Quonset Huts, the Practical Choice

Quonset huts are a kind of prefabricated steel building, known for their arched shape, first used by the military during World War II. The place where they originated, Quonset Point, has been immortalized in their name. Just as in the past, they are constructed with corrugated steel. The huts were light weight, economical, and needed no skilled labor to be assembled.
Nowadays, the Quonset hut is common place in private settings. During Americas post war era, the military sold many left over Quonset huts to the public for a thousand dollars per building. Since then, the huts have become common place. 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? They are the practical and cost effective solution for many businesses, farms, and more. Their popularity is due to their simple arch construction. Because of this, all the Quonset hut needs is a roof and two walls. This also makes the huts cheaper, since fewer parts are needed. Putting them together is a snap, too. Although some companies will build them on site, individuals can easily assemble them, too.
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. One curiousity of the Quonset hut are those individuals who have made the huts into residential housing. This is a historical as well as modern phenomenon. A model for domestic use, created by the Great Lakes Steel Corporation that took over Quonset hut manufacture in 1943, was introduced in 1946, featuring windows on the arch and a little bit of white picket fencing. Recently, as a way to live more green, a few inventive types have even used Quonset huts as "shells" for their underground homes, which need hardly any energy to heat or cool.

About the Author

Research about quonset huts, read blogskinny.com/?What-are-quonset-huts&AID=3453.