What is Building Depot?

Building Depot is Ontario's Authorized MegaDome Dealer for engineered fabric buildings. We supply, engineer, foundation-pour and install hot-dip galvanized fabric structures across Ontario for agricultural, industrial, mining, municipal, aviation, commercial and equestrian use.

Where is Building Depot located?

Building Depot is headquartered at 1053 McNicoll Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M1W 3W6, and serves customers across all of Ontario — from Windsor to Ottawa and from Niagara to Thunder Bay.

What areas does Building Depot serve?

Building Depot serves the entire province of Ontario, including the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara, London, Windsor, Kingston, Barrie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, North Bay and every city in between.

How do I contact Building Depot?

Call 1-800-398-5053 toll-free (or 705-333-9511 local), email support@buildingdepot.ca, or request a fixed 24-hour quote at buildingdepot.ca/contact.

Is Building Depot an authorized MegaDome dealer?

Yes. Building Depot is Ontario's Authorized MegaDome Dealer and sells the full MegaDome series (HP, HHP, XP, XL, DB and AR) with Ontario-stamped engineering and manufacturer warranty.

What warranty does Building Depot offer?

MegaDome fabric membranes carry a 15-year prorated warranty, and hot-dip galvanized steel frames are engineered for a 50+ year service life. Foundations and installation carry a 1-year workmanship warranty.

Are fabric buildings approved for permanent use in Ontario?

Yes. Building Depot engineered fabric building structures are engineered to the Ontario Building Code and stamped by a Professional Engineer for the specific site's snow and wind loads. They are permanent structures, not temporary tents.

How does a fabric building handle Ontario snow loads?

Each building is engineered for the site's ground snow load — anywhere from 1.5 kPa in southern Ontario to 4.5+ kPa in the north. The arched geometry sheds snow naturally and the engineered truss handles the calculated load with safety factors.

Can I finance a fabric building?

Most agricultural and commercial lenders treat Building Depot engineered fabric building structures as permanent capital improvements eligible for standard equipment or real-property financing.

Do you offer financing?

We don't lend directly, but most Ontario agricultural lenders, equipment finance companies, and commercial banks finance Building Depot engineered fabric building structures as capital assets. We can provide the documentation your lender needs.

Is the quote price firm?

Our quotes are firm for 30 days, subject to steel and membrane pricing. After 30 days we re-confirm material costs.

Are there government grants for fabric buildings?

Several Ontario and federal agricultural programs (CleanFARMS, Sustainable CAP) can offset portions of a fabric building investment when used for manure storage, grain handling, or biosecurity. Check with OMAFRA for current programs.

Can I install on existing concrete?

Sometimes. We core sample the existing slab, check thickness and rebar, and have our engineer assess whether the anchors will hold the calculated uplift. About 60% of existing slabs we evaluate are usable.

Do ecology blocks need to be anchored?

Yes — they are anchored to each other with rebar dowels and grout, and the building's base plates anchor to the top course. Properly installed, ecology block foundations are engineered structural elements.

Do I need to be on site?

Not daily. We need an owner or authorized rep at the kickoff meeting, foundation pour signoff, and final walkthrough. Site supervision is our responsibility.

Who handles the building permit?

We provide stamped drawings, structural calculations, and the engineering letter your municipality requires. Most clients have their general contractor or themselves pull the permit; we'll do it for an additional fee.

Can we add a brine system later?

Yes. We pre-plan electrical and plumbing rough-ins so brine making equipment can be added in year 2 or 3 without retrofit costs.

What about sand-salt mix?

Sand-salt mix is even more corrosive than straight salt because the sand abrades coatings. Fabric is the only practical long-term storage envelope.

Will birds nest in the structure?

Properly sealed end walls and screened ventilation prevent bird entry. Bird control is an installation detail, not a fundamental issue with fabric.

Can I heat a fabric building?

Yes, but it's rarely cost-effective without insulation. For livestock applications you usually don't need heat — the building captures solar gain and animal heat. For shop areas, insulation packages or in-floor heat work well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fabric Building FAQ — Ontario

Cost, snow load, permits, foundations, installation time and membrane lifespan — real answers about MegaDome fabric buildings across Ontario.

