Ahead of Success

February 3, 2021 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, diet, Do it yourself, energy efficient, energy saving, envelope, hybrid, opportunity, post & beam, system design, teammate. construction, thanks, truth

By Olivia Truesdale (Martial Thevenot Editor)

Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, has been attributed to saying, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

While the facts are such that he never actually said anything of the sort, it would have been very fitting to his reputation if he had!

Many of us know him for the position he held during World War II, but it is a little-known fact that he also was actively involved in the first World War. History probably wants you to forget about that part because it did not go very well.

He actually helped plan several *UNSUCCESSFUL* battles. Of course, today we only remember him for the leadership position he held during the early 1940s and the important role he played in helping the Allies win World War II. So how did he go from a seeming failure to a national (and international) hero and inspiration?

In a simplest of ways, he “had the courage to continue”. He didn’t let his failures define him. If he had, we would not likely be living in the world we know today.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, as expressed by this (misquoted) quote: “Success is not final.” Often, after succeeding in something, we find ourselves “coasting”. After a “big win”, many people tend to slow down, relax, and “celebrate”. Now, there is nothing wrong with congratulations when they are in order, but it becomes a problem when we use our success as a reason to take our foot off the gas. “Oh, I finished that yesterday. I don’t have to worry today.”

Of course, it’s perfectly acceptable to take a break after a big success, sharpen the axe so to speak… unless it becomes a constant excuse. Sometimes we push ourselves so far backwards after a success that we wind up worse than before!

The easiest and most common example of this can be found in dieting. “I was really healthy yesterday. I did all my workouts; I ate well. I guess that means that I can have junk food and skip my workout today!” And when that attitude drags on for days, we can end up undoing all of our hard work. Yikes! Sound familiar?

So how do we overcome this?

While the answer can be simple, it can also be much easier said than done. “Just do it.” (Huh, that sounds coincidentally like the motto for a popular brand of athletic wear.) I know it’s cheesy, but hear me out.

No one can force you to persevere after you succeed. Others can motivate you, but you are the biggest determiner of whether or not you are going to continue to evolve after a big success (or a big failure, for that matter).

You are the only one who has control of your actions. All that to be said, it is helpful to have a strong support system surrounding you, encouraging you to keep going and persevere towards reaching your next goal and your next success. This could be friends, family, or anyone else who has the same goals as you.

At Team Perka, we would love to be a part of helping you achieve your building goals!

Whether you need a building for your new startup business, are looking to build your dream home, or trying to find a place to store animals or equipment or toys, we can help. While we can’t say that we have seen everything, we can say that we have definitely seen a thing or two!

Contact us for a consultation! Even if you don’t purchase from us, we love to help, as we know that good begets good.

(Of course we would also love it if you did purchase from us, because we want to get to know all the super cool we can and collaborate on great dreams and successes!)

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, visit our website, and let us know how we can become part of your next big triumph, as we would are always happy to support and help ensure that you keep succeeding in whatever is important to you!

Peace on Earth, One Customer at a Time

December 29, 2020 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged advice, barndominium, building, carreer, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, econo, energy efficient, energy saving, envelope, flexible, lumber, shed, shouse, steel building, sustainable, system design, teammate. construction, thanks, truth, welcome

3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!!! That’s right, folks. 2021 is almost here, and no doubt most of us feel that we are sure ready for something new – and that is not going to be too hard since so much this year has been “new”! YES?

Check out these last minute DIY ideas for a stay at home type of celebration!

2020 seems as though it has brought about one messy situation after another. But is it the calendar year’s fault!? Is it a curse or can it be a blessing? How we respond and deal with it can make a huge difference.

(Does anyone even remember those Australian fires from January? How about those murder hornets?)

Just because the Earth has made another rotation around the Sun does not mean that everything will just “go back to normal”. Humans have always been faced with challenges and problems (aka opportunities), ever since the very first people walked the Earth.

That is why it is so important to stay connected to friends and family.

This year, more than ever, we might be most served by and for each other in order to keep ourselves positive (and sane). Your friends and family may be a phone call away, a long car ride away, or even a socially-distant-and-masked airplane ride away. No matter the distance, we believe in the significance of strong, caring relationships. The slower times around the holidays are the perfect time to reach out to our loved ones and let them know how much we care.

But maybe this message doesn’t necessarily apply to you. Maybe your loved ones live too far away, and you are unable to be with them. Perhaps the pandemic of 2020 has taken its toll on those who are dear to you. Maybe you even lost a loved one. May Peace be with you.

It is possible too that you have just grown apart. Change and pain can be quite problematic aspects of human life (even though very normal), and we would like you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and all those who are facing challenges this holiday season.

At Team Perka, we care deeply about our teammates, our friends, our neighbors, and our families. Do you know who else we deeply care about? You!!! You, our fellow man/woman, our potential new personal friend-to-be, are one of the driving causes of what we do.

You are the highest priority of our business. You are at the TOP of our Team’s organizational chart!

If there is ever anything we can do from and with the growing resources of experience, “tools” and solution seeking creativity related to almost any sort of “building” question – that we can share, to give you a better experience in any way shape or form, feel free to contact us. Do you need help with a building solution or consultation, even if a Perka Hybrid Building is NOT your first choice? Let us know.

Or you are just not sure where to start? We can help!

Also have you had great a great experience while working and co-creating solutions with us? We would LOVE to hear it! And even if your experience was less than the best, please let us so we can improve. One of our inner team hashtags is #CSI!! Standing for Continuous Sustainable Improvement. So we welcome ALL the feedback we can get to be able to do that to the MAX!!

We would love to partner with you to make your building project simpler, more stress free and/or easier so you are happier and freer to do what YOU love to do best.

After all, another of our many guiding mottos is “Keep It Simple and Stress-free (K.I.S.S.)”!

In other words, and in the spirit of the holidays, we hope to make as big a contribution to “peace on earth and goodwill to all” as we possibly can — even by one client at a time.

When Life Gives You Lemons

September 15, 2020 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, dealer, Do it yourself, energy efficient, energy saving, envelope, flexible, hybrid, opportunity, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, sustainable, system design, truth

By Olivia Trusdale

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

This popular phrase is one of those “easier said than done” things. It isn’t always easy to sweeten what’s been soured, especially in the midst of the unprecedented times we’re living.

During the chaos and seeming madness, we can easily lose sight of the beauty in our everyday situations. (And sometimes, it can be really hard to find or see that beauty!) So how do we stay positive and insightful when we’re living through a literal PLAGUE PANDEMIC?!?!? And societal tensions? And a volatile economy? And don’t forget those murder hornets!

As TEAM PERKA, we are trying our utmost to “Keep It Simple and Stress-free” (K.I.S.S) So in this article, we’re going to be sharing 5 of our favorite tips for positive, hopeful, and connected OPTIMISMS.

Tip 1: Post positive sticky notes around your work and living spaces. It’s almost impossible not to smile when you’re looking at a cheerful note, from you, for you, to you! According to a Time Magazine article, posting constant visual reminders of positive thoughts or even inspiring photos can significantly improve your mood, your outlook and increase your confidence.

Some fun ideas for these happy little notes are “Smile!”, “It’s going to be a good day!”, and “You can do it!” You might also want to utilize your favorite quotes and Bible verses. There are endless possibilities. Focus on reviewing these positive messages frequently. Anything that sends you happy thoughts and “good vibes” does affect the psyche. (And if your happy sticky notes are spread throughout one of Perka’s hybrid buildings, that provides an extra burst of positivity and good MOJO!

You can virtually have a quantum vortex of optimism from a quality building, affordably constructed, comfortably furnished, AND boosted by happy thoughts posted all about the premises. How does it get better?

Tip 2: Stay connected with friends and family. Countless studies have proven that spending time with friends increases your happiness. Even though you may not be able to physically gather with the people you love, there are many other platforms that make it possible for you to stay connected. Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are popular and fast evolving online choices.

And there is always the old fashion phone call, postcard, letter or even a telegram! Yes telegrams are still possible – but maybe more so as a novelty! And of course there is a new digital app attempting to replicate the Telegram “feel” as an online chat messenger!!

Whichever way you choose, it’s important to keep communications open with the people you care about, and with anyone you basically have a meaningful relationship with. Just having that assurance of knowing that you aren’t alone helps you feel better about yourself and your situation.

Also being informed in a timely fashion of any “important or change in circumstances” can totally remove uncertainty that leads to “stress”! — The truth is, we’re all going through challenges of various degrees, right now, in real time.

We as TEAM PERKA are also living through this very same volatile yet expanding world like you. A GINORNOUS component of our culture – most of which pertains to creating more joy and less stress — is all about COMMUNICATING!! WE have a “hashtag” acronym we use every chance we get — #DWC. No, it’s not Dancing with Canadians or Drinking with Cowboys… it’s DON’T WAIT COMMUNICATE!!! We would love to be a part of the stress-free solution “lemonade” making that life is presenting to you. Contact us and let us know how we can be of service!

Tip 3: Let others know that you care about them and what they’re going through. While this piece of advice is not necessarily an obvious idea to foster positivity, reaching out to others can make a big impact on your own happiness, not to mention theirs.

When you help others, something happens in our brains and heart that promotes a realization of how blessed you are, inspiring gratitude and furthering more caring generosity. Plus, investing in other people (whether it’s with your time, talents, money, words, etc.) can be extremely gratifying. And you will just feel better, knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s day and life. Not only does it make you feel more positive, but they grow in positivity, too, because they received kindness from you. It creates a ripple effect. Which, if paid forward, can literally become perpetual in kinetic potential! Try it. If it’s not working just yet… increase the dose. This ideal is an important element in our Team’s culture as well!

