Getting the job done
04/01/10
A Quonset hut can be used for many things. It has been used as a hangar, a military barracks, a house and much more. It finds many uses today, especially functioning as storage or as a garage. So not only is it versatile, but it is also affordable. Square foot for square foot a Quonset hut is more affordable then masonry, lumber and steel beam construction. It may not look fancy, but a Quonset hut gets the job done on a budget. The savings work on a few levels. First of all, the Quonset hut was designed in a way that didn't require a lot of materials. All a Quonset hut is made of is mostly corrugated metal and some crossbeams. Corrugated metal, which is metal that is bent into ridges that make for metal that is more resistant to gravity and external pressure, and some steel cross pieces on the ends make up all the structure that is needed. So instead of other types of construction that rely on support beams, then siding and sheet rock or big logs or rocks and concrete, a Quonset hut is made of simple materials that come at a reasonable cost. One truck can deliver all of the materials you need, so the transportation cost is lower. The assembly time is a lot lower as well which also saves you on manual labor. A team can be sent from most Quonset hut manufacturers that will come and assemble the Quonset hut in a matter of hours, unlike the manual labor for other styles of construction that need to be hired for at least a month. Any one of the factors of materials, transport and labor would make the Quonset hut more affordable, but all three together make Quonset huts a great affordable option.
The portability of the Quonset hut made it especially useful to the United States Army back in World War Two. At that time, the Quonset hut was used for every building need on the base, from barracks to post office to medical post. Though as the troops kept marching the Quonset huts could be packed up to be taken to the next location. That has not changed, you can take your Quonset hut where you need it. It can be disassembled and transported again, making it a much easier process then trying to ship a more traditional style building. This will prevent you from having buildings you do not need in one location and a need for a building in another. That is the beauty of the Quonset hut, it is about the practicality of doing the job without breaking the bank.