Metal or Wood Building (And Thoughts on Plans)?

Mathieu18

Mathieu18

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Looking at a stepped barn, metal seems easiest but I’m tempted to build my own pole barn. Sketches below I used to start a take off. Still need the beam price and windows and doors but figure I’m around $8k in materials, $2k for help setting the poles then I can handle it. Metal is probably $15-18k for similar size, but that includes labor. Metal gets done quicker but I’m not really in a rush. Thoughts always welcome (yes, I need stairs).

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A lot more than you think. We looked at metal buildings, etc, end ended up building a barn / workshop (partially optionally conditioned) at 30 ft x 60 ft for roughly $60k.
 
The price of wood is highly variable and unpredictable right now.

Availability of workers is very low and decent contractors are very busy. At one time the advantage of metal buildings was speed. A very big building could go from a pile of parts to usable storage in a week. Now contractors are so busy you could wait a long time before you have a crew onsite to build.
 
Mine is a 36 x 36 footprint, 16 x 36 main that 14' to ceiling with a 6'-8.5" headroom loft.
Left bay is 10' wide, right bay is 13' wide.

I'd change your bay widths to 10'.....tight squeeze at 8' if you want to store a trailer in the dry.

I have a 2' tall block perimeter. That, excavation, and concrete was $10k
Framing lumber/posts/sheathing was $15K (2x6)
Framer labor was $10k
Shingle roof was $3800 installed.
10 x 12 garage door was $2100 installed.
I'm doing the siding, windows, doors, exhaust fan, and interior finishing myself.
Mine seems to be just the right size for my needs, except I do plan to add a 12 x 12 blacksmith shed to the front right corner.
 
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Mathieu18 said:
Looking at a stepped barn, metal seems easiest but I’m tempted to build my own pole barn. Sketches below I used to start a take off. Still need the beam price and windows and doors but figure I’m around $8k in materials, $2k for help setting the poles then I can handle it. Metal is probably $15-18k for similar size, but that includes labor. Metal gets done quicker but I’m not really in a rush. Thoughts always welcome (yes, I need stairs).
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Style is commonly called a "Monitor Barn".....and I put in an elevator :)
 
noway2 said:
A lot more than you think. We looked at metal buildings, etc, end ended up building a barn / workshop (partially optionally conditioned) at 30 ft x 60 ft for roughly $60k.
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Well I did the take off for these reasons but it’s also bare bones, just framing. We might poor a slab but might just do crushed gravel for now and concrete later, I need to get a price on it. Otherwise no utilities at the time, those subs will add a lot of cost. Also the labor involved isn’t cheap depending what you did yourself which is why I kinda want to build it myself, plus it’d be cool when it was done.
 
GoWolfpack said:
The price of wood is highly variable and unpredictable right now.

Availability of workers is very low and decent contractors are very busy. At one time the advantage of metal buildings was speed. A very big building could go from a pile of parts to usable storage in a week. Now contractors are so busy you could wait a long time before you have a crew onsite to build.
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So I didn’t show all the sloppy notes but em from these I got board counts and then Lowes prices, came in around $6k but need a beam for the roof, might use engineered floor joists for the loft, need a garage door, people door and a couple windows, so that’s why I’m thinking 8k ish. I know some people in the trades, hoping to just find a crew for a day or two to set poles. Foreman I know though Mt it’s a days work for a crew, but that’ll cost me a couple hundred a guy.
 
Snal~ said:
Mine is a 36 x 36 footprint, 16 x 36 main that 14' to ceiling with a 6'-8.5" headroom loft.
Left bay is 10' wide, right bay is 13' wide.

I'd change your bay widths to 10'.....tight squeeze at 8' if you want to store a trailer in the dry.

I have a 2' tall block perimeter. That, excavation, and concrete was $10k
Framing lumber/posts/sheathing was $15K (2x6)
Framer labor was $10k
Shingle roof was $3800 installed.
10 x 12 garage door was $2100 installed.
I'm doing the siding, windows, doors, exhaust fan, and interior finishing myself.
Mine seems to be just the right size for my needs, except I do plan to add a 12 x 12 blacksmith shed to the front right corner.
Click to expand...
This is awesome thanks. What’s the construction style of the barn, ie is it traditional stick framed on 16” centers? Pole barn style seems to be more affordable, but guess I need to see what the county says as well. To an extent I picked the dimensions to ease framing. Ie common 8’ sides and 11’ span on the loft to minimize the joist size, at 11’ I think 2x8 is just enough. Wouldn’t hurt to look at cost to pop it out 2’ on the sides. Thought about block perimeter but probably won’t. We’re having 3 acres cleared and graded so not really counting that cost here. Framing cost makes me think I’m roughly in line. Smaller and pole barn design. Won’t have sheathing on the roof, just tin on purlins. Mine ll be bare bones for sure.

