How do I know if I am ready for installation?
Short Answer: You are ready to be placed on the installation schedule once your site is level and clear of any obstructions and your permits have been approved!
“When will my building be installed?” is one of the most common questions we hear here at Midwest Steel Carports. While there are various factors that can go into play when determining your building’s installation date, installation lead times do not begin until you are ready.
How do I know if I am ready for installation?
There are two requirements that must be completed before you are considered ready for installation:
Permits
First, you must check in with your local township, county, or city to determine if you require permits for your area. If you require permits for your area, you must determine which permits are needed, these can include a zoning permit, a building permit, a land use permit, a soil erosion permit, and others. Once you know which permits you are required to have, you must begin the application process to get the permits approved and posted on the property. After your permits have been approved, they must be paid for and posted in a visible area of your property. If you need assistance with the permit process, contact your contractor for further information. Once your permits are ready, inform your contractor in case they require a copy for their records.
Site
Second, you must assure that your site is level and clear of any obstructions. For Midwest Steel Carports products, we require the site to be level within 3 inches; however, every contractor has different requirements for how level a site should be for appropriate installation of the unit, so we recommended checking in with your contractor prior to beginning any site work. If you plan on having your building installed on a new or existing concrete slab, you must check in with your township, county, or city to make sure you are meeting local codes regarding the thickness of the slab and the size of the concrete footings. We also recommend checking in with your building contractor to make sure you are having your slab poured to the correct dimensions (width x length). You can find the concrete recommendations for Midwest Steel Carports buildings here. The site must also be clear of any obstructions. What do we mean by obstructions? Basically, anything that may stop an installation crew from installing your steel building. Some of the most common things that we run into regarding site obstructions include:
- Overhead lines (cable, electricity, etc.)
- Unmarked underground lines
- Low-hanging tree branches
- Surrounding obstacles not allowing 3’ of workspace around the site
- Items left directly on the site
Every contractor has different requirements regarding surrounding obstacles and clearances, so we highly recommend checking with your contractor prior to completing any work. If you have questions or need assistance on clearing any existing obstacles from your site, contact your contractor for support!
Once you have determined that your site and your permits are both ready for installation, you should contact your contractor to ensure they know you are ready for your new building! For Midwest Steel Carports, Inc. customers we ask that you inform us when you are ready so we can place you in the Scheduling queue. This is when your installation lead times begin, so if you were informed of an installation between 2-4 weeks, this time frame will begin from the date you inform us you are ready.