Tip 4: While it’s good to reach out to others and connect with friends and family, don’t forget to take some time for yourself, too. Taking a break and having some fun- at the appropriate times- can help you refresh, relax, recharge, reignite, refocus and thus work (or play) more efficiently, especially when it’s time to begin again on your necessary tasks.

You shouldn’t ignore your problems, but brief distractions can help you return to them with new ideas and a fresh perspective.

Team Perka seeks to be a trusted advisor to help you look at your situation from as many perspectives as possible. From over 200 years of combined experience from the advisor team alone – you can benefit from the wisdom that life offers from making mistakes… and while there is a lot of training and education built in to our team – there is little to replace someone who has been through many relatable situations and has “seen a thing or two”!!

Tip 5: Stay flexible! BE flexible… this is one of those things that is less skill and almost all ATTITUDE!!! It’s a CHOICE!!! Being loose, calm, open, go-with-the-flow-, NO PANIC can really make a difference when seeking out STRESS FREE SOLUTIONS!

What is happening or is going to happen, is often just going to happen. The main thing you have control over is the way you respond to it. You can treat everything as a “problematic” challenge of extreme proportions or consequences OR you can see it as a new opportunity/way to serve and grow.

Worry less about “if you make a mistake”, or can’t respond “on some particular time line” per se; but yes do the best you can, with the resources you have and COMMUNICATE!! #DWC. Keep all concerned parties up to date and aware of the roadblocks, challenges or obstacles that need to be overcome!

Some things just are or are not in total synch with our moment to moment needs. Stay calm, poised and open to any, all and even “other” solutions! You will always receive the gift of knowing or understanding more about how to or not to possibly do or say something. Own it. Apologize if it serves. Make amends, reparations and KEEP MOVING. Keep evolving. It’s a secret to Happiness!

With TEAM PERKA, seeking to be calm, poised, reflective and specifically flexible is one of the five core values in our “S.A.F.E.R.” solution manifest. Flexibility means adapting in the midst of difficult, changing, unexpected, unplanned, or challenging circumstances and being open when change comes to work WITH IT. To seek out and then deploy a solution… Own it. But still grow with it.

Though this may sound presumptuous, we do sincerely hope that buying a new building is a change or opportunity that does comes your way. And when that presents itself, whether it came from a lemon or not – you can be assured that our Team will be here, able and willing, to help you stay positively on track, connected to purpose, calmly caring for your situation and for YOU personally – so that we can be poised to flexibly arrive at the best, most serving, joy filled solution.

For more information about our “Safe, Affordable, FLEXIBLE, Easy, Resilient” buildings, customer service, and company culture as a whole, contact us here.

Vertical Farming Garden Barns

August 1, 2020 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, crops, dealer, Do it yourself, energy efficient, energy saving, farm, farming, garden, green, growing, hybrid, lumber, pesticide, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, shed, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, yield

Believe it or not, it looks like farming is taking an “upward turn” – and hopefully in more ways than one!! As of this writing, crop and livestock prices were inching up. There appears to be some good negotiations on new trade deals that will favor more Farms and Ranches. Weather is not seeming to have as big an impact as of late. (Though that can change quickly.) Despite the COVID, there is some optimism in the Ag world!

Throughout the history of farming, crops need several things to grow, and it is seldom ever truly predictable! One of the newest factors that is becoming more and more difficult to have in abundance is one of the most important elements: space, land and fertile soil.

Present day farming already takes up a huge amount of land for crops to grow. We have more people to feed every day and therefore need more food everyday! Plus, certain lands have to “rest” to re-build their natural nutrients. On top of that , while the population of our world keeps growing ,more and more land is being re-purposed for other uses and some even in the name of LOVE.

So, unfortunately, our could be slimming. It is estimated that within the next thirty years, the human population will surpass 9 billion! Not only will they need more living space, but they will also require more food, which takes up even more area to be grown. Here is the latest PIVOT potential: vertical farming!

Vertical farming is the process of stacking garden boxes in a controlled environment, rather than spreading crops out in fields. With vertical farming, you don’t have to rely as much on nature to provide everything needed to grow crops or gardens. The grower can control the amount of light and heat that the crops receive. This process requires minimal soil and uses up to 95% less water than conventional farming. And there are NO bugs, meaning you won’t have to apply pesticides. You can have more control over more variables of your farm.

Not only that, but vertical farms can yield four to six times MORE per area than conventional farming methods. Vertical farming can definitely “stack up” as a viable solution to our world’s growing needs. It’s a win-win-win: more food, more control, and less space! In more ways than we can imagine then, things are certainly “looking up” for the farming industry!

At Team Perka, we understand that your crops are especially important to you and our world. That’s why we developed a hybrid building- part wood, part steel- in order to provide you with the highest quality structures for any and all of your projects.

