"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 05/29/2019 at 15:23 • Filed to: None

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Pole b arn or steel building?
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30' x 50' shop. Steel is ~25% more. Thoughts? Anyone with first-hand experience with both?

ranwhenparked > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 15:34

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I’d do the pole barn, because I’m a cheap bastard, but that’s just me.

They are noisy though, you'll hear constant creaking and popping noises basically all the time.

wafflesnfalafel > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 15:37

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my father has a shop about that big - wooden pole/truss , metal clad on concrete slab. It’s nice, no problems/complaints. We don’t have snow load issues out here, but that might be a consideration...

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 15:44

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Is that pricing based on estimates or actual quotes? I had the same dilemma on a similar sized shed, and I thought I’d wind up with wood, but we’re in a high wind loading zone and by the time they’d done the actual design, a pole barn wound up within 10% of steel and also required internal posts because they couldn’t achieve a clear span. The posts killed it for me - really compromises space utilization.

I’v e been really happy with the steel construction, but it not a year old yet: ask me in another 20. 

dogisbadob > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 15:46

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plastic?

Brickman > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 15:48

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Steel will last much longer... . Forever if you take care of it. With a high roof you could even put a vehicle lift.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 05/29/2019 at 16:00

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Actual quotes. Wind is definitely a concern.

What’s the size of your building?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > wafflesnfalafel 05/29/2019 at 16:01

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We have no snow concerns, but wind gets serious here. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > dogisbadob 05/29/2019 at 16:02

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I’m gonna 3D print the whole thing. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Brickman 05/29/2019 at 16:03

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Doing 14' anyway, but steel would give me 17' in the center.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:04

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24x48

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 05/29/2019 at 16:15

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Interesting - does your lie N-S or E-W? 

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:17

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You have a different definition of “pole barn” than I do. Neither thing pictured is what I’d call a pole barn.

Regardless, the steel will probably be a better long term bet and offer better space, unless you need that wide front opening. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 05/29/2019 at 16:27

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Pictures are just showing the structure. Exterior of both would be very similar, both will have concrete slab (not required for a pole barn - can have dirt floor and no sides, if desired ). Both would have a 16' x 10' garage door on the front.

Steel is better in pretty much every day, and that’s why it costs significantly more. 

shop-teacher > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:35

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Go with the steel then . The roof to wall connections are much stronger.

Future next gen S2000 owner > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:36

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My old man put up a pole barn about 2 decades ago. Big ole thing. No complaints. We even went back in and threw in some concrete floors a number of years later. It’s probably 36'x25'/30', something along that size.

No wind issues. He did most of it with the help of my uncle - a carpenter by trade. Had the trusses put on but everything else we did.

Those things are so simple. You could do most of it yourself if you are semi-competent.

benjrblant > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:40

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if you can afford it, steel all the way. you’ll have a more sturdy structure and it will be better for mounting things.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:43

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Carbon Fiber. Light and strong. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Future next gen S2000 owner 05/29/2019 at 16:45

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I really would’ve liked to do most of the work with my brother-in-law, father-in-law, and son, but the other two live out of state and it seemed like it was going to turn into something of a logistical nightmare to actually get us all together long enough to make it happen. Have an old friend I don’t mind giving the business to.

What kind of straight-line winds do you get on a fairly regular basis? I really don’t have any tree cover where I’m at (and the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain)...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/29/2019 at 16:49

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Now we’re talking. 

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:51

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Check on the footing cost, as that will make a difference. Also, make sure they actually design your footings deep enough to be below the frost line. Frost heave is a nasty thing.

I’d go steel if you can spare the 25%.

I like how my last one turned out, lol:

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 05/29/2019 at 16:52

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[drools]

Monkey B > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:59

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I prefer steel for aesthetic reasons inside,   b ut that isn’t enough reason to get it if the overall cost is significantly greater per square ft. IMO.

Sovande > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 16:59

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I have built two steel buildings in my day. They were about 60x100 and we needed a crane to build it. I would guess a fair amount of the cost was wrapped up in the foundation/slab. I would probably build it out of wood if it was something for personal use. 

Monkey B > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 17:02

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my ex in-l aws had a similar sized wood framed building in rural MI. It was there for 20 some odd years with zero issue until a tornado took it and everything else they had. There was no cover where it was located as well.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Monkey B 05/29/2019 at 17:03

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Thanks. Would be quite a bit better for shooting hoops inside in the winter... 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Monkey B 05/29/2019 at 17:04

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Good info - thanks again. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Sovande 05/29/2019 at 17:06

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Thanks for the input. This isn’t a commercial application.

Not sure if the extra cost is worth it just to be able to shoot 3-pointers inside... 

Future next gen S2000 owner > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 17:10

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Little to none. It’s up in northern MI. Trees all around. “windy” is anything above 10-15 mph gusts.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Future next gen S2000 owner 05/29/2019 at 17:14

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Yeah, it’s not terribly uncommon for us to get 50-60+ stuff here. 

Fuckkinja > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 17:15

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I have personally built several large barns. The only time we use steel is when the ceilings need to he higher that 20’. Most of the barns were in heavy snow and high  wind areas. No problems. Pole barns are way cheaper in labor to build than steel. Plus no boom truck is needed on a small barn build.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Fuckkinja 05/29/2019 at 17:17

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Many t hanks for the experienced advice!

Sovande > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 17:22

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I would only care if it was tall enough for a lift. I’d also probably spend the extra and get the steel, the more I think a bout it. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Sovande 05/29/2019 at 17:39

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You’re making my decision harder - ha! 

TheRealBicycleBuck > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 18:50

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Pole barn? The pole barn I helped build was made from steel poles with steel pole trusses that were welded together and the whole thing was skinned in corrugated steel.

My mom had a wood-framed shop with a corrugated steel skin. The whole thing was insulated. It was fantastic!

This was taken as I was cleaning it out for sale. The only thing it needed was proper lighting. The two windows on the west wall weren’t enough.

I think w ood framing gives you more options if you need to mount something on the wall. It’s just easier to grab a hammer and some nails.

The Snowman > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 21:57

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I went steel and love it. Where I live it was cheaper than wood but I only have 25 x 50 and ten foot walls to meet building code maximum sizes.

Fuckkinja > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/29/2019 at 22:45

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120’ is the maximum span I have done in a wood truss up here.

Good luck . I am in my 30’x50’ shop daily .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Fuckkinja 05/29/2019 at 23:55

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Looking forward to being able to say the same! 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > The Snowman 05/29/2019 at 23:56

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Cheaper would be a no brainer! Here it’s a not insignificant amount more. 

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/30/2019 at 00:49

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Our forthcoming shed is steel. As much as I would love to build with wood...LVLs are expensive compared to rolled steel and  the termites here are merciless (especially in softwoods).

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/30/2019 at 18:31

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I’ve been working on my own hybrid shop building. I’m going to make a post about it when I’m finished?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 05/30/2019 at 19:33

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I wish I was building it myself with my brother-in-law, father-in-law and son, but doesn’t look like that’s going to work out. 

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/31/2019 at 00:58

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E-W. But from a code compliance point of view, that doesn’t matter, nor does the fact that we’re surrounded by forests so it’s not actually that windy at ground level. From the County’s perspective, all that counts is that my property is in a coastