Metal Buildings in Arkansas: A Guide to Planning Your Project

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:09:57 GMT

A commercial building needs room to do business and an entrance that fits the company, like the YT Mill in Bentonville pictured above. A farm shop needs space to park equipment and still have room to work on it. In a barndominium, the living space helps shape the building around it. Before you compare metal buildings in Arkansas, think about how you'll use yours every day and how you want it to look.

At Quality Metal Building Systems, we manufacture custom red iron building packages in Gentry, Arkansas. We've been here since 1996, working with property owners, contractors, and erection crews on everything from backyard shops to commercial facilities. We ship building packages nationwide.

Choosing the right metal building for your project

Shops and equipment storage

A tractor may fit through the door, but can you work on it once it's inside? Leave room for attachments and a workbench, with enough space to walk around the equipment. Trucks, trailers, RVs, and shop equipment need the same consideration.

Measure the largest thing you plan to bring in, then work through where it will sit and how you'll get it back out. Our residential project gallery includes a shop in Bentonville and an RV storage building in Rogers. Both are worth a look if you're planning space for vehicles or equipment.

Agricultural buildings

A repair area has different needs than equipment storage or an office. Work out what needs to be enclosed and where the large equipment will come in. You may also want a covered area outside the main building.

We've worked on a farm shop near Gentry and an agricultural storage facility and office in Siloam Springs. When you talk with us about your project, bring a list of what you'll store and the work you'll do there. We can use that to start laying out the space.

Commercial buildings and warehouses

Walk through a normal workday on paper. Mark where deliveries arrive and where employees and customers enter. Then think through how vehicles, inventory, or materials will move through the building.

Tell us about office space and equipment that needs a large door opening. If you want to leave room for an expansion, bring that up early, too. We need to account for those plans before we fabricate the steel.

Barndominiums and residential projects

Plan the rooms while you're planning the building. The living area and shop space affect where windows and doors go, and you'll need to account for insulation, plumbing, and mechanical systems.

Our residential gallery includes a barndominium in Bella Vista. If you have something similar in mind, bring a floor plan or a rough sketch. We'll go over the building package with you and spell out which work we're handling and which parts you'll need to arrange with others.

What to plan before requesting a quote

Building size, height, and door openings

Along with length and width, check the door clearance and usable height inside. That matters when you're bringing in tall equipment or installing a vehicle lift.

These details help us put a quote together:

Your preferred building width and length.
The height and width of the equipment or vehicles going inside.
The number, size, and location of overhead and walk-through doors.
Any office, storage, or living areas you want inside.
Porches, lean-tos, or other covered areas you're considering.

You don't need every answer before you call. A rough plan is enough to start talking.

Site preparation and foundation responsibilities

Plan the foundation with the building. Before anyone pours concrete, the foundation layout and anchorage need to match the building design. You'll also need to account for drainage, access to the site, and room for delivery trucks and erection equipment.

Agree on who will prepare the site, pour the foundation, unload the package, and erect the building. We offer construction services in Northwest Arkansas as well as building packages. Tell us where you're building and how much of the work you'd like us to handle. We'll confirm which services we can provide for your project.

Insulation, ventilation, and interior use

A shed used for equipment storage needs a different plan than a shop you'll work in year-round. Tell us whether you'll heat or cool the building, what you'll store in it, and whether you plan to finish the interior.

Work through insulation, ventilation, and condensation control before the shell goes up. Leaving those decisions until later can limit your options and mean extra work.

Project location and local requirements

Give us the job-site location so we can account for the design requirements there. The intended use of the building matters, too.

Before you order, check with the office responsible for your property about permits, zoning, setbacks, and allowed uses. Requirements vary by location and project. Tell us what that office needs so we can coordinate the building documents with your project plans.

What affects the cost of a metal building?

Building specifications and custom features

Two buildings with the same square footage can cost different amounts. Height and span affect the package, as do door openings, the roof design, insulation, and exterior features. The building's use and the design requirements at your site also affect the price.

Start with the things your building has to have. Then tell us which extras you'd like priced so you can compare options.

What your building package includes

Read what each quote includes before comparing totals. Ask about framing, roof and wall materials, trim, fasteners, drawings, and accessories. Check whether doors, insulation, and delivery are included or priced separately.

We fabricate custom red iron packages to approved specifications. Your quote and agreement should tell you what you're buying and what you'll still need to arrange.

Delivery, concrete, and erection costs

The building package is one part of the budget. Depending on your agreement, site work, concrete, freight, unloading, erection, utilities, and interior finishes may be separate costs.

When you're comparing a material package with a construction proposal, list the included work side by side. You'll be able to see what each price covers and where you need another estimate.

From building plans to construction

Collaborate and design

We'll ask where you're building, what you'll use it for, and what you need it to include. Then we'll work through the layout and specifications with you, using those requirements to shape the plan.

Estimate and confirm the scope

Once we've worked out the details, we prepare an estimate. We'll review the work included, who's responsible for it, and the timing. Before you commit, check that the plan includes the dimensions, doors, features, and services you've discussed with us.

Fabrication, delivery, and construction

After approval, we fabricate your red iron building package at our Gentry facility and coordinate delivery. If you're buying a package, your contractor or erection crew assembles it according to the project documents. If you've hired us for construction services, we coordinate that work as set out in your agreement.

You can read more about our building process or call us to talk through your plans.

Metal building projects in Arkansas

The Lew Thompson Truck Shop in Gentry is a 14,670-square-foot commercial facility with 18-foot sidewalls. It has service bays for heavy-duty trucks, a truck wash bay, and office space. Vehicle clearance and the way trucks move through the shop are details to work out early in a project like this. See the truck shop project.

At the Gentry Agricultural Shop near Gentry, the photos show enclosed shop space alongside a covered area. If you're deciding how much of your farm building to enclose, take a look at how the two spaces sit together. See the agricultural shop.

The Bella Vista Barndominium in Bella Vista is in our residential gallery, along with shops and RV storage buildings. Look through the photos for ideas about the layout and appearance you'd like, then bring those ideas to us when we discuss your package. See the Bella Vista project.

Frequently asked questions

What is a red iron metal building?

A red iron building has structural steel framing, including steel I-beams. These pre-engineered systems can be designed for shops, agricultural storage, commercial facilities, and other uses. The spans and layouts available depend on the building design.

Can I purchase a building package without installation?

Yes. We manufacture custom red iron packages in Gentry and ship nationwide. You can use your own contractor or erection crew. We'll go over the package contents and delivery arrangements when we prepare your quote.

What information do I need for a quote?

Start with the location, intended use, and approximate size of your building. If you've worked out door sizes, height, or insulation needs, send those along with any sketch or floor plan you have. Let us know whether you want a building package or construction services.

How long does a project take?

That depends on the design, approvals, production schedule, how ready your site is, and the work we're handling. We can discuss timing once we know more about your project. If you need the building ready by a certain date, tell us at the start so we can work through the schedule with you.

Request a quote for your Arkansas metal building

Tell us where you're building and what you have in mind, whether it's a shop, farm building, commercial facility, or barndominium. Send any dimensions or building requirements you've worked out, and we'll talk through what comes next.

Call (479) 736-2125 , email sales@qualitymetalinc.com , or stop by 19378 W Hwy 12 in Gentry, Arkansas.

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