And we are confident that you’ll love your Perka building as much as we do! Not only are they affordable and functional, they’re also extremely reliable and safe! Our unique hybrid buildings are strong and secure, perfect for housing anything you need. These one-of-a-kind models are customizable, re-designable, AND up to safety code!

We also guarantee that our buildings will meet any safety requirement around, so you can rest assured that your valuable equipment and animals are well-protected from the environment: dangerous winds, damaging rains or snow, and the powerful sun.

Your building can have a full or partial roof, along with custom doors to ensure that you get what works best for you. Whether you want open or enclosed walls, doors that fold up or roll up or slide or open regularly, one door or two or more- It’s all up to you! We work with you, so that your buildings have the highest quality, guaranteed! Besides, if something doesn’t work properly, or you change your mind, Perka’s building frames have a 50-year warranty.

Speaking of changing your mind, Perka buildings are EXTREMELY re-usable! They can be repurposed into almost anything you need! Our buildings have been turned into places for livestock (horses, pigs, cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, ducks, llamas/alpacas, etc), crop storage, equipment repair shops, milking barns, hay storage, even man caves and she sheds, OR just additional living space! These structures are incredibly versatile; they work well for the whole family! (Even the non-human members of the family!)

All models can be fit to size- height, width, length, steepness of the roof, or anything else! We want to get YOU the perfect size for your building.

Most of our buildings are completed by a vaulted ceiling. This adds an extra level of storage, which can be used for holding more goods, more equipment, and more food!

You don’t have to worry when faced with gusting gales, snowstorms and sleet, rattling rains, or anything else that quivers, quakes, and shakes! Perka buildings are strong enough to weather the storms of life. They are also affordable, to give you the best space for your dollar, so you can invest in other things around the farm. Our buildings and our team are flexible; we’ll work with any changes, fixes, or add-ons, should you so desire. If extra space is what you are looking for, you can consider it done! We make sure it’s easy to get the information you need, AND easy to assemble your building! We hope to ensure that your building is effortlessly and effectively insulated and simple to change. Whatever you need, we’ll get it done quickly, so that you can enjoy the return on your investment sooner. Plus, they are extremely resilient: no small storms can blow them down! They are built to withstand even the toughest of circumstances. However, if they don’t quite hold up, they are simple to repair, remodel, or reuse. With Perka on your side, there’s no way you can lose!

Perka is proud to be the S.A.F.E.R. solution for you, your family, and your farm. Contact us to receive more information and direction. We want to work with you and provide the best buildings we can for your equipment, your products, and YOU!

Life Expectancies too short?

July 27, 2020 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, built to last, contractor, DIY, Do it yourself, durable, energy saving, envelope, garanteed, hybrid, material, pole barn, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, truth

Life Expectancies too short?
Expect More with a Perka Hybrid Building!

There are certain things that we sometimes just kind of assume like: “That’s going to last forever… This will never break down… I’ll be able to keep it for a long time.” Have you ever thought that?

Unfortunately, “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to!”is an axiom that has become pretty literal these days. Have you heard, if not even experienced, that one already??!!

Modern things break down very quickly. And we may have also heard that other old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Yes?

So, what, if anything, can we actually depend on these days? What happened to doing things right?

With every passing day – it is becoming easier and easier to admit affirm: “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to”.

While this may seem like a reminiscent phrase exclaimed by our grandparents, or even great-grand parents, it’s actually quite true.

Some facts: many household appliances used to intentionally be built to last. It was part of the design strategy. Now, it seems like every time we turn around, something needs replaced. In some ways, that is done with purposes… Like to keep initial costs down. And be able to prosper from an after market of parts and services, or all out replacement! It’s sometimes referred to as <<planned obsolescence>>.

For example, washing machines from the 1940’s and 1950’s are still in existence… and still work! However, fast forward 30-40 years and you’ll be lucky to get 15 years out of your newer washing machine. (The actual average lifespan of a washer is now anywhere from 10 to 15 years.)

New dryers “live” about as long as their washer counterparts.

If you’re looking to wash dishes instead of clothes, the average dishwasher will now last only somewhere between 7 and 12 years.

While we’re on the subject of kitchen appliances, what about the oven and microwave oven? Ovens last a bit longer, with a lifespan of 10 to 20 years, while microwaves only work well for a mere 5 to 15 years. The short longevity of basic household appliances is shocking, especially when you consider the fact that they used to last for multiple decades!

But why do our parts, pieces, and appliances have such shorter lifespans today? What corners have been cut? Firstly, the appliances run off of fancy electrical devices. This means that they have more functions, and these particular components are currently made such that they are much more prone to wear and tear, breakage, and damage. Secondly (and more commonly), companies are also just looking to make more money. They make their parts out of cheaper material, faster with less attention to the details. It’s often all about the money!

Because there aren’t very many appliance companies, those that still exist practically “own the market”. Then the companies that have these pseudo-monopolies that can charge you “an arm and a leg” for each new piece, uncontested by competitors and God forbid there might be some inadvertent collusion.

So, now, more often than not, it’s just cheaper for people to buy a new machine, rather than purchasing a new part and paying someone to replace the old one.

The things we use (and rely on) every day are usually also made with less durable or resilient quality parts in order to also be lighter, more efficient, more productive, more aesthetically pleasing, etc. And the companies who sell them can make (more) money either way, because they know that consumers need their products for everyday life. These are considered commodities! Unfortunately, without a significant cultural shift, one to include providing long term value thinking, it doesn’t look like products will be improving in their longevity any time soon.

We don’t particularly like that. And we also realize sometimes it’s just better to “BE THE CHANGE” we seek!

So, that’s why Team Perka’s approach to product design is different.

One of our core values is in doing the “right” thing – by doing things right!

As Team Perka, we are a more that a family owned business with values that focuses on consciously choosing quality materials, assemble by caring craftsman and delivered with intentional service. We don’t measure our success on the number of orders we get, we measure it by the number of new friends that we make as teammates and ‘clients’ with intentions to KEEP!

Instead of less expensive components that are sometimes indeed planned with obsolescence, to wear out or break down quicker, our wood and steel hybrid structures are consciously designed with intention to be built to last.

By the number of multi generation clients that we already have – (i.e. children of existing clients buying from us now 20 and almost 40 years later) we pride ourselves in knowing that clients, AKA OUR FRIENDS, will keep coming back to see us, because they understand the value built into our products and trust us to partner with them on a collective future, building projects for the long haul.

YOUR trust, your satisfaction, YOU and your elation over the quality, ease and resilience of our buildings are our higher priorities.

And being now a third generation business, we want our Grand Children’s kids to be proud of being part of this legacy.

PLUS, we are happy to back this intention up with our Perka designed and manufactured Steel Frames 50-year warranty.

Our teammates, our family, would be absolutely delighted to assist you and your family with your building plans.

For more information about beginning your next building project with Perka, contact us here. To check out our high-quality steel frames, click here. And don’t forget to keep reading our blog!

Chasing Perfection, Catching Excellence

July 15, 2020 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, energy efficient, energy saving, green, hybrid, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, sustainable, system design, teammate. construction

Chasing Perfection, Catching Excellence

In 1959, American football coach and legend Vince Lombardi inspired the Green Bay Packers, and the world, when he said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”

That said, how often do we feel as though we are chasing perfection to no avail. Running around in an endless loop, pursuing something that seems unattainable. And it is exhausting! Many people quickly do realize that perfection is impossible, but they do not like that answer. Instead of looking AT the progress, many just quit altogether. Why do they give up on their goals, and how can we break that pattern?

Why people quit 1.0: staring at failure. We often catch ourselves looking at everything that goes wrong, and that can be extremely disheartening. Why don’t we look more to what can go right? Often it is difficult to set our gaze beyond our failures. We have all heard that old cliche: “Every failure is a new opportunity”. But sometimes, listening or hearing that phrase can be even more frustrating, because we are unable to see what that new opportunity actually is.

The American inventor Thomas Edison said it best: “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In some situations, if we never find the 10,000 wrong ways, we may never find the one RIGHT way! We must not see our shortcomings as a failure; let us view it as an unusable path. Keep track of your unusable paths, certainly to avoid them in the future, and we will soon be on a certain road to success!

Why people quit 2.0: distractions. Cacophony. Clamor. Din. Hubbub. Pandemonium. Racket. Hullabaloo. They all mean the same thing- “noise”. #bignoise. With our typical everyday hustle-and-bustle, it is pretty easy to become distracted. Whether it is due to audible noise, the noise from endless tweets and social media post, or the noise that comes from inside our own heads, we often take our “eyes off the prize” and become bogged down, totally distracted and off course. With everyone, be it our boss, kids, spouse, parents, pets, neighbors, alter ego – constantly needing something, we can mis-use our time that could better be used to focus on our goals. That is why Team Perka is here for you. Perka Hybrid Buildings offers noise free and very affordable building designs, which can be perfect for when you need to work close to home… but not too close. Structures also known as a “man cave” or “she shed” (or how about a “dream destination”, “plan place”, or “house of hopes”), TEAM PERKA is in the business of helping man and woman kind – be safer, happier, healthier and kinder.

They aspire to be a presence so that you can find your solution to create a space for your private, quiet time to “formulate, focus, pursue and attain your dreams” without or with at least LESS, of the usual distractions and NOISE! Our favorite goal is to help you attain yours, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that your very own space is exactly what you want and need.

