decided however, that we can modify a few things to make the Perka Econo Building more comparable to many lower priced alternatives and yet still offer all the major benefits of the PERKA STANDARD for quality and service.
7 FEATURES TO HELP SAVE ON YOUR BUILDING BUDGET
The new PERKA ECONO MODEL is a small variation of the present Model 4000 system. Same basic look, same quality in workmanship. But to help us be able to be more comparable to plate beam, “pole barn” or “post and beam” buildings which can be lower priced, we are now choosing to do a few things to close if not even eliminate the gap.
#1. Eave Height
The standard eave height on a Model 4000 is the dimension to the top of the truss’ steel. So by the time you add the purlin and sheeting – the actual height is 8″-10″ taller. So the Perka ECONO MODEL will now have a nominal eave height dimension that includes the purlin and sheeting. Just like most of the lower priced alternatives.
#2. Dead Load
Perka’s standard allowance for dead load has always been a minimum of 4 pounds. This allows for the weight of the purlins and the sheeting and as much as an extra 1.5# for more weight – be it insulation, more roof material or even small collateral load items. Now we will design in the same loading of 2.5 pounds found in most of these lower cost alternatives.
#3. Girt spacing
Another Perka Design Standard for their HYBRID wood/steel design buildings has been to always hold to a 24″ spacing on the purlins and girts. There is not much we can do about the roof since the 24″ spacing is minimum needed to meet snow loads. However, on the walls, a 48″ spacing (and even more in some cases) is more often used. And another thing that is found in many pole barn or post & beam buildings is the girt is often only a 2″ x 4″ and many times laying flat with it’s weaker axis taking the windload. Now we’re not prepared to go to the extent of using 2″ x 4″ for girts – but we can still meet minimum windload requirements and have our typical girts clips (still pre welded and pre punched) at 48″ centers and still receive 2″ x 6″. Another lower cost saving! Just like most of the lower priced alternatives.
#4. Frame Warranty
The standard warranty period offered by Perka on their frames is presently 50 years. Like any form of insurance – there is a certain small percentage of every “order” that must be allocated to the cost just in case. Since most of the lower priced building alternatives carry little or NO WARRANTY, and if they do, it is one offered from pretty much a BRAND NEW company or from the contractor themselves! (Remember: you get what you pay for!) Now we can’t erase our 30 year history of providing quality buildings but we can take away part of the allowance for the warranty to help with the cost. While you may not be getting an actual written warranty with this option – you are still getting the building frames from a 30 year old company who is high on integrity, honesty and good will.
#5. Sheeting warranty, trim package and fasteners.
If you are purchasing a building material package to include sheeting, trims and fasteners – Perka has always supplied the higher quality sheeting and trim alternatives. Always with the higher warranty. Like right now it’s at 40-45 years depending on the actually manufacturer we get supplied from. That being said – to compare with the lower priced alternatives, we can offer at a much reduced cost the typical 10 year warranty alternative. Furthermore – all Perka Material Packages have come with a deluxe trim packages which includes closure strips, eave trim, base trim and gable trim that is typically NOT included in lower priced packages. Also Perka generally only uses color matched #10 wood grip fasteners – these are screws. Of course supplying standard roof nails costs a bit less. So another place to lower the price!
#6. Fascia, gable and corner finishes
When you get a building material package furnished by Perka you will have wood material to support your mid bay girts on buildings with over 14′ bay spacings, and for the finishing of your fascias on the gable ends, as well as for your corners to make it easier to fasten your sheeting and trims. Whether you are a do it yourselfer or a seasoned contractor, this is just one of those “luxury” options that makes the builder’s life easier. Of course you will not necessarily get this with the lower priced option!
#7. OPTION 1 – NON EXPANDABLE WOOD END FRAMES
Typically when a material is offered we can give the client 3 basic options.
By choosing OPTION 1 – you see we can lower the cost a bit more to be even more comparable. This way you still have STEEL WHERE STEEL IS NEEDED AND WOOD WHERE WOOD CAN SERVE BEST!
