Black horizontal line on a white background

Custom Metal Structures

Colorado has no single statewide building code, so the snow load, wind speed, and frost depth a new carport or shelter must meet are set by each local building department. Rhoades Welding designs around those numbers when we fabricate custom metal structures in Johnstown, CO, including carports, pergolas, equipment shelters, loafing sheds, shade canopies, and steel frames for shops. Every member is cut, fit, and welded to your layout, then set level and plumb on footings built for the specific site. Our owner-operated approach means the person planning your structure is the same welder building it, from first sketch to final weld.

Rural construction site with fencing, a red utility vehicle, dirt lots, and a blue sky with clouds
Long white barn with a blue metal roof and fenced paddock in a sunny rural field

A STEEL FRAME THAT FITS THE WAY YOU ACTUALLY USE THE SPACE.

Kit buildings come in fixed sizes that rarely match the truck, trailer, hay stack, or patio they are meant to cover. A custom frame starts with your measurements, your clearances, and your door locations, so nothing gets squeezed or wasted. Steel also handles long spans without the posts that clutter a wood design.


We weld connections instead of relying on bolted brackets alone, which keeps frames rigid through wind gusts and heavy snow. You get a structure that feels permanent because it is.

  • Carports and RV covers
  • Pergolas and shade structures
  • Loafing sheds and livestock shelters
  • Shop and equipment building frames
Black horizontal line on a white background.

CUSTOM METAL STRUCTURES

SHELTER THAT STANDS UP TO NORTHERN COLORADO WEATHER.

Hail, spring snow, and strong downslope winds all test a structure in ways a sunny day never will. We build frames from square tube, pipe, or structural shapes matched to the span and the load, then weld every joint fully rather than tacking and hoping. Roof panels, purlins, and girts attach to steel that stays straight, so sheeting stays tight and fasteners stop working loose. The result protects vehicles, equipment, and animals season after season.

MADE FOR JOHNSTOWN LOTS, RANCHES, AND BUSINESS YARDS.

A backyard pergola in a Johnstown subdivision faces different rules than a loafing shed on acreage east of town or an equipment canopy at a commercial yard. We check setbacks, HOA guidelines, and permit needs early so the design fits the property from the start. Clay soils common along the Front Range also shape how we size and set footings, keeping posts from heaving or settling over time.

WE DRAW IT WITH YOU BEFORE WE CUT A SINGLE TUBE.

Every custom structure begins with a conversation and a sketch, not a catalog page. After 6 years of fabricating frames across Northern Colorado, our owner knows which spans, bracing layouts, and connection details hold up and which ones create problems later. We talk through clearances, drainage, and future expansion, then confirm the plan with you before ordering steel. That upfront work saves change orders and surprises. Ready to sketch out your idea together?

WHAT A CUSTOM STEEL STRUCTURE GIVES YOU

Black icon of a worker using a jackhammer on a road with debris flying
Dimensions That Actually Fit

Your structure is sized to what it covers, whether that means a tall RV, a wide tractor, or a patio seating area. No awkward gaps, no cramped bays, and no paying for space you never needed.

Black icon of a person welding with a bright spark
Strength Through Every Season

Welded steel frames resist snow drift, wind uplift, and hail far better than lightweight kit tubing. Your vehicles, equipment, and animals stay protected when the weather turns rough on the Front Range.

Black icon of a worker using a power drill with sparks flying
Low Upkeep for Years

Steel will not rot, warp, or attract insects the way timber can. A good coating and occasional touch-ups are usually all the maintenance a properly built frame needs over its long life.

Black icon of a person using a welding torch with sparks flying
A Look That Matches Your Property

Custom work lets you choose rooflines, post styles, trim, and finishes. The finished structure complements your home or business instead of looking like a temporary kit dropped on the lot.

Black icon of a welder using a torch, with sparks flying on a white background
Room to Grow Later

Designing with expansion in mind makes it easy to add bays, walls, or lean-tos later. The original frame is built to accept those additions without major rework or new foundations.

Person working with a welding torch, creating sparks, in black and white icon style
Added Property Value

A solid, well-finished steel structure adds covered, usable space that buyers notice. Protected parking and storage raise a property's appeal, especially on acreage and rural lots where covered storage is scarce.

Black horizontal rounded line on a white background.

WHAT WE FABRICATE

OUR CUSTOM METAL STRUCTURE WORK

From a single-car cover to a multi-bay equipment frame, these are the structures we build most often for Northern Colorado homeowners, ranchers, and business owners who want steel made to measure.

Open-air farm shelter with a tractor, flanked by blue and green shipping containers under a blue sky

VEHICLE COVER

Carports & RV Covers

We build single and multi-bay carports and tall RV covers with clearances matched to your vehicles. Frames can stand alone or attach to a garage, with roof pitch and drainage planned around your driveway.

Modern patio with a black pergola, outdoor seating, and a house in the background

OUTDOOR LIVING

Pergolas & Shade Structures

Steel pergolas and shade canopies give patios and outdoor kitchens a clean, modern frame that will not warp or sag. We fabricate beams, posts, and louvers to the style you choose.