Category

Cost & Quotes

How much does a fabric building cost in Ontario?+

In Ontario, a MegaDome fabric building typically costs $18–$45 per square foot for the structure, and $35–$85 per square foot turnkey with foundation, site work and installation. Final pricing depends on span, height, snow load, cladding, doors and site access — every project is quoted individually.

Are fabric buildings cheaper than steel buildings?+

Yes. In Ontario, an engineered fabric building is usually 20–40% less than an equivalent conventional steel building on a like-for-like basis, mostly because there is less steel, faster installation and a lighter foundation. Insulated cladding, doors and interior finishes narrow the gap.

How long does it take to get a quote?+

Most projects receive a same-week budget number and a full engineered quote within 5–10 business days once the site details are confirmed.

Category

Engineering

Are MegaDome fabric buildings engineered for Ontario snow loads?+

Yes. Every MegaDome installed in Ontario is stamped by a Professional Engineer to the Ontario Building Code and the site-specific ground snow load from OBC Supplementary Standard SB-1, including drift, sliding and unbalanced loads for the roof profile.

What snow load and wind load can MegaDome fabric buildings handle?+

MegaDome domes are engineered to site-specific ground snow loads of 40–120 psf and wind speeds up to 200 km/h across Ontario. Every structure is stamped by a Professional Engineer.

How wide can a MegaDome fabric building be?+

Clear spans range from 33 ft (DB Series) up to 200 ft (AR Series custom engineered). Length is modular and can be extended after installation.

Category

Foundations

What foundation does a fabric building need?+

MegaDome buildings can be installed on concrete piers, precast blocks, poured concrete walls, shipping-container walls or P2000 helical ground anchors. The foundation is engineered to the site's soil, frost depth and use case.

Can I install a fabric building without a poured concrete foundation?+

Yes. P2000 helical ground anchors and precast concrete blocks allow full permanent installations without a poured slab — ideal for remote sites, temporary uses and municipal salt storage.

Category

Installation

How long does installation take?+

Typical Ontario installations take 2–6 weeks on site depending on span and foundation type. A 60 ft × 120 ft dome on precast blocks is usually complete in about 3 weeks.

Do you handle the full installation across Ontario?+

Yes. Building Depot is Ontario's authorized MegaDome dealer and delivers turnkey installations province-wide — Toronto, GTA, Ottawa, London, Windsor, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Kingston, Barrie, Peterborough and everywhere in between.

Category

Membrane & Lifespan

How long does the fabric membrane last?+

The PVC-coated polyester membrane on a MegaDome carries a 25-year pro-rated warranty and typically lasts 25–30+ years in Ontario conditions before replacement.

Can the membrane be replaced?+

Yes. On DB and AR Series structures the membrane is replaceable in sections, and the hot-dip galvanized steel frame is designed to outlast multiple membrane cycles.

Category

Permits

Do I need a building permit for a fabric building in Ontario?+

Yes — any permanent structure over 10 m² requires a permit under the Ontario Building Code. Building Depot supplies the engineer-stamped drawings, structural calculations and site plan needed for municipal approval.

Category

Use Cases

What are MegaDome fabric buildings used for?+

Salt & sand storage, aggregate storage, equipment storage, agricultural (hay, grain, dairy, livestock, horse-riding arenas), industrial (mining, manufacturing, recycling), aviation (aircraft & helicopter hangars), sports (indoor soccer, pickleball, tennis) and municipal public-works facilities.

Can a fabric building be used for a horse-riding arena?+

Yes. Clear-span fabric buildings are ideal for riding arenas — no interior columns, translucent membrane provides natural daylight, and ridge ventilation keeps the interior climate stable year-round.

Dive deeper

In-depth guides in our Learning Center

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Tell us your site, size and end use. Our Ontario engineering team will scope, price and schedule your fabric building.

Get a Project Quote 1-800-398-5053

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Authorized
MegaDome® Dealer for Ontario
500+
Ontario projects delivered
Turnkey
Engineering · foundation · install
OBC
P.Eng-stamped to Ontario Building Code
25-yr
Membrane warranty · 50-yr frame life