Many Uses for Quonset Huts
12/29/09
A type of prefabricated steel building, the Quonset hut was developed by the military during World War II. They are named for Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where they were originally manufactured. Just as in the past, they are constructed with corrugated steel. No professional assembly is required to install the huts, and they are light weight and inexpensive.
Today, Quonset huts have found their way into the private sector. During America's post war era, the military sold many left over Quonset huts to the public for a thousand dollars per building. Ever since, the huts have become widespread. The design has changed some over the years, such as the introduction of walls that are shaped to stand at a ninety degree angel to allow for optimal storage space, steel fronts and backs instead of the original plywood, and a variety of colors. Quonset hut roofs are still rounded, however, allowing for the same easy maintenance as the original.Quonset hut owners will never need to worry about roof cleaning or repair!
Who uses Quonset huts? Quonset huts are found on farms, businesses, and in other places. Their popularity is due to their simple arch construction. A Quonset hut needs only a roof and two walls. Less parts equals cheaper construction. They are also easy to assemble. No professional builders are needed, though some companies provide the service if wanted.
How are Quonset huts used? They are often used to store boats, RVs, tractors, and trucks. For those with small businesses, the huts make great shops with much less overhead than traditional construction. Hobbyists who have the room can also build their own shops for things like pottery and ceramics, furniture reupholstery, car repair, photography dark rooms, and so on. As for agriculture, Quonset huts are a no brainer, as farms across America can attest. Perhaps most interestingly, though hardly surprising, some individuals have taken Quonset huts one step further and actually lived in them. This phenomenon is modern as well as historical. The Great Lakes Steel Corporation, which began manufacturing the Quonset huts in 1943, created its own residential model in 1946 which featured windows on the arch and just enough white picket fencing at the front to make it homey. Today, some adventurous types have found inventive new ways to live greener by using Quonset huts as "shells" for underground homes that remarkably need little energy to heat or cool.