How to Work with a Custom Metal Fabrication Shop: A Guide for Contractors and Builders

If you're a contractor or builder in the Reno-Tahoe area and you've never worked with a custom metal fabrication shop before, the process might seem unclear. What do you send them? How detailed do your drawings need to be? How long does it take?

It's simpler than you'd think, and the payoff is significant. Custom fabrication gives you parts that fit perfectly, solve specific problems, and elevate the quality of your finished work.

What a Fab Shop Can Build for You

A full-service metal fabrication shop handles a wide range of work. At Pro Form Metals, the most common requests we get from contractors and builders include precision trim and flashings, custom brackets and mounting hardware, beam wraps and column covers, metal countertops, architectural wall panels, chimney caps and vent covers, custom guards and railings, one-off parts, and prototype work.

If it involves bending, cutting, welding, or forming sheet metal or steel plate, we can probably build it.

What to Send Us for a Quote

Best case: Full drawings or CAD files with dimensions, material callouts, gauge, and finish. This gets you the most accurate quote the fastest.

Good: A sketch on paper or a photo of a napkin drawing with key dimensions noted. We work from sketches regularly.

Workable: A photo of an existing part you need replicated, a reference image, or even a verbal description with rough measurements. We'll ask clarifying questions.

What doesn't work: "I need some metal parts for a project" with no dimensions, no description, and no context.

Material and Finish Basics

Galvanized steel — the workhorse for exterior applications. Affordable, strong, and corrosion-resistant.

Galvalume steel — better corrosion resistance, the standard substrate for roofing and siding panels.

Stainless steel — for corrosion-critical or high-visibility applications. More expensive but extremely durable.

Hot rolled steel — popular for interior architectural work. Distinctive dark, textured surface. Common for fireplace surrounds, range hoods, and accents.

Aluminum — lightweight, corrosion-resistant. Good for exterior applications where weight matters.

Copper and zinc — high-end architectural applications. Beautiful but expensive.

Don't know what to spec? Tell us the application and environment, and we'll recommend the right material.

Turnaround and Lead Times

Simple trim packages and standard fabrication work often ships in a few days. More complex custom work might take one to two weeks. If you have a critical deadline, tell us when you order.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Measure twice. The most common reason for remakes is incorrect field measurements.

Specify the finish up front. Adding finishes after fabrication adds time and cost.

Communicate material exposure. Tell us where the part will live — this helps us recommend the right material and gauge.

Order trim and flashings with your panels. Ensures everything matches in material, color, and lot.

Local Fabrication, Built in Reno

Pro Form Metals operates out of our shop on Dickerson Road in Reno. We work with contractors, builders, architects, designers, and homeowners across Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe basin.

Whether you need a full trim package for a roofing project or a single custom bracket, we're set up to handle it.