Quonset Huts Provide Military Style Practicality

A type of prefabricated steel building, the Quonset hut was developed 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.
Today, Quonset huts have found their way into the private sector. 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. A few simple design changes have been implemented, like straight walls providing more storage volume, steel replacing the old plywood fronts and backs, and colors other than grey. Yet the roofs remain rounded, so they have the same easy maintenance as always.Quonset hut owners will never need to worry about roof cleaning or repair!
Where are Quonset huts most commonly used? They are the practical and cost effective solution for many businesses, farms, and more. Their popularity is due to their simple arch construction. A Quonset hut needs only a roof and two walls. Less parts equals cheaper construction. Putting them together is a snap, too. No professional builders are needed, though some companies provide the service if wanted.
How are Quonset huts used? They are often used to store boats, RVs, tractors, and trucks. These huts also make excellent shops for small businesses who dont want the high overhead of a more traditional building. Shops for hobbies such as pottery or ceramics, furniture reupholstery, car repair, photography, and more can also be housed in them. As for agriculture, Quonset huts are a no brainer, as farms across America can attest. Perhaps most interestingly, though hardly surprising, some individuals have taken Quonset huts one step further and actually lived in them. 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. Today, some adventurous types have found inventive new ways to live greener by using Quonset huts as "shells" for underground homes that remarkably need little energy to heat or cool.

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