Business Profile: 64 Metals

By AMY FOVARGUE

Contributing Writer

ST. LOUISVILLE, Ohio — You might think selling metal roofing and buildings during times of skyrocketing steel prices — and a housing slump — would be challenging. But the post-frame building business at 64 Metals, a family-owned business in St. Louisville, Ohio, has gone through the roof… literally.

“We have had the best spring ever,” said co-owner Wayne Green. “I attribute that success to our new type of trusses, as they have allowed us to sell to people who wouldn’t have considered buying a pole building in the past.”

The easy steel clear span truss that was developed by 64 Metals in 2007 is placed on wooden posts and allows up to 100 feet of span. This gives the building a cathedral ceiling and allows 33 percent more space for the same price.

At 64 Metals, they have a patent pending on the truss, which they have dubbed as the Legacy Metal Truss System. To date they have sold about 100 of the legacy buildings.

Since 2001 they have sold 1,821 buildings in total.

According to Green, not only will the Legacy building offer more space, but it is easier to build than the traditional post frame building, and it offers more options, cincluding a loft for additional storage.

64 Metals recently began to offer metal roofing for homes. The benefit of their metal product is that it is Energy Star rated, and can generate significant savings in the heating and cooling of a building due to its reflective qualities.

The company manufactures the rolled metal products right in St. Louisville, and with that advantage, they can check for flaws and control the quality.

Green feels his company can also provide buildings quicker than anyone else.

“We can service any problems faster and offer more custom features,” he explained.

The company also offers classes for the do-it-yourself customer monthly on how to build the buildings .

The classes average at least 20 to 30 students per session.

Customers are aware that steel prices are volatile, Green said, and many want to buy their building before the price of steel goes up even more.

The high price of steel is due to the global supply issue, he explained. Domestic demand in the is not the only factor affecting its price. Scrap metal is cheap for foreign countries to buy, because of the weak American dollar.

Currently there is a high global demand for the steel products, he said.