Steel calculators for early planning

Two working tools for the questions that arrive before drawings exist · industrial buildings for Africa and South America

Preliminary estimates · not a quotation

An engineering calculator and an unfolded portal frame drawing side by side on a dark workbench

Design by Johnny Export engineer at Hebei Hongji Shunda, writing on steel buildings for Africa and South America.

Cladding and purlin takeoff

How many roof and wall sheets does this building need, how many purlin rows sit under the roof, and what is the net cladding area once openings are deducted?

SheetsPurlinsNet area

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Steel tonnage estimator

How much steel does a building of this floor area weigh, before drawings exist — and which measured band does that land in?

Frame weightkg/m²Tonnes

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What every number on these pages is

Printed working. Every figure comes from a formula shown on the same page, so you can rework it by hand or check it in a spreadsheet.
Examples are labelled. Any value you did not type in is marked as an example with the reason, not presented as a recommendation.
Quantities, not quotations. Both tools stop at counts, areas and weights. No price, no lead time, no commitment.
One question each. A tool built for one job is easier to trust than a single box asked to do everything.

Need a number that is not on this page? Send the span, the length and what the building will hold.

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