Metal buildings have a lot of advantages, such as not being subject to issues such as rot, cracking, warping, and pests compromising the stability of the structure, which can plague other building types. A common advantage, regardless of where you live, is how resistant they are to changes in weather. The first major cold fronts have now started ripping their way through the south, and with the Winter Solstice only a month away, we thought we’d share some things you can do to help your already wonderfully weather-resistant metal buildings have a happy holiday season.
First and foremost, the sooner you prepare your building for winter, the more likely you are to successfully winterize it! Whether due to preventing issues as a result of the winter weather or even due to lack of availability of materials, being prepared now will make things much smoother when the weather gets really cold, maybe even icy, closer to January.
Another recommendation is to invest a little time in cleaning up. A hallmark of fall is, of course, all of the beautiful leaves but they have to go somewhere! Unfortunately, leaves and cold fronts can be a recipe for full gutters and debris along the roofline. A surprising number of reported roof leaks each year actually turn out to be water that backs up under roof eaves and leaks into buildings due to gutters that are full and are unable to carry water away. Don’t have gutters on your building but wish you did? Our Component Sales department is happy to help you.
In the same vein as cleaning things up on your building, it’s important to check the area around it as well. In the event of sleet, freezing rain, or any other form of ice storm, a large bush or a tree next to your building could result in expensive repairs waiting to happen – especially if they’re hanging above the building! When coated in ice, trees and bushes are notorious for falling on buildings and causing serious damage. Even smaller bushes coated in ice, if strong enough, could gouge at the walls of your metal building in the high winds associated with cold fronts and winter storms!
Now is also a great time to check any seals around your doors, particularly if you have a climate controlled facility. Make sure your building insulation and the components that wear with everyday use are in working order and are prepared for the weather to come.
One interesting side note is the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a colder-than-normal winter for most of the country due to decreased solar activity. It states that while a few parts of the country will have a milder winter, others will have significantly increased chances for snow and blistering cold.
Regardless of whether or not you put any stock in the Farmer’s Almanac, now is a great time to take action to protect your building and investment over the coming months.
A-Lert Building Systems is a self-storage contractor that engineers, manufactures and installs self-storage facilities for Austin-area developers, entirely in-house. Our plant in New Braunfels is about 50 miles down I-35, so components come from our own shop, not a supplier across the country. In a market where land is expensive and demand keeps growing, getting the site, unit mix and build right the first time matters. 40+ years in construction, backed by Centurion Industries.
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Local expertise in the Austin market
High land costs push new construction inside the core toward infill and multi-story projects, while suburban submarkets such as Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown and the Hutto/Taylor corridor, where the semiconductor expansion is bringing new development, still have room for single-story, drive-up builds. Projects here follow I-35, the metro's north-south spine; MoPac (Loop 1) and US 183 on the west and north sides; US 290 and SH 71 toward Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs; and the SH 130 and SH 45 toll roads carrying growth east and north. We design to City of Austin zoning and permitting requirements and to Texas code, from North Austin and the Domain to South and East Austin and the outer suburbs.
Self-storage building types we design and build
- Multi-story climate-controlled facilities for high-cost infill sites in the urban core.
- Single-story drive-up facilities for suburbs such as Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown and Hutto, where land is still available.
- Boat and RV storage serving Lake Travis, Lake Austin and the Highland Lakes.
- Pre-engineered metal buildings for fast, cost-controlled builds.
- Building conversions that turn underused retail or industrial space into a producing facility.
- X-tra Storage HD heavy-duty units for oversized, high-value tenants.
Turning Austin retail and industrial space into storage
In a land-constrained market, converting an existing building is often the fastest route to an infill location you could not buy as raw land. A-Lert evaluates the structure, access and zoning, then handles the reconfiguration, structural upgrades and code-compliant retrofit end to end.
Building for Austin's growth
Austin has been one of the fastest-growing large metros in the U.S., and much of that growth comes from people relocating. New arrivals often rent before they buy and need storage during the move. A-Lert builds for that trajectory: the right unit mix for each submarket, and phased designs that let a facility expand as the surrounding neighborhoods fill in.
Why developers choose A-Lert in Austin
- Our own 40,000 sq ft manufacturing plant about 50 miles away in New Braunfels.
- Single-source: engineering, in-house fabrication and installation, with the build managed end to end.
- Licensed as a general contractor for 30 years, with 40+ years in construction.
- A division of Centurion Industries, for financial strength on large projects.
- Built for ROI: the right unit mix and footprint for expensive Austin land.
Frequently asked questions
Is multi-story worth it in Austin?
Inside the urban core, usually yes. With land among the most expensive in Texas, vertical construction produces far more rentable space per acre. The right answer comes from modeling single-story against multi-story for the specific site and submarket.
Can you convert an Austin retail or industrial building into self-storage?
Often, yes, and in a land-constrained market it is frequently the most cost-effective path. It starts with evaluating the structure, access and zoning, then retrofitting the shell into a code-compliant facility.
How do Austin land costs change the build?
They push most core projects toward multi-story and conversions, which need real structural engineering: reinforced framing, elevators and fire suppression. A-Lert does that engineering in-house, so the design fits both the site and the budget.
Do you handle Austin permitting and code?
Yes. We design to City of Austin zoning and permitting requirements and to Texas code, and our single-source team keeps the schedule moving through review.