Open-sided metal shed with a gabled roof in a grassy field under a blue sky

LIVESTOCK SHELTER

Loafing Sheds & Animal Shelters

Horses and cattle need a windbreak and shade that can take rubbing and kicking. We weld heavy pipe or tube frames with open fronts, sturdy bracing, and roof lines that shed snow.

Open-sided metal shed with a red tractor and farm equipment inside on a grassy rural lot.

EQUIPMENT STORAGE

Equipment & Hay Shelters

Open-sided steel shelters keep tractors, implements, and hay out of sun and snow. We size bay widths and heights for your largest machine and brace the frame for the site's exposure.

Interior view of a gymnasium roof with exposed brown steel trusses above a basketball court

SHOP FRAMES

Steel Building Frames

For shops and storage buildings, we fabricate and erect the primary steel frame, including columns, rafters, girts, and bracing. Your preferred contractor can then install the sheeting, insulation, and overhead doors.

Small gray shed with a white metal carport on gravel, surrounded by trees.

ADD-ONS

Lean-Tos & Structure Additions

Existing barns, shops, and garages often need more covered space. We weld lean-tos and extensions that tie into the current structure cleanly, matching the pitch and height of the building.

Black horizontal line on a white background

THE WORD ON OUR WORK

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY.

People who have had us build carports, pergolas, and shelters often mention how closely the finished structure matched the sketch we drew together. Reading their feedback shows how we handle the planning, the build, and the follow-through on custom projects of every size.

Thin black horizontal line on a white background

Common qUESTIONs

frequently asked
questions.

Planning a custom steel structure brings up questions about permits, footings, materials, and timing. These answers cover what property owners around Northern Colorado ask us most before we start.

  • Do I need a permit for a carport or pergola?

    Often, yes. Many Colorado towns and counties require a permit once a structure passes a set size or attaches to a house. Your local building department decides, so checking early prevents delays and costly changes after construction.

  • What kind of foundation does a metal structure need?

    Most structures sit on concrete piers or footings set below the local frost depth, with steel base plates anchored to them. Larger buildings may need a full slab or engineered footings, depending on loads and soil conditions.

  • Is square tube or pipe better for a frame?

    Square tube makes clean connections and neat lines, which suits carports and pergolas. Round pipe handles livestock impact and bending well, so it is common in loafing sheds and corrals. Many frames combine both.

  • How are metal structures protected from rust?

    Frames are cleaned and coated with primer and paint or a durable enamel after welding. Galvanized material is another option. Keeping water from pooling at post bases does more than anything else to extend the finish.

  • Can a steel structure handle heavy snow?

    Yes, when it is designed for it. Rafter size, spacing, and roof pitch are chosen to meet the ground snow load your jurisdiction requires. Steeper roofs also shed snow faster and reduce drifting against the structure.

  • How long does it take to build a custom structure?

    Smaller carports and pergolas often take a few days of fabrication and installation. Larger shelters and building frames can take a few weeks, depending on size, material delivery, weather, and permit timing.

  • Can Rhoades Welding match an existing building's style?

    Yes. Rhoades Welding measures the existing roof pitch, post spacing, and trim details around your Johnstown, CO, property so a new lean-to, carport, or pergola looks like it was always part of the original design.

  • What makes Rhoades Welding a good fit for custom structures?

    In Johnstown, CO, Rhoades Welding pairs 6 years of hands-on fabrication with direct owner involvement, so the person sketching your structure also welds it. That keeps details consistent and questions answered quickly.

Black horizontal rounded line on a white background

HOW WE WORK

FROM ROUGH SKETCH TO FINISHED FRAME, HERE IS HOW.

STEP 01

WE LISTEN AND MEASURE

We visit your property, hear what the structure needs to cover, and measure the space, clearances, and ground slope. Photos of designs you like help us understand the look, finish, and style you want.

STEP 02

WE SKETCH THE LAYOUT

We draw the footprint, heights, spans, and roof style, then review it with you. Changes happen on paper, where they cost nothing, rather than in steel after the frame has already been cut and welded.

STEP 03

WE CHECK THE RULES

Setbacks, HOA requirements, easements, and permit needs all get confirmed before fabrication starts. When engineering is required, we coordinate so the drawings reflect the local snow load, wind speed, and required footing depth for the site.

STEP 04

WE FABRICATE THE STEEL

Posts, rafters, and bracing are cut and welded in the shop to tight tolerances. Components are primed and prepared so on-site assembly moves quickly and safely while the finished frame stays square and true.

STEP 05

WE SET AND WELD ON SITE

Posts go onto prepared footings, then rafters and bracing are lifted, aligned, and welded in place. We check level and square at every stage so roof panels sit flat and fasteners seat properly.

STEP 06

WE FINISH AND HAND OFF

Welds are cleaned and touched up, the site is cleared, and you walk the finished structure with us. We point out simple care tips so the coating and frame keep looking good for years.