Lester Buildings and Cleary Building Corp. both design custom post-frame buildings for agricultural, commercial, equestrian, residential, hobby, and storage applications. As you’re comparing Lester Buildings vs. Cleary Building Corp., you’ll quickly find that both companies offer decades of experience, custom building solutions, and planning resources to help customers get started.
The differences are found in the details. While both companies provide design tools and project guidance, Lester combines interactive planning technology with proprietary building products and site-specific engineering to help customers create a building that’s uniquely suited to their needs.
Planning & Product Comparison
| Category | Lester Buildings | Cleary Building Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| Design Tools | MyLester Design® lets you customize nearly every aspect of your building, including dimensions, lean-tos, doors, windows, colors, and View in Your Space. Improv, Lester Buildings’ proprietary software, is used by the Lester representative to design and price your building, allowing your input into the design process. | Virtual Planning includes a Digital Floor Planner, Color Visualizer, Investment Calculator, and financing resources |
| Customization | Each Lester Building is custom designed based on your vision and dream. Utilizing Improv, Lester Buildings’ custom software, your local Lester representative will design and price your building. | Design custom buildings with guidance from a Cleary sales specialist and digital planning resources |
| Roofing Systems | Exclusive Eclipse Roof System® and Uni-Rib® steel panels provide proprietary roofing options designed specifically for Lester buildings for durability, long-term performance and appearance. | Offers steel roofing systems designed for durability and long-term performance |
| Engineering | Building engineered as a complete package for its site location, intended use, and local loading requirements | Value-engineered building systems designed for strength, durability, and efficiency |
| Best For | Buyers looking for advanced planning tools, proprietary products, and site-specific engineering | Buyers interested in practical building solutions supported by a wide range of planning resources |
Why Choose Lester Buildings?
The best building is one that's designed around the way you'll actually use it. That's why we've invested in tools and products that give you more confidence before construction even begins.
With MyLester Design®, you can experiment with layouts, compare exterior options, adjust colors, add lean-tos, customize doors and windows, and even use View in Your Space to see how your building will look on your property. Instead of relying on imagination alone, you'll have a clearer picture of your finished project before requesting a quote.
Lester also offers proprietary building products you won't find anywhere else. Our patented Eclipse Roof System® combines the clean appearance of a standing seam roof with the structural integrity of a through-fastened system, while Uni-Rib® steel panels provide a durable, attractive roofing option engineered as part of our complete building package.
Every Lester building is then engineered specifically for its intended location and application, ensuring every component works together as a complete structural system. Everything is backed by Lester Buildings’ lifetime structural warranty—the best in the business.
Is Lester better than Cleary Building Corp.?
Both companies build quality custom post-frame buildings. If you're looking for advanced visualization tools, proprietary roofing systems, and engineering tailored specifically to your project site, Lester may be the better fit. Meanwhile, buyers who value Cleary’s planning resources and budgeting tools may find its approach appealing.
Do Lester and Cleary both offer online planning tools?
Yes. Both companies provide digital resources to help customers begin planning a project. MyLester Design® combines visualization and customization into a single interactive platform, while Cleary offers separate planning tools to support budgeting, layouts, and color selection.
What is the biggest difference between Lester vs. Cleary?
The biggest difference is how the planning experience comes together. Cleary provides multiple resources to help customers plan different aspects of a project. At Lester, we've brought design, customization, visualization, and site-specific engineering together to help you confidently move from an initial idea to a building that's ready to be engineered for your property.
Start Designing With Confidence
The earlier you can explore ideas and visualize your building, the easier it becomes to make decisions you'll feel good about for years to come. With powerful all-in-one planning tools, proprietary building products, and engineering designed around your project, we're here to help you create a building that's ready for whatever comes next.
Ready to start? Explore MyLester Design® or connect with your local Lester Buildings representative.