More and more folks are finding themselves on tightened budgets these days. Concerns about economic slow downs, cut backs, and job insecurity has got people really counting their pennies and not spending them faster than they absolutely need to. And that is perfectly understandable!

Most people are also aware of the fact that you can only GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

PERKA'S HIGH STANDARD OF QUALITY
As many of you may already know PERKA is synonymous with quality, integrity, reliability, accuracy, service, dedication to client satisfaction and much more. These are inherent values you will ALWAYS get from PERKA products.

Now many people will say we are kind of like the "Cadillac" of the building world. We have many standard options that are ALREADY included. We hold to very high standards of design, workmanship, inspections and accountability from start to finish. Of course all these virtues do add more time and attention to the product process and thus give it even more value.

THE LAW OF BUSINESS BALANCE
According to John Ruskin the law of business balance simple states you just can not get something for nothing - so all of Perka's value added elements end up built into the cost of producing the product and providing service.

In today's world, more than ever, this is not always an easy aspect to accept! Many people hope they can get all this extra attention and commitment and essentially get it for the lowest price going out there! Believe me, we've tried to trim in various places to help bring the numbers down to help more folks get into a PERKA BUILDING. And let's face it - most people love the "luxury car" feel and amenities - but can't always justify or accept the extra initial cost on their budgets. (Even though in many cases there is a substantial saving on maintenance, depreciation and wear and tear items.)

Well all this to say PERKA is not about to compromise any of their value added elements. So there really is no room for cost cutting there. We have decided however, that we can modify a few things to make the Perka Econo Building more comparable to many lower priced alternatives and yet still offer all the major benefits of the PERKA STANDARD for quality and service.

7 FEATURES TO HELP SAVE ON YOUR BUILDING BUDGET
The new PERKA ECONO MODEL is a small variation of the present Model 4000 system. Same basic look, same quality in workmanship. But to help us be able to be more comparable to plate beam, "pole barn" or "post and beam" buildings which can be lower priced, we are now choosing to do a few things to close if not even eliminate the gap.

#1. Eave Height

The standard eave height on a Model 4000 is the dimension to the top of the truss' steel. So by the time you add the purlin and sheeting - the actual height is 8"-10" taller. So the Perka ECONO MODEL will now have a nominal eave height dimension that includes the purlin and sheeting. Just like most of the lower priced alternatives.

#2. Dead Load

Perka's standard allowance for dead load has always been a minimum of 4 pounds. This allows for the weight of the purlins and the sheeting and as much as an extra 1.5# for more weight - be it insulation, more roof material or even small collateral load items. Now we will design in the same loading of 2.5 pounds found in most of these lower cost alternatives.

#3. Girt spacing

Another Perka Design Standard for their HYBRID wood/steel design buildings has been to always hold to a 24" spacing on the purlins and girts. There is not much we can do about the roof since the 24" spacing is minimum needed to meet snow loads. However, on the walls, a 48" spacing (and even more in some cases) is more often used. And another thing that is found in many pole barn or post & beam buildings is the girt is often only a 2" x 4" and many times laying flat with it's weaker axis taking the windload. Now we're not prepared to go to the extent of using 2" x 4" for girts - but we can still meet minimum windload requirements and have our typical girts clips (still pre welded and pre punched) at 48" centers and still receive 2" x 6". Another lower cost saving! Just like most of the lower priced alternatives.

#4. Frame Warranty

The standard warranty period offered by Perka on their frames is presently 40 years. Like any form of insurance - there is a certain small percentage of every "order" that must be allocated to the cost just in case. Since most of the lower priced building alternatives carry little or NO WARRANTY, and if they do, it is one offered from pretty much a BRAND NEW company or from the contractor themselves! (Remember: you get what you pay for!) Now we can't erase our 30 year history of providing quality buildings but we can take away part of the allowance for the warranty to help with the cost. While you may not be getting an actual warranty with this option - you are still getting the building frames from a 30 year old company who is high on integrity, honesty and good will.

#5. Sheeting warranty, trim package and fasteners.

If you are purchasing a building material package to include sheeting, trims and fasteners - Perka has always supplied the higher quality sheeting and trim alternatives. Always with the higher warranty. Like right now it's at 40-45 years depending on the actually manufacturer we get supplied from. That being said - to compare with the lower priced alternatives, we can offer at a much reduced cost the typical 10 year warranty alternative. Furthermore - all Perka Material Packages have come with a deluxe trim packages which includes closure strips, eave trim, base trim and gable trim that is typically NOT included in lower priced packages. Also Perka generally only uses color matched #10 wood grip fasteners - these are screws. Of course supplying standard roof nails costs a bit less. So another place to lower the price!

