FAQs
What does FBi stand for?
How long have you been in business?
Who owns FBi?
What areas do you serve?
Where is Remington?
Can I come visit?
Who actually builds your buildings?
How can I get a price on a building?
Do you offer specials?
How can I get the best deal possible?
What is the best way to determine what size building I need?
Is a post-frame building the same thing as a pole barn?
What kind of exterior finish options are available if I don't want steel?
Do you do turnkey/general contracted buildings?
Why should I consider post-frame instead of steel frame, block, stick built, etc.?
Do you sell material packages?
Do you work on existing buildings (repairs, renovations)?
Why do I get so much mail from you?
What are your colors?
How strong is your steel?
What makes your sliding doors the best in the industry?
Do you do concrete work?
Do you do excavation?
What does "pre-engineered" mean?
Can I get a customized building or do I have to choose a standard model?
How do I get my building designed? Do I need an architect?
What does FBi stand for?
Technically, nothing. But the name is based in our history. Our company started out as Farm Builders Incorporated. As our business grew and branched out to serve a wide variety of markets, having such an ag-specific name no longer made sense. Customers had already taken to shortening our name to FBI so that seemed to be the easiest transition. In 1986, we officially became known as FBi Buildings, Inc.
How long have you been in business?
Since 1958
Who owns FBi?
Our company was founded by Edwin A. Bahler and is still owned by the Bahler family. Barry Bahler, son of Edwin, is President & CEO.,
What areas do you serve?
Primarily, the northern half of Indiana and Illinois. We have crews and salespeople located throughout that territory.
For large beef barn projects, we serve the entire Midwest.
Where is Remington?
Remington is small town in Indiana located halfway between Chicago and Indianapolis on Interstate 65.
Can I come visit?
Absolutely! We'd love to have you. If possible, call ahead so we can make arrangements. However, walk-ins are welcome too.
Who actually builds your buildings?
We do. FBi employees sell our buildings, design & engineer them, manufacture the trusses and columns, assemble the materials and erect the buildings on your site. We don't use dealers or subcontracted construction crews.
How can I get a price on a building?
Call us and let's talk. In order to provide an accurate price, we'll need to ask you some questions about building size, style and use.
Do you offer specials?
That depends. We generally avoid gimmicky sales techniques. Instead, we prefer to price our buildings fairly and in a way that reflects the realities of each project. That means projects that have "ready sites" or are timed to perfectly fill a void in our project schedule (like in the winter) may get extra special pricing.
How can I get the best deal possible?
There are two things that construction companies prize: schedule flexibility and prepared job sites. Depending on the exact circumstance, these can qualify you for preferred pricing.
What is the best way to determine what size building I need?
If you are computer savvy, we recommend using the FBiPlanner. This online tool lets you draw your building floor plan and populate it with scaled icons of dozens of common items: vehicles, farm equipment and shop items. Our Project Sales Consultants can also give you advice on sizes.
Is a post-frame building the same thing as a pole barn?
Yes and no. Many people still refer to post-frame buildings as pole barns, but only inferior builders still actually use round poles. (FBi was the first in the industry to begin using square posts. Most other builders eventually followed.) So, yes we build "pole barns" but know that the "poles" are now actually precisely engineered laminated wood columns or concrete Perma-Column systems.
What kind of exterior finish options are available if I don't want steel?
Just about anything is possible: brick, stone, EIFS, cedar siding, etc. Shingles can be used on the roof.
Do you do turnkey/general contracted buildings?
FBi's specialty is designing & building the pre-engineered shell. If general contracting services are required, we have a network of general contracting companies we can work with to provide you a turnkey project.
Why should I consider post-frame instead of steel frame, block, stick built, etc.?
Post-frame has many advantages. Speed, flexibility, energy efficiency and economy. See our Post-Frame Benefits page for complete information.
Do you sell material packages?
Yes, and you'll find our prices very competitive with big box home improvement stores. However, pole barn construction can be a lot harder than it looks. Let us explain the benefits of having FBi do the construction before you make a final decision.
Do you work on existing buildings (repairs, renovations)?
Yes. We are the only post-frame company that has a separate division that specializes in this kind of work. We work on all buildings - no matter who built it.
Why do I get so much mail from you?
As a regional company, it isn't cost effective for us to run ads on newspapers, radio, TV or billboards. Instead, we target our message using direct mail. We hope you find our offers and information useful. However, if you'd like to be taken off our mailing list, just call us and let us know. Or click here.
What are your colors?
We have 16 standard colors available. There's sure to be a combination that would look just perfect on your building. Experiment with our colors today, using our FBiColorSelector or request our Color brochure.
How strong is your steel?
When it comes to steel, thicker doesn't necessarily mean stronger. Steel strength is a combination of gauge (thickness), yield strength (hardness) and rib height and spacing. FBi uses full-hard, high-yield strength steel with a close rib spacing of 9 inches. Our steel is .0018" thinner than the 26-gauge soft steel some other builders use, but it has almost twice the yield strength. When you consider all the steel strength factors, our panels provide the greatest structural integrity.
What makes your sliding doors the best in the industry?
Almost any builder's door will work well when it's new. The true test is after you've been in your building a couple years. FBi's EasyMotion sliding doors slide smoothly and operate easily — now and years from now. There is no metal-on-metal or metal-on-wood friction to create drag when opening. All key contact point are lubricated with ultra-slick polymers. Our door track system is designed to work in all types of weather and does not allow for bird nesting. Our aluminum frame is strong, yet lightweight. Last, but not least, our trims are color-matched extruded aluminum that won't oil can or dent like the commonly used folded steel trims.
Do you do concrete work?
No, but we can refer you to concrete contractors who have experience working with our buildings.
Do you do excavation?
No, but we can refer you to excavators who have experience working with our buildings.
What does "pre-engineered" mean?
Some post-frame companies offer pre-engineered packages or models. That's not our approach. Every building we sell has been engineered to your specific requirements for wind load, snow load, etc. based upon your exposure rating, building use and any applicable codes. In short, we don't sell cookie-cutter buildings. Now to be precisely accurate, certain components of our buildings have been pre-engineered, but the overall structure is not.
Can I get a customized building or do I have to choose a standard model?
FBi does not have "models" per se. Every building is designed to your project requirements. However, choosing a length that is in 8' increments and a width that is in 6' increments will get you the most economical price.
How do I get my building designed? Do I need an architect?
For basic buildings, you'll work with your FBi Project Sales Consultant. He has extensive, real-world experience helping customers plan their buildings for optimum flow, function, aesthetics and value. If your project needs additional design finesse, it will be sent to a designer in our corporate office. This takes care of the vast majority of our customers. In certain cases, an architect may be needed. For instance, complex, custom designs that are used by the public may benefit from an architect's skill. However, it is important to contact us before you talk to an outside architect to ensure that your building is designed to affordably accommodate post-frame construction.