One-on-One With Caesar Wright, President of Mako Steel Inc.

ISS: What advantages does a self-storage developer get from using your products?

Wright: Although we have had phenomenal growth, our staff still takes the time to offer a personal touch to the owners and builders that we work with. The most important construction element of a self-storage building is the metal roof. A leaking roof is the last thing a facility owner wants to be dealing with. In the Western region, we currently use the Mirage panel manufactured by McElroy Metal. For our East Coast customers, we use a Clip-Loc panel produced by Metal Sales. Our roofs are constructed with a standing-seam roof panel, which means it has no penetrating fasteners through the roof. This virtually eliminates any chance of leakage.

ISS: What changes have occurred in the storage industry since Mako was founded?

Wright: Since the company was founded, I have seen the industry change quite a lot. In the early 1990s, the majority of Mako’s projects were basic single-story, exterior-access metal storage buildings. Now, due to rising construction costs and land costs, about 50 percent of our projects are high-end retail and multi-story facilities. I have also seen considerable increase in the demand for climate-controlled storage and boat/RV storage. But the design and construction of metal storage buildings has not changed much, and we have to always keep up with the changing building codes.

ISS: What do you see happening in the self-storage construction industry over the next few years?

Wright: The storage market is changing. In southern California, it remains healthy, and we have quite a bit of work on board. In self-storage nationwide, the main concern is the increasing cost of construction and land. If property prices continue to escalate, a developer may not choose to build a storage facility on that parcel.

For more information, call 800.383.4932; visit www.makosteel.com.