How to Use the Maverick 3D Steel Building Designer

Before you ever talk to a salesperson, it helps to have a rough idea of what you want. Size. Roof pitch. Doors. Color. Even if you change your mind later, having a starting point makes the conversation faster and the quote more accurate.

That’s what our 3D builder is for. It’s a simple tool you can use online to, no account required, to design your steel building and see what it could look like. This post walks through how to use it and what to think about as you go.

You can jump straight to the tool here: Open the Maverick 3D Steel Building Designer.

What the 3D builder is, and what it isn’t

The 3D builder is a steel building designer tool. It lets you set the basic dimensions of a building, pick a roof style and pitch, add doors and windows, and choose colors. As you make changes, the building updates on screen so you can see what your choices look like.

It is not a quoting tool. The price you see when you save your design is a starting estimate, not a binding quote. The real number depends on your location, your local code requirements, soil conditions, accessories not in the basic builder, and a few other factors that get sorted out in conversation.

Think of the 3D builder as a sketchpad. The sketch helps both of us start from the same page.

Step by step

When you open the 3D builder, here’s how to work through it.

1. Start with the size

The first thing, after picking a starter template, is to set is the footprint and the wall height. Width and length determine the floor area. Wall height (sometimes called eave height) determines how tall the building feels and what fits inside.

A few rules of thumb on sizing:

• For a single-vehicle garage, a 24×24 is small. A 30×40 gives you room for the vehicle plus storage and a small workspace.
• For an RV garage, you typically need at least 14 feet of eave height to fit most fifth-wheels and Class A motorhomes. Some taller rigs need 16.
• For a shop or workshop, plan for the equipment plus enough clearance to work around it. The most common sizing regret is going with what you have today instead of what you’ll have in five years.

2. Choose the roof style and pitch

Maverick buildings typically use a gable roof, which has two sloped sides meeting at a peak. The pitch is how steep that slope is.

• A 1:12 pitch is shallow. It’s the most economical option and reads as more “industrial.”
• A 4:12 pitch is steeper. It sheds water and snow better, and the building looks more like a traditional house or barn.

If you’re in heavy rain or snow country, lean toward a steeper pitch. If the building’s purpose is storage and the look matters less, a shallower pitch keeps costs down.

3. Add doors and windows

Doors are one of the most consequential choices. They affect how you use the building every day.

Common door types:

• Roll-up doors are large overhead doors that open vertically. Used for vehicle entry, equipment, and most commercial applications.
• Walk-in doors are standard human-sized entrance doors.
• Sliding doors are common on agricultural buildings.

When you size a roll-up door, think about what’s going to drive through it. A 10×10 fits a pickup with room to spare. A 14×14 fits a fifth-wheel or a small box truck. Bigger equipment needs bigger doors.

Windows are mostly about light and aesthetics. They’re cheaper to add now than later, so if you think you might want them, sketch them in.

4. Pick a color scheme

Color affects how the building ages visually and how it fits with the rest of your property. The 3D builder shows you what each combination looks like in real time.

A few practical notes:

• Lighter colors show dirt less in dusty environments, but show rust streaks more clearly if water is sitting somewhere it shouldn’t.
• Darker colors look sharp but heat up more in sun, which can matter for unconditioned buildings.
• Most customers go with a coordinated palette: a darker trim against a lighter wall, with the roof either matching the trim or in a complementary color.

5. Save and share

When you’ve got something you like, save the design. You can email it to yourself, share it with a partner or spouse, or send it straight to us when you’re ready to talk.

Things the 3D builder doesn’t cover

The 3D builder handles the basics. It doesn’t cover:

• Foundation specs (we design those based on your soil and code requirements)
• Insulation packages
• Interior finishes
• Specific anchor systems for your wind and snow loads
• Mezzanines, lean-tos, or unusual additions

If any of those matter for your project, sketch the basics in the 3D builder and then call us. We’ll fill in the rest in conversation.

Common questions

Do I need to create an account to use the 3D builder?
No. You can use it anonymously and still save your design.

Is the price shown in the builder my final quote?
No. It’s a rough estimate based on the basic configuration. Your real quote depends on your location, code requirements, accessories, and a few other factors we work out together.

Can I share the design with a builder or contractor before talking to you?
Yes. Many customers share the sketch with a contractor friend or family member first. A second opinion is always welcome.

Can I keep iterating on the design after I share it with you?
Absolutely. The design is a starting point. We expect to refine it together during the sales conversation.

Does the 3D builder work on mobile?
It works best on a tablet or desktop. You can use it on a phone, but the screen real estate makes some of the configuration steps tighter than they need to be.

Next step

The 3D builder is a sketch. The quote is a conversation. Once you’ve got a rough sketch, call us at 706-979-6303 or reply to any of our emails. We’ll walk through it with you, talk through what’s realistic for your location, and start building a real quote.

Open the Maverick 3D Steel Building Designer →