An arch steel building’s shell does the heavy lifting, but accessories decide how well it works day to day — how you get in, how much light reaches the floor, whether moisture builds up inside. These are far easier to plan before your building ships than to retrofit later. Here’s what’s available and how to think about each.
End walls: open, closed or custom
End walls are the first big decision. You can order your building:
• Open-ended, for drive-through equipment storage, run-in sheds, or if you plan to build your own end walls.
• With one steel end wall, closing off the back while leaving the front open.
• With two steel end walls, fully enclosed.
Duro Span steel end walls use pre-punched corrugated panels on 18” centers. Because the arch carries the building’s load, the end wall panel pattern can be changed to create almost any size opening for roll-up, overhead, swing or sliding doors. If you’d rather finish the ends in wood, glass or another material, a custom framed end wall is a common DIY project.
Doors
• Walk-in (swing) doors. A pre-hung 4’ x 7’ steel door for everyday access, ready for a padlock.
• Sliding doors. Top-hung, heavy-duty doors with 14-gauge framing and corrugated panels, ball-bearing rollers, bottom seals and a latch.
• Hangar doors. Double-track, top-hung sliding doors from 30’ to 80’ wide and 10’ to 20’ high, allowing partial opening.
• Roll-up and sectional overhead doors. Duro Span builds the steel framed opening; the door itself comes from our sister company, [Duro Doors], which carries Amarr, Janus and Horton roll-up and sectional doors. Measuring for an overhead door? Duro Doors has a guide for that too.
Skylights and wall lights
Fiberglass skylight panels are formed to match the profile of the building’s steel panels, so they install in place of a standard section. They come in 12 oz., 16 oz. and 24 oz. weights and can cut daytime lighting needs considerably in a workshop or barn.
Ventilation
Steel buildings need airflow to manage heat and condensation. Duro Span offers 12” gravity ventilators and 12” turbine ventilators with heavy-duty ball-bearing shafts. Ventilation matters most in humid climates — buyers in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas should plan for it from the start, especially if the building will house vehicles, hay or livestock.
Insulation and insulation pins
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Arch buildings accept spray foam, fiberglass rolls or rigid foam. Duro Span supplies insulation and 4” and 6” insulation pins for attaching it. Our covers how to choose.
Base plates, sealant and window frames
• Base plates and U-channels connect the arch to your foundation.
•Sealant tape and caulking — butyl rubber tape that seals roof seams and joints against air, water and ice.
• Window frames for adding natural light and views to end walls.
Plan accessories with your quote
The simplest approach is to decide on openings, ventilation and lighting when you request your quote. That way door openings are framed correctly at the factory and everything arrives in one shipment.