Why people quit 3.0: unwillingness to change/grow. No one likes or ever wants to be told that they are wrong. No one wants to believe that their method is inferior. Most people simply lack the willingness to change. This is a major hindrance in achieving progress. Some people are just looking for perfection, but they do not want to take the time to learn, improve, and to focus on personal advancement. This is an issue that is often rooted in a certain stubbornness and pride; an “I’m just right, you’re wrong, and you can’t convince me otherwise” mindset. Unfortunately, that attitude generally gets everyone NO-WHERE. If you are willing to listen and can be open to change, while there is still a possibility that your ideas might fail, there is much HOPE there. To totally refuse to listen to possible ideas and differing perspectives from your peers and adapt, adjust or evolve your ideas to make them the best they can be, will almost certainly guaranty that you will definitely not find any perfection, excellence or happiness for that matter.

If you wish to have a partner to help with building choices, our trained and dedicated advisors also known as Team Perka are here to assist you, to adapt with you and for you. One of our core values is flexibility. We strive to have flexible personalities, to be able to take whatever comes our way and adapt – roll with the punches; AND similarly our buildings are flexible, able to also change, adjust and adapt in order to suit varying and sometimes forced pivots.

Why people quit 4.0: fear. This explanation could go on and on. There is fear of failing, fear of what your peers will think, fear of letting others down, fear of letting yourself down, even fear of success. These, of course, all stem from that goal of and being totally attached to “perfection”.

However, if you “strive for perfection and are willing to catch excellence”, none of these fears can ever dominate. If you catch excellence, you haven’t failed, you haven’t let anyone down, not even yourself. Of course, the first step to conquering these fears (and to catching excellence) is to begin the journey by SHOW UP to take the first step. Set your goals, and then figure out ways to achieve them! It may not be perfect. It does not HAVE to be really! — But it certainly will feel excellent once you’ve begun on the path towards your dreams! Progress is the key. Tony Robbins says that the MAIN ingredient to HAPPINESS is not possessions, destinations, or even permanently bliss filled relationships… it is growth and making PROGRESS towards something! It is the Journey!!

At Perka, we want to join with you, to help you, to progress on that path, on that journey as you pursue your goals… towards an ever evolving better today! Contact us and let us know how we can be a part of your journey!

PRICE IS TOO HIGH? Price is too much? Overpriced?

July 12, 2016 by Paul Gibson Posted in NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, Do it yourself, econo, energy efficient, envelope, flexible, honest, information, pole barn, prefab, steel building, system design, truth

overpriced

How can that be? They are the same model… or they are the same size. Or it’s for the same service. They are both the same thing… or is it? How can there be such a price difference? That price is way too high? OR IS IT?

While it may not be so “obvious”, some suppliers may indeed have difference costs of doing business, more insurance, more levels of quality assurance, better service protocols, different values of their overhead – or even just different markup percentages as per their calculations for what they need to stay in business, let alone prosper some.

When all is said and done however — one really CAN NOT get SOMETHING for NOTHING. There is a natural law of business balance that will always be maintained. At least over time.

If you are into “WIN-LOSE” deals – then the game becomes one of trying to (consciously or not) “outwit”, if not even “fool” the other into LOSING and you winning? Though less and less these days – it is a “game” that still gets played.

All too often however, it is played at the detriment of BOTH parties. If you “take from another” to advance your agenda, you are definitely in a competitive mode — and, inevitably, a time will come when either the cards will be reversed, or sooner yet, even the one you contracted with – may just not be able to ((satisfactorily)) fulfill his/her obligation or promise. And then, NOBODY wins. This is not naive. It’s part of our natural laws. The Golden Rule. What we sow we reap. What goes around comes around.

If one is of a CREATIVE perspective – then it’s more about COLLABORATING TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTION for the product or service need, with a WIN-WIN agenda; while staying within the allowed resources (funds available), and also taking into account as much of a “longer” term perspective as one can. Cost over time must be part of the initial cost!

For example, cost/value changes like: after the sale/service maintenance costs, the appreciation or depreciation in value of the asset, the actual use value (which may not be quantifiable per se), the profit from use value if a business of any kind, any future “changes” costs, insurance costs, “recovery costs”, etc., etc. If you don’t do, even a bit, of that exercise analysis – you may very well be in for some fairly large “ADD ON” costs in the future — and those are inevitably and effectively PART OF YOUR (accrual) COST “TODAY”!

Over and above those considerations, one must be as sure as one can be that the comparison of quality, features, benefits, between your choices, are indeed “apples to apples”!!! It’s easy to say that yes – this 4 wheel drive pick up is $25,000$. And that 4 wheel drive pick up is $27,000, so I’ll buy this one. But are they really the same?

With regards to a building: Is a 40 x 60 building going to be the same price regardless of what it’s made of? How it’s made? For what it’s made for, or even by who it’s made? etc.?