#6. Fascia and corner finishes

When you get a building material package furnished by Perka you will have wood material to support your mid bay girts on buildings with over 14' bay spacings, and for the finishing of your fascias on the gable ends, as well as for your corners to make it easier to fasten your sheeting and trims. Whether you are a do it yourselfer or a seasoned contractor, this is just one of those "luxury" options that makes the builder's life easier. Of course you will not necessarily get this with the lower priced option!

#7. OPTION 1 - NON EXPANDABLE WOOD END FRAMES

Typically when a material is offered we can give the client 3 basic options.

All steel frames for the mid 2 bay load bearing frames with wood construction non-expandable frames on both ends.
All steel frames for the mid 2 bay load bearing frames with wood construction non-expandable frames on one end.
All steel frames for ALL the frames in the building.
By choosing OPTION 1 - you see we can lower the cost a bit more to be even more comparable. This way you still have STEEL WHERE STEEL IS NEEDED AND WOOD WHERE WOOD CAN SERVE BEST!

In conclusion - by adding all these feature adjustments into the PERKA ECONO BUILDING, we can, in most cases, lower the cost enough to still be able to offer you the peace of mind of using PERKA quality and integrity but being able to pay a little less to get it while getting no less than what you would from the lower priced alternatives!

Check it out for yourself. Visit www.perka.com for more info about their standard designs, and info on how to contact them for the perfect solution for your building project!

Cheers

I am a husband, father, brother, son, soulopreneur, entrepreneur, former coach, still active player and passionate fan (of hockey)... and, (predominantly over the past 30 years, since I generally spend 8-10 hours a day at it) I have been a "brick and mortar" business owner! It is actually a family owned business and has done well at various times of the often erratic economic cycles that we "buy into"!

Our main business is as Structural Steel products Manufacturer (Building structures) DBA PERKA BUILDINGS -
Website: www.perka.com.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Joseph-MO/PERKA-BUILDINGS/25425...
We also fabricate steel fences, gates and railings.
Website: www.gatesnfences.webs.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interlock-Steel-Gates-Fences-and-Rail...

and, to a lesser extent, we also do "Metal Art": www.metalart123.com.

Our Twitter for all the above (and more)...: http://twitter.com/#!/TEAMPERKA
These are not necessarily "big" enterprises. They have and continue to serve us well. My son will be graduating from ISU next spring (with a construction engineer degree) and we're planning on diversifying our business scope into Engineering, Architectural and Construction services. (Design, Contractring, Managing).

As far as a plan for our brick and mortar presence ... we have one.

That said - my (personal) passion is growing/evolving to be much more than just providing solutions for building and fence (security) needs, along with opportunities for folks to earn a living being involved with TEAM PERKA.

You see my dad had been in the building (sales and marketing) business since the mid 70's -- and then started his own line (PERKA) back in 1981. I worked for and with him in various jobs during my summers as a teen and into my early 20's, which helped put myself through law school. When I graduated in 1983 - I could not find myself an law articling job in the field I thought I wanted to go in, so I chose to "temporary" help my dad look into manufacturing his own steel frames.... One thing led to another and that "temporary" phase became a full time commitment. I have loved it all and would not change very much of it for anything. However.... my father tragically passed away on October 27, 2007 and alot of things began to change... and change FAST!! My life took a major "down" turn.... (I was totally focused on the result)... I was lost, and "lost" almost everything in less than one year... By the Grace of God - the most important aspects of my life stayed and I am now working my way back "up"!!

Now I have carefully selected a couple "venues" to learn and grow with this industry... They may not be PERFECT choices - but (for me) it's a place to start.
#1. EFOODS GLOBAL - The food tastes great, it's nutritious and you can store it for up to 15 years - "JUST IN CASE"... http://holyfoods.myefoods.com

#2. My interest "grew" in network or affiliate marketing after I tried MIND MOVIES 2.0. I had been using visualization for sports I play and prep work for some important meetings or tests, plus I regularly use affirmations for my own self development and i did try to put together a picture board of my goals from time to time. But how about something that can do it ALL - IN - ONE!! And really work the subconscious?? CHECK IT OUT -- I am using it subliminally and I KNOW my mind is making "adjustments"!! http://www.mindmovies.com/?17493

#3. I LOVE COFFEE - why not eh? http://www.myganocafe.com/HOLYOPPS