Wind Won’t Blow This Steel Cabin Down

Louisiana is often referred to as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” because of its abundance of fish and wildlife, but for Royce Rispone, “paradise” is a work in progress on Grand Isle.

As Louisiana’s only barrier island, Grand Isle is a place that is both loved and feared. People such as Rispone and his family flock to the area to enjoy the treasures found in and among the Gulf’s sand and surf, while remaining aware that it is also a hotbed for severe weather and the accompanying devastation that can ensue. When they decided to build a family fishing camp there, resilience and ease of construction were crucial. For Rispone, that meant building with steel.

“We have been coming to the island for years with friends and family, and it has always been our dream to have our own place,” says Rispone, who lives in Baton Rouge. “There were several factors that steered us toward a steel building. Obviously the strength of the building was a major factor, and it was very cost effective as compared to conventional construction—but the biggest factor was the ease and time of construction. Since we do not live in Grand Isle and have regular jobs during the week, we are only able to work on the weekends. We were able to have the exterior closed in and out of the weather in only two weekends. Conventional construction would have taken much longer, leaving the subfloor and framing exposed to the weather.”

Rispone, joined by his two brothers and their father, takes the three hour trek to Grand Isle each weekend to work on the fishing camp, and they anticipate enjoying the fruits of their labor before next summer. “We are all in this together, so even though we are not fishing yet, we are still spending time with family—which is the whole reason for starting this project in the first place,” says Rispone.

High quality pre-fabricated steel buildings are virtually maintenance free and also durable enough to offer fire resistance and the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. They are also versatile enough to meet any building application ranging from a garage to a large hay storage building. Some of the buildings also offer flexibility in accessories, which can include end walls, vents, and foundation plates as well as additional feet of building to expand the structure.

On top of all of that, Rispone says the building just looks cool. ”It is very different from other buildings on the island—we get a lot of looks and stares!” says Rispone. “We are still trying to decide on a name for the camp, and since it will actually be our own little piece of paradise, maybe we will incorporate that into the name.”

– written by Brenda Welch
(Brenda is a freelance writer and editor living in Hampton Roads, VA)