What's the Difference?
Cold-formed steel buildings are assembled from roll-formed sections — CEE columns, CEE rafters, and ZEE purlins — cut to length, pre-punched, and bundled into an engineered, code-stamped kit.
Tubular buildings are framed from hollow galvanized square tube — the 2¼", 12 or 14 gauge carport-style framing used for roadside carports and prefab garages.
What the Lower Price Leaves Out
- Site-specific engineering. Many tubular buildings ship without a site-specific load rating; certification to local wind and snow loads is an add-on, and without it a permit may not be possible. Metroll cold-formed buildings are engineered to local loads with stamped plans as standard.
- Span and load. Tubular spans shorter and carries less. It's sold at wide footprints, but width requires heavier 12-gauge framing and bracing. Cold-formed clear-spans without interior posts.
- Lifespan. Galvanized tubular lasts around 20–40 years; cold-formed steel framing is commonly rated at 50+ years.
Strength & Slab
Tubular tube is light and flexible, and an under-specified frame can fail under high wind or heavy snow. Cold-formed sections are often built with a 2-ply web for more strength at the same thickness, and the lighter frame allows a simple thickened-edge slab — a 4" slab with a 1-foot-deep by 1-foot-wide edge, columns anchored directly in. Both systems are galvanized and resist rot, termites, and fire; cold-formed also won't warp, shrink, or split.
When Tubular Makes Sense
- Open carports and vehicle, RV, or boat covers
- Small sheds in mild climates where upfront cost is the main factor
- Non-occupied structures that don't need a permit
Side-by-Side:
| Tubular | Cold-Formed | |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Hollow square tube | Roll-formed C-sections (often 2-ply web) |
| Best for | Carports, covers, small sheds | Enclosed, permitted, code-rated buildings |
| Typical size ceiling | ~30 ft wide, ~500 sq ft | Workshops, light commercial, multi-family |
| Engineered to your site? | Usually an add-on | Built in from the start |
| Lifespan | ~15–25 years | ~25–30 years |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Mid — and lower total cost of ownership |
The Bottom Line
Tubular is the cheaper choice for carports, covers, and small sheds. For an enclosed, permitted building — especially at 40x60 — cold-formed adds site-specific engineering, longer span, a simpler slab, and a longer service life for a cost difference that's usually small once tubular is specified to the same standard.