There really are dozens, if not hundreds, of “options”, and “features”, and “benefits” that you can put in, or out, of a building package (initial) price offer. And in each of these they may, or may not, be a SERVING benefit for you. If you don’t need to have enduring strength to withstand the wrath of our sometimes harried climate conditions – then maybe you don’t have to have that pre-built in and therefore pay for it! If you don’t need to have things designed in to make life easier and quicker for you or your builder when you install, refine, modify, or even later upgrade, retrofit or remodel, then why have those features priced in now? More at paydayloanfence These can be the very reason why the prices differ.

Furthermore, do you know the value or even the potential VALUE that each special feature has? If no, is it therefore really MORE EXPENSIVE? What are you comparing? What if certain options can actually save you hours and hours of time in install? What if it saves you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in extra materials, or hired hours; – or what if they can save you hundreds if not thousands in energy costs? Making it less costly a bit later on!?? What if it saves you unnerving, debilitating stress, unfathomable worry and even heart ache! What price do you put on that?

This is not to say all suppliers or service people will not have YOUR overall best interests at heart. From experience one can say that at least half will, — maybe even 75% if you are optimistic! But the challenge then is which 50 or 75%? How will you know? How can you tell?

Just because the representative is happy, sincere, polite and kind (which is not always the case anyway) — does that make the product or support the ONE FOR YOU? There is POWER in education… and there is even MORE POWER in using the “education/information”…

One of the BEST ways to get VALUE for your hard earned money and time — as well as peace of mind — is education… information. It almost always is worth the investment of your time. Be an informed purchaser.

And, if you can find it, it’s even better if you visit this link TEAM you can trust, who has experience, is passionate about their vocation, loves to do what they do and is sincere about being of selfless service.

And as a bonus, if you do have that kind of support – that will surely make a huge difference in your overall stress level and well being —- now, how much is that worth?

Yes, BE informed!

Cheers,

ICS

pricevquality

One insulation application – three heat transfers addressed – YOU $AVE!

February 4, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog, NewBlog Tagged building, Do it yourself, econo, energy efficient, energy saving, hybrid, prefab, QUALITY, sustainable, system design, wood

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&notif_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!

STAYING ON THE EDGE – FUTURE BUILDINGS IN A FUTURE RESOURCE BASED ECONOMY?

January 31, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog, NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, Do it yourself, energy efficient, energy saving, green, honest, hybrid, prefab, QUALITY, service, sustainable, system design, truth

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

Growing trend to Hybrid Steel And Wood Homes

January 27, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog, NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, DIY, Do it yourself, energy efficient, envelope, hybrid, lumber, opportunity, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction

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…

Pole Barn Comparison with Perka Hybrid Open Joist Building Models

January 22, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog, NewBlog Tagged building, contractor, Do it yourself, econo, energy efficient, envelope, garage, hybrid, lumber, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, shed, steel building, stick built, storage, system design, warehouse, wood shed

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

Wood vs Steel = No Brainer

January 17, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, Do it yourself, energy efficient, envelope, green, hybrid, lumber, material, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, wood

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!

NOW. KNOWING THIS… what do you think?

NO BRAINER?

… YES – Perka – World Class Buildings served by World Class Teammates.

For a live discussion on this topic and MORE PICTURES visit: https://www.facebook.com/PERKABUILDINGS/posts/10152188528584882

How does Team Perka view quality?

January 15, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, Do it yourself, energy efficient, QUALITY, sustainable, system design, teammate. construction

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)

How about another 7?? (Good reasons to build a Perka?)

January 13, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, honest, hybrid, lumber, material, opportunity, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, truth, wood

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!

7 More Great reasons to help you BUILD STRONG!

January 11, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, envelope, hybrid, lumber, material, opportunity, prefab, service, shell, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, truth, wood

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!

WHY A PREFAB PERKA HYBRID WOOD STEEL BUILDING?

January 10, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, Do it yourself, envelope, hybrid, lumber, material, opportunity, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, truth, wood

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… Educate yourself before you buy all wood!

January 9, 2014 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, Do it yourself, hybrid, lumber, material, mistakes, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, wood

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

Prefab Steel Building Buyers Beware

June 26, 2011 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, hybrid, opportunity, prefab, rigid, steel building, system design, teammate. construction

… Sometimes when you pay a little more – you get something MORE!

Sure, in SOME cases, the package of materials for a Perka Deluxe Hybrid (Wood/Steel) designed buildings may cost a few dollars more… but the PERKA FRAMES are engineered to stand up WITHOUT the rest of the materials! Much of these extra few up front dollars will be recouped in construction time, as well as USE savings. In fact some of the BIGGEST savings might be in the form of PEACE OF MIND when those BIG WINDS or POLAR VORTEX SNOW FALLS come a threatening…

See attached excerpts from an article that ran in KC Star a few years back after a tornadoe hit Joplin, MO

Read the comments below these excerpts – and PASS IT ON!!

Introducing a Perka ECONO model…

November 12, 2010 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, Do it yourself, econo, hybrid, material, opportunity, pole barn, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction

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.

