Rehab, Remodel, Reroof, Retrofit. However Labeled, There’s Outstanding Potential For Metal Products

By Shawn Zuver, editorial/content director

One of the most interesting things about covering the metal construction industry is being asked a wide range of questions. I’ve heard a lot of them over the years, everything from locating a particular product to material prices to installation advice. Sometimes I know the answer immediately—such as locating products or companies—and other times I have to make a reference to another source—like those queries about installation details.

The key is knowing where to go to find the information that’s needed. My partners, Bob Fittro and John Garvey, and I pride ourselves in being able to draw on 70-plus years of combined industry experience to always being able to answer any industry questions or lead the questioner to a knowledgeable source—or sometimes to come up with an educated guess. At least that’s how we’d like for it to always work.

There’s one particular question whose answer has always intrigued us, and here it is: How many buildings are there in the United States?

I remember the first time I heard it, many years ago at a trade show. I dove into an internal scramble for the answer that I knew I didn’t possess. I pause quietly for a moment, fixed an earnest look that belied my confusion and calmly replied, “A lot”. Then I shrugged my shoulders.

I’ve heard the question many times since then, as have Bob and John, and it remains the topic of a great deal of speculation. One number worth considering comes from the U.S. Department of Energy which estimates that there are 4.9 million non-residential structures in the country - an impressive figure, even if it's off by as much as a few hundred thousand in either direction. Meanwhile, the American Council For An Energy Efficient Economy says there approximately 89,000 commercial buildings in the U.S. that measure 100,000 sq. ft. or larger, and another 400,000 buildings that are in the 25,000 sq. ft. to 100,000 sq. ft. category.

Whether you agree with those particular estimates or not, it's certain that there are tremendous numbers of buildings in the U.S. alone—and vast amounts worldwide. They range in age from new to old, some in their original condition and many that have been added onto, received a facelift or altered in some way. The more important question, from my standpoint, is how many buildings in the U.S.—and worldwide—have potential for remodeling/rehab work? While still not a definitive response, I’d say the amount is mind-boggling.

Since I started working in the metal construction industry in the mid-1980s, I’ve seen thousands of buildings that have been reroofed with metal panels, re-sided with metal, had additions built on with metal building systems, and had interior and exterior re-working with cold-formed/light-gauge steel framing. In addition, there are countless doors, canopies, equipment screens, mezzanines, cupolas, and other metal products that are used in the rehab/remodel process.

As we view the vast landscape of buildings that dot the towns, cities and remote locations of the countryside, it’s apparent that this is a market that continues to hold vast potential. And all of the best benefits of metal products make them great choices for rehab/remodel work. This includes low life-cycle cost, aesthetics, product integrity, low maintenance, and “green” attributes such as recyclability.

One of the great things about rehab/remodeling with metal products is that it’s a process that can be done year-round in most climates, often without disturbing ongoing operations. For architects and contractors, this type of work also offers a way to protect against downturns in the new construction market like we’re now experiencing. As new construction projects are put on hold, improvements to existing facilities may be a better value for building owners.

If you haven’t given much thought to rehab/remodeling work with metal construction products, I’d highly recommend that you consider it. And no matter how many existing buildings are actually out there, I'm sure we can all agree on the incredible potential for this market.

You can find some interesting examples of retrofit metal roofing in our Design Solutions section, along with listings to retrofit framing manufacturers in our Supplier Directory and Product Showcase.

Shawn Zuver is editorial/content director for DesignandBuildwithMetal.com. He has been covering the metal construction industry, including residential and non-residential construction, since 1985. To contact Shawn, call (419) 581-2051 or email shawnz@designandbuildwithmetal.com.

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