In conclusion – by adding all these feature adjustments into the PERKA ECONO BUILDING, we can, in most cases, lower the cost enough to still be able to offer you the peace of mind of using PERKA quality and integrity but being able to pay a little less to get it while getting no less than what you would from the lower priced alternatives!
Check it out for yourself. Visit other sections on this website — www.perkabuildings.com for more info about standard designs… feel free to call direct at 800-467-3752.
Cheers
Reply by RM on July 25, 2009 at 11:54pm
A few years back we asked contractor/builder folks what they thought about Perka Buildings. You don’t have to take our, albeit biased, opinion… here is just one reply we received…
Reply by K.M. on March 2, 2009 at 5:46pm
A. No perimeter or interior footings required. Savings on cement.
B. No load bearing walls. Savings.
C. No door headers. Savings.
D. Ability to put interior walls where ever you please.
E. Much less studs to drill for wiring and piping.
F. Model 4000 Frames can be purchased (in some areas like the east and west coasts) for the cost of wood trusses alone. WOW!!!
G. They are really low cost and super fast engineering.
H. Major labor savings on construction.
3. Perka vs residential stick building.
A. All of the above plus:
B. You can get no hassle open beam vaulted ceilings
C. Ability of frames to be built for sloping land. The cost savings here alone on cement footings can be staggering.
D. No hassle perimeter decking, second floor balconies, covered porches, etc,etc,etc.
Like I said the list above is just a few of the benefits.
On selling/promoting Perka Buildings:
I know this was not part of this discussion but I can’t stop when I’m on a roll!
The biggest thing for me is not to go head to head with other metal buildings. I don’t sell metal buildings if I can help it. They are a pain to put up. A pain to work with. You always need to consult engineering for any type of change. I’d prefer to sell Perka Metal Building frames. If someone just wants a non insulated, plain jane, metal building and they are just price shopping regardless of quality or benefits then that’s going to be a challenge. If they are wanting and understand value, benefits, long term investing, then they just opened the door for Perka Building. You may need to do a lot of prying (ask questions) about their project. I probably shouldn’t use the word prying but sometimes that’s what it is. For myself I’m always truly interested in the persons project, their preferences, their wants and desires. They can tell that when I talk to them. And I can do this with confidence knowing the Perka can back my ability to serve them. The first and foremost thing I truly do is rack my brain to find ways to save them money and be able to show them that on paper. For instance I can space the frames at 15′ and not need to have as many frames as stick buildings. Spacing the frames at 15′ also meant bigger floor joists and roof rafters. Since I’m such a good economist (cheap son of a gun), I decided to see how much it would be for an extra frame so I could use smaller lumber. To my surprise the total price with extra frame was the same as without. Since there was not as much load as the bigger spacing the metal required for the framing was less. Wow, see what I mean — the flexibility allows me to be able to try the different scenarios and come up with the BEST one. I am not locked into to just ONE way!!
Two stories. One of a sale and one of a non-sale.