What’d you use for siding? I was thinking T1-11, I like wood I guess but could see where metal siding would be nice, but harder to trim out etc.

One thing I was considering, if I remove a section I’d be at 28x16. Honestly it’d be plenty for our needs now but I’m not sure it’d save a ton and I’m sure I’d want the space in the future. If I recall everyone told you to build bigger, think you’d be okay if you went 36x24?

Appreciate the thoughts!
 
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I priced a metal building not too awful long ago 30x50. Just the building, doors and windows, no concrete. $33k.
 
Mathieu18 said:
This is awesome thanks. What’s the construction style of the barn, ie is it traditional stick framed on 16” centers? Pole barn style seems to be more affordable, but guess I need to see what the county says as well. To an extent I picked the dimensions to ease framing. Ie common 8’ sides and 11’ span on the loft to minimize the joist size, at 11’ I think 2x8 is just enough. Wouldn’t hurt to look at cost to pop it out 2’ on the sides. Thought about block perimeter but probably won’t. We’re having 3 acres cleared and graded so not really counting that cost here. Framing cost makes me think I’m roughly in line. Smaller and pole barn design. Won’t have sheathing on the roof, just tin on purlins. Mine ll be bare bones for sure.

What’d you use for siding? I was thinking T1-11, I like wood I guess but could see where metal siding would be nice, but harder to trim out etc.

One thing I was considering, if I remove a section I’d be at 28x16. Honestly it’d be plenty for our needs now but I’m not sure it’d save a ton and I’m sure I’d want the space in the future. If I recall everyone told you to build bigger, think you’d be okay if you went 36x24?

Appreciate the thoughts!
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Stick built 2 x 6 on 16 centers.
I wanted LP Smartside cedar texture 4 x 8 panels with battens, but they are nowhere to be found. Ended up doing LP Smartside lap siding, which is easier for me to install by myself.
Metal was also an option, but more expensive even though I can get it wholesale.
A customer of mine told me that rough cut board and batten is still reasonably priced, but I wanted something more low maintenance.
36 x 24 would not do for me. I'm actually considering closing in one of the bays for more room....later.
My loft is storage only, but danged if I couldn't live in that space! We need the storage since our little retirement home down the street has very limited closet/storage space.
.
 
Lumber hit a low about 5 weeks ago. It's slowly making a climb back up. Mostly everyone is betting on a recession and a dip in new construction in the next 6-10 months. Track builders have already started pulling back on new starts. Lowe's still has their lumber really high and will take awhile to correct back to true cost + normal margin. They are currently just holding high. Do with that information as you please lol.
 
Squanchy said:
Lumber hit a low about 5 weeks ago. It's slowly making a climb back up. Mostly everyone is betting on a recession and a dip in new construction in the next 6-10 months. Track builders have already started pulling back on new starts. Lowe's still has their lumber really high and will take awhile to correct back to true cost + normal margin. They are currently just holding high. Do with that information as you please lol.
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I will do nothing, with that information (as opposed to doing nothing with that information).

How long do you think it takes for Lowe's lumber to back off? I have good credit through them, was definitely thinking of using their 84 months on purchases over $2k.

Was also recently sorta thinking about getting a Heartland 12x10 storage building from them, and adding open bays on either side. Save the real money for a real barn in a few years.
 
No idea on Lowe's lumber pricing going back down. I'm fairly young (I wasn't working age in 08) so I don't have personal experience watching the last hard drop and what that did to Lowes pricing. I work for a large truss manufacturer and I've been watching what we pay for lumber and what Lowe's is currently charging doesn't add up. All the "old timers" that have been here for awhile tell me it takes a few months for Lowe's and home Depot to lower prices to consumers. They have sitting inventory they have to clear out that could have been purchased at a high price. Or possibly they are sitting on a high price because consumers are used to 4x4 being over $14 now. I do know trusses are about half the price they were in February due to lumber prices dropping.
 
Appreciate the info!
 
Mathieu18 said:
I will do nothing, with that information (as opposed to doing nothing with that information).

How long do you think it takes for Lowe's lumber to back off? I have good credit through them, was definitely thinking of using their 84 months on purchases over $2k.

Was also recently sorta thinking about getting a Heartland 12x10 storage building from them, and adding open bays on either side. Save the real money for a real barn in a few years.
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Have you taken the time to put your lumber needs into a list that you can have the big box stores, as well as your local lumber yard price?
My local lumber yard was way cheaper (less expensive) than Lowes/HD but I took the time to price my list using Lowes/HD myself, using their shelf pricing.
They may have done better than that if I'd had the price my entire package like the lumber yard did.
I did get free package delivery and a cull take-back option with the lumber yard. The big box guys were too far away (according to them) to deliver to my remote SC location for free.
I had 4 pcs of unusable cull in my entire package....I didn't bother taking it back. Also kept my 10% overage cuz I know I'll use it somewhere.
 
Snal~ said:
Have you taken the time to put your lumber needs into a list that you can have the big box stores, as well as your local lumber yard price?
My local lumber yard was way cheaper (less expensive) than Lowes/HD but I took the time to price my list using Lowes/HD myself, using their shelf pricing.
They may have done better than that if I'd had the price my entire package like the lumber yard did.
I did get free package delivery and a cull take-back option with the lumber yard. The big box guys were too far away (according to them) to deliver to my remote SC location for free.
I had 4 pcs of unusable cull in my entire package....I didn't bother taking it back. Also kept my 10% overage cuz I know I'll use it somewhere.
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I have a tentative list but I haven’t given it to anyone, just used shelf prices. Good point though. That said, from this discussion I have to toss my take off and recalc since sizes will change.
 
Local lumber yard is the way to go.

I bought a real metal building. An actual Pre-engineered metal building as in a commercial building. It's fine, but I wouldn't do it again. I don't know what these so called metal carport buildings cost, but I would price one out to see. Get the insulation package and finish the inside yourself if you want it finished.
 
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DC Bigdaddy said:
Local lumber yard is the way to go.

I bought a real metal building. An actual Pre-engineered metal building as in a commercial building. It's fine, but I wouldn't do it again. I don't know what these so called metal carport buildings cost, but I would price one out to see. Get the insulation package and finish the inside yourself if you want it finished.
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I almost went this route. These kits are heavy duty, and can include bolt together trusses. I bought a frame only kit for an RV cover a few years ago. Very happy with it.
They will sell you the frame, frame and roof, frame and siding, or frame/siding/insulation kits.
You can also design your own building on their website.

VersaTube - DIY Steel Building Kits

VersaTube
www.versatube.com www.versatube.com
 
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I'm not seeing much value in VersaTube & DIY vs http://discoverybuildings.com/ and sit in a lawn chair while they do it as the price is about the same. Been looking at pricing and plans from several vendors, looks like Discovery Buildings has best deal.

I'm thinking go with the legs and roof for now then hopefully add side panels and insulation later if prices settle down and I have the cash.
 
I had this 13X25X11H RV port built last Thursday afternoon and ended up into all day Friday. The crew got rained out Thursday afternoon came back and finished at 6 pm Friday. We took care of them keeping lots of cold water and gator aid on ice. It was hotter than the hammers of hell. So glad I opted to pay a crew.
I went with vertical roof, sides and gables. Also 12 gauge tubing vs standard 14 gauge. I just needed to keep the sun and elements off our TT. This does the trick for us. 6” green gutters will be installed in a week or two. We call it our “Ollie Hangar” as we park our Oliver Legacy Elite ll Travel Trailer in it.

https://www.steelbuildingsandstructures.com/ out of Mount Airy.



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The back 40
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@Patriot looks good!

This past weekend I ran electric then today got a load of gravel to level and widen the mobile home pad that was in my backyard.

Once the gravel is spread and level I'll be scheduling install.
 
Patriot said:
I had this 13X25X11H RV port built last Thursday afternoon and ended up into all day Friday. The crew got rained out Thursday afternoon came back and finished at 6 pm Friday. We took care of them keeping lots of cold water and gator aid on ice. It was hotter than the hammers of hell. So glad I opted to pay a crew.
I went with vertical roof, sides and gables. Also 12 gauge tubing vs standard 14 gauge. I just needed to keep the sun and elements off our TT. This does the trick for us. 6” green gutters will be installed in a week or two. We call it our “Ollie Hangar” as we park our Oliver Legacy Elite ll Travel Trailer in it.

https://www.steelbuildingsandstructures.com/ out of Mount Airy.



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The back 40
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LOVE those campers!
 
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