All steel frames for the mid 2 bay load bearing frames with wood construction non-expandable frames on both ends.
All steel frames for the mid 2 bay load bearing frames with wood construction non-expandable frames on one end.
All steel frames for ALL the frames in the building.

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

More of what others are saying about TEAM PERKA!!

July 25, 2009 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, econo, energy efficient, energy saving, envelope, green, hybrid, lumber, material, opportunity, pole barn, post & beam, prefab, steel building, sustainable, system design, teammate. construction, truth, wood

Reply by RM on July 25, 2009 at 11:54pm

Team Perka as an organization/business has great customer service that gives the contractor instant credibility with his clients.

Team Perka’s willingness to embrace alternative building techniques greatly helps them become leaders in the growing green sustainable buildings industry. Keeping costs down in this building climate and showing them a home or building that saves money, and not just a little but allot is so needed, still quite rare but so WELCOMED from TEAM PERKA.

Perka’s Hybrid designs saves people money from the very start and this really needs to highlighted and appreciated. As a nation and industry that spends BILLIONS of dollars every year, we really need to wake up (educate) ourselves to SUSTAINABLE building concepts. Getting contractors to use designs like Perka’s prefab WOOD STEEL HYBRID buildings is very important… because they understand your stance on sustainability and green technologies.

In my opinion, the soul of a company is just as important as the quality of the product. Supporting companies that are going the extra mile to help save resources and promote a movement towards responsible and aware construction is more important then just looking at up front costs/price. A more long term look at costs (waste, Trusted Roofing, energy, maintenance, etc.) must be take.

With that said, the complete Perka designed Hybrid package becomes an affordable product… and one that is now being marketed by a company that has a solid and thoughtful green outlook.

I just wanted to offer my view point from the customer side. Team Perka’s staff is just great and I am inspired by the Team Leader’s enthusiasm for the next generation for our collective building industry. Having the wisdom to see whats around the corner is going to ensure a great position and standing of visionary leadership in the building industry. RM

For more info contact TEAM PERKA at 800-467-3752 or email to perka@teamperka.com or visit www.perkabuildings.com.

What some people are saying about Perka Buildings!!

March 2, 2009 by Paul Gibson Posted in Blog Tagged building, contractor, dealer, DIY, Do it yourself, econo, envelope, hybrid, lumber, opportunity, prefab, steel building, system design, teammate. construction, truth

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

The benefits of using Perka frames in almost any building (commercial/residential) are endless. Here are just a few of them!

1. Perka Buildings vs other Metal Buildings.A. Being able to make changes on sight because of wood purlins and girts…
B. Ability to insulate and sheetrock for true inside finish.
C. Two story buildings. Perka can add multi-story floor joists in. For others, the cost is staggering for this. It’s more cost effective to build a building inside a building (which is not cost effective at all compared to the time, materials and financial savings with a Perka building).
D. Ability to design the building exactly the way you want. You can get a custom building that iss not at custom pricing. It’s not just cookie cutter buildings like others sell. If you want a custom metal building from others, either the cost is prohibitive or they flat out just can’t do it.
E. Ability to side the building with non-metal products.

F. Owner-Builder friendly. Enough said on this one.2. Perka Buildings compared to stick (wood) framing.

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!!

For more info – visit www.perkabuildings.com, email perka@teamperka.com or call 800-467-3752.

Stressfree Building Solutions

Tag Archives: system design
Home / Posts Tagged "system design"

Ahead of Success

By Olivia Truesdale (Martial Thevenot Editor)

Peace on Earth, One Customer at a Time

When Life Gives You Lemons

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Vertical Farming Garden Barns

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Expect More with a Perka Hybrid Building!

Chasing Perfection, Catching Excellence

Chasing Perfection, Catching Excellence

PRICE IS TOO HIGH? Price is too much? Overpriced?

One insulation application – three heat transfers addressed – YOU $AVE!

STAYING ON THE EDGE – FUTURE BUILDINGS IN A FUTURE RESOURCE BASED ECONOMY?

Growing trend to Hybrid Steel And Wood Homes

Pole Barn Comparison with Perka Hybrid Open Joist Building Models

Wood vs Steel = No Brainer

How does Team Perka view quality?

How about another 7?? (Good reasons to build a Perka?)

7 More Great reasons to help you BUILD STRONG!

WHY A PREFAB PERKA HYBRID WOOD STEEL BUILDING?

Pole Barn collapse… Educate yourself before you buy all wood!

Prefab Steel Building Buyers Beware

Introducing a Perka ECONO model…

More of what others are saying about TEAM PERKA!!

What some people are saying about Perka Buildings!!

By Olivia Truesdale (Martial Thevenot Editor)

By Olivia Trusdale

Life Expectancies too short? Expect More with a Perka Hybrid Building!

Chasing Perfection, Catching Excellence

Life Expectancies too short?
Expect More with a Perka Hybrid Building!