Non-sale: A customer of mine from my other business was telling me that her and her husband were adding a garage (for storage) with living quarters above. I told her that I could save her a lot of money if she used Perka frames. Unfortunately she already had a contractor hired to build the stick framed building. He was behind by a couple of months and hadn’t started their building yet. She got a hold of the contractor and he said he would take a look at the Perka frames. BTW, this contractor had built several buildings for these people before. I designed some frames that gave her way more usable space plus added a huge second floor deck (his plans had no deck). All for more that $50,000 less than the contractor’s project finish price. I only lost that one because once the other contractor to a look at my plans and numbers, he saw that he would make a lot less money. Namely that $50,000. All of a sudden he was no longer busy and started to build their building while they were gone on vacation for four weeks! They did not have a contract with the builder but were friends so they just let it go…
Sale: This was actually to another contractor. He was building a residence plus hangers for private airports that has became quite popular around the country. This was actually a building he wanted for himself. He was going to stick build the two story residence with a workshop below part of it… but wanted metal frames for the hanger that was connected. I was actually bidding against other metal truss builders (Perka knock offs) for pricing . When I saw his plans I said “how about I price out the whole building for you with Perka multi design Frames. He said no because the building was already engineered and through planning, and he wanted to stick build because he was a contractor and he thought he could do it much cheaper. He said don’t bother you would be just wasting both of our time. I didn’t listen to him. I priced out the hanger frames but I also priced out the whole project with (custom) Perka Frame. He pretty much just had a un-attractive same height square box before. I designed him a beautiful split roof with high windows HOME. With the same footprint he gained 900 square feet in his second floor living quarters plus a added second floor observation deck to oversee the runway. He had clearer shop space below (less load bearing posts). I also showed him where and how he would save money and labor over his design. Once he saw my idea in a colored pencil drawing I made (just the shear better looks of my building design sold him on it I believe), he had to meet me in person to go over it. After we met and saw what I was saying was true, he scrapped his project. He tried to shop other building frame manufacturers to try to get a better price than mine. But nobody else he contacted would not even entertain putting a similar package together. He was sold! Sometimes it pays to show a person different ideas, even if at first they are set in their ways. He is extremely happy with his building now and told me it went together without a hitch!!
It would be so easy to get really frustrated right about now…
Some of this really started about 7 years ago now. Our founder, long time leader and most friendly mentor to so many people, passed away suddenly, and very astonishingly, leaving a fairly HUGE void in many lives. I for one, his son, his business partner of 30 years, an avid student of his wisdoms, guidance and leadership and most importantly a LIFE LONG friend, was virtually devastated. I not only lost my “dad” who I treasured and loved, I lost three other important “personalities” as well!!!
If you’ve ever experienced a loss of a very close and dear loved one (similar to this), you no doubt know that one never really gets “over” it. Sure time heals some of the pain… it can, however, be a frequent struggle keeping the mind from falling into the pain traps… – but, what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger, right? … and it is… still.
I, and we as a Team, did whatever we could, with whatever resources we could manage, to cope, adapt and persevere. The challenges since then have been quite heavy at times indeed, after all, we lost our “strongest” carrier. So we had to reach out, step up and dig deep! As a collective of family, friends, caring neighbors and even the occasional kind angelic stranger, we were better able to handle the loads and are still here today. Thriving. Again.
Much like our buildings, (which is as much a PHILOSOPHY as it is STRUCTURE) … we put into practice the virtues and positive product ideals of synergy, optimism, honesty, appreciation, faith, integrity, efficiency, accuracy, quality, durability and flexibility! And never will we compromise on these. While we may be able to give you all the various options in quality and price, to make a well informed choice – we will always first put forward our absolute best, and do so with all the conviction and faith that my dad had when he came up with it and all that his loyal team can put behind it!
Now, why am I saying we could really be feeling frustration right now? Well if you’ve been following our blog on our main website (http://perkabuildings.com/blog) over the past few years you will have noticed that about 6 month ago – it disappeared again — for a 2nd time!! While the first time was apparently we were “hacked”, compromising certain security levels and we had to “amputate” the blog to save the site! This time it was a site rebuild which somehow LOST the blogs…. again. With that – we lost some 50+ blog entries dealing with all kinds of “building”, motivational, anecdotal and even the odd socio-political issue.
So here we are now – having to start over and re-write many of these that were not saved, including our previous WELCOME memo! (I kidded often when I was younger, – learning various trades under my dad’s sometimes ”sink or swim” tutelage: “If we didn’t do it twice – we didn’t do it right – but by God – we ALWAYS did it right!!” – Thanks again Dad!)
So for now, as we begin the task of reposting the blogs, I just want to extend to you a warm welcome (or welcome BACK), and to also express our Team’s sincere and most humble APPRECIATION for your interest in not only our product and our company, which we truly believe will really SERVE you well, for a multitude of reasons, but also about being and doing the RIGHT thing… After all – that is the only rule any successful person, business or organization ever lives by…THE GOLDEN RULE!
Cheers,
Martial