Steel buildings

MarsFab

MarsFab

Will work for money
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Location
Harrisburg, NC
Who’s had one built? Pole barn? Metal building? Stick built? Block built etc.
I’ve been planning mine for a while now on our new land in mount pleasant. Had it all worked out to be a block building with wood trusses to add on to an existing block building at my place but recently found out electrical is shaping up to be much more coin than I had planned for so I’m now looking into other options. I’m not opposed to these lower cost square/rectangle tube steel buildings but I’m interested in some real world experience with them. I’ve gotten a few quotes on a 40x40 addition and they’ve been from 18k all the way up to 30k without concrete but including insulation, 2 man doors a few windows and 2 large roll up doors. What’s you guys experience?


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If you want to go a red iron building go bigger.
I just priced out a 45x80x 20’ eve height with insulation erected for 46,000 excluding concrete


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I don’t really need bigger. I’m adding to an existing building and will have around 2600 sq ft total which is plenty for what I do. I’ve been in my 2400 sq building for 9 years and yes there have been times I’d like it bigger but my goal is to focus more on 1-2 long term jobs at a time and not be so under water on multiple things at once. I have a very specific layout I want/need for what I do and this will be adequate. I’m not opposed to red iron though. My current building is and it’s been fine. My only complaint is that I’d like smooth painted walls floor to ceiling and red iron kinda sucks for that with beams protruding from the walls around the shop


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MarsFab said:
I don’t really need bigger. I adding to an existing building and will have around 2600 sq ft total which is plenty for what I do. I’ve been in my 2400 sq building for 9 years and yes there have been times I’d like it bigger but my goal is to focus more on 1-2 long term jobs at a time and not be so under water on multiple things at once. I have a very specific layout I want/need for what I do and this will be adequate. I’m not opposed to red iron though. My current building is and it’s even fine. My only complaint is that I’d like smooth painted walls floor to ceiling and red iron kinda sucks for that. With beans protruding from the walls around the shop


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At 40 ft you may only need set of columns between the bays, possibly could do the whole thing with just a set of columns on each end. We just built the new freight liner building and did 16ft tall metal coverings on the inside although 8 is Normal.
If looking for longevity I’d go red iron before the carport style. They aren’t bad per say, there only real advantage is being cheap and when you add in the features they should come with like roof panels that don’t hold water the price starts adding up.

Let me also add I don’t install or sale red iron buildings we’ve just been putting up a bunch and finishing them out for work right now.


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MarsFab said:
but recently found out electrical is shaping up to be much more coin than I had planned for so I’m now looking into other options.
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Call me next week jack ass....we can work something out.
 
There's a guy about 3 miles from me that repairs lawnmowers and they just stood up the sides on his today. I'm definitely going to stop by and ask who is building it and all that good stuff.
 
Decomp said:
I have a 24x40 metal tube building (carport buildings). It’s butt cold or or burning up. A passing cloud makes the roof noisy. I’d rather have a stick built one.
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Interesting. I haven’t heard that from anyone with one before. Thanks!


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MarsFab said:
I don’t really need bigger. I’m adding to an existing building and will have around 2600 sq ft total which is plenty for what I do.
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Mistake #1. All joking aside and completely serious, this is what everyone says. My bosses went from 8k sqft to 32k. Before they signed the lease I told them it was too small. 2 weeks after moving in, they said “Oh shit, we just signed a 5year lease and this is too small” luckily there was another 10k adjacent. Again, I said that wasn’t enough. 1.5 years later, we signed another lease for a separate warehouse adding another 35k sqft and it’s still not enough. I’ve heard the same story from several others.

You’ve told me your plan. I’d just say this. Make sure you have room and plans to expand your sqft on your lot. I hope you have the same success we’ve had but you plan ahead better than my bosses did. It’s hard to spend more money up front, but it’s better in the long run to be prepared.
 
MarsFab said:
I just sent them an email for a quote. I guess we’ll see wha they say. Mind sharing what you’ll have in your steel kit?


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It was around 15K. The price fluctuates with the price of steel. That was bare bones. We didn't discuss insulation or upgrades.
 
If you don't do insulation you're going to wid up in the same boat as @Decomp. Butt cold or burning up. The insulation they put on these things isn't the best but it sure beats the shit out of nothing.
 
awheelterd said:
If you don't do insulation you're going to wid up in the same boat as @Decomp. Butt cold or burning up. The insulation they put on these things isn't the best but it sure beats the shit out of nothing.
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Yea I’ll definitely be doing insulation.


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Decomp said:
I have a 24x40 metal tube building (carport buildings). It’s butt cold or or burning up. A passing cloud makes the roof noisy. I’d rather have a stick built one.
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Mine is 20x24 but is insulated. Never had an issue with any of that.
 
Decomp said:
I have a 24x40 metal tube building (carport buildings). It’s butt cold or or burning up. A passing cloud makes the roof noisy. I’d rather have a stick built one.
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MarsFab said:
Interesting. I haven’t heard that from anyone with one before. Thanks!


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Truth on carport style. The 24x25 I built the buggy in, was all I could afford at 25 yrs old. $5g with concrete and wired myself.

Rarely used my air compressor (even once I moved it outside into a small lean too) because it was so loud. The building was parked under an oak tree, and let me just tell you, 2am, lying on the cold ass concrete because the jet heater only keeps you warm from the waist up while standing, while the roof is raining on you from condensation (especially if there is any snow), and the crazy ass squirrel from 3 trees over decides to drop an acorn on the roof right after the heater kicks off.... you better have low blood pressure and some clean underwear on... it's like a shotgun going off. You can't even think if its raining...and, it's an oven in the summer.

But, seriously. They certainly serve a purpose. I am definitely glad I built a stick building with lots of insulation this go around. But I'm grateful I had the carport building, beat the hell out of working in a gravel driveway.

28x48x12.5, with a 27x16 shed on each end, 4 car doors, 1 man door, 2 windows, dried in, with foundation and concrete, interior done myself (insulation, wiring, wall and ceiling covering), roughly $25g.


Is this a structure at your home or an addition to the current building you work out of Chris?

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Have you thought about block foundation with stick built on top of it?

Then can do prefab metal & 2x 6 rafters, and the whole think wrapped in metal.

It similar to the pole barn style, only difference would be stick built walls/ 6x6 posts sitting on a short concrete block wall.
 
Mac5005 said:
Have you thought about block foundation with stick built on top of it?

Then can do prefab metal & 2x 6 rafters, and the whole think wrapped in metal.

It similar to the pole barn style, only difference would be stick built walls/ 6x6 posts sitting on a short concrete block wall.
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Exactly what mine is, but stick built completely including standard wood trusses, but no posts. Central States brand siding, roofing and ceiling, painted osb walls.

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Capital quoted me 40x40 12' high sides insulated and concrete at $23
 
I would check out 84 lumber if you have one near u. The one here offers building kits that beat most others prices.

Also, if you arent in a hurry, you can keep your eyes open for cheap trusses. There are usually some for sale cheap on Craigslist.
 
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