Steel Building Inquiry Prep: What to Send the Factory and What to Ask Back in Round One
A good steel building inquiry is a two-way exchange. You send the factory enough information to price your project, and you ask the questions that make the quote comparable and usable. Most buyers send too little in round one and receive a quote so wide that it is useless. This article gives you a ready brief: what to send, what to ask, and why each item moves the price.
Part 1: what to send the factory in your first message
The factory’s engineer needs four groups of information to produce a usable quote. You do not need a finished design – a sketch with dimensions is enough for the first round.
Site and location data
- Country, city or region, so the engineer can apply local wind, snow and seismic codes.
- Ground condition if known: flat, sloping, soft soil, or an existing slab.
- Local height restrictions or setbacks if your municipality enforces them.
Building dimensions and use
- Length, width and eave height in metres or feet.
- Use of the building: storage, workshop, equipment shelter, showroom, or mixed.
- Openings: number and size of doors, windows, personnel doors and louvres.
- Extras that change the frame: mezzanine floors, crane beams, insulation, future expansion.
Logistics and timing
- Port of destination, so the factory can estimate sea freight.
- Delivery address and site access, to plan container or break-bulk delivery.
- Target delivery month, because production slots fill up.
Reference material
- A dimensioned sketch, a reference project, or photos of the plot. Drawings price faster than text.
You can send all of this in a short message or a simple table. The factory responds faster when the brief is complete, and the quote is closer to the final cost.
Part 2: what to ask the factory in round one
Once the factory replies, ask these questions so you can compare suppliers on the same basis:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What design assumptions did you use? | Wind speed, snow load and live load assumptions drive the frame size and price. |
| Is the quote ex-works or with freight? | Comparing a door-to-door price against an ex-works price misleads you. |
| How long is the quote valid? | Most quotes hold 30 to 60 days; steel prices move. |
| What is included in the scope? | Frame, cladding, doors, bolts, anchor bolts, erection guide – list each item. |
| When can production start? | Lead time depends on the workshop schedule and the steel market. |
Ask every supplier the same set of questions and compare the answers side by side. The supplier that answers with specific numbers and a written scope is usually the one that will manage your order well.
What the factory needs from you before a firm price
A preliminary quote is based on your brief. The firm price comes after the structural design, when the factory’s engineer has completed the frame calculation and the shop drawings. That is normal – do not expect a fixed price in the first email.
If you want a firmer number sooner, send the design load requirements or the local building code reference. The more the engineer knows about your site, the fewer assumptions the quote contains.
Common mistakes in round one
- Sending only dimensions without the use of the building.
- Asking for a price without the destination port.
- Comparing quotes with different scope definitions.
- Treating the first quote as final without checking the design assumptions.
The full steel building quote process follows five predictable steps from inquiry to contract, and the first message sets the tone for all of them.
FAQ
Do I need drawings to get a quote?
No. A dimensioned sketch plus site and usage details is enough for a preliminary quote. The factory’s engineer completes the structural design after order confirmation.
How long does a steel building factory take to reply?
Most factories answer within two or three working days when the brief is complete. Incomplete briefs often take longer because the sales team has to ask for missing details.
Should I ask for freight in the first quote?
Yes. Ask for the ex-works price and the freight estimate separately, so you can compare suppliers on the same basis and budget the landed cost.
Send your brief and get a comparable quote
Prepare the four groups of information, send them to the factory, and ask the six questions above. The result is a quote you can compare and a project that starts with fewer assumptions. Contact the steel building factory with your site details and receive a quote with the design assumptions stated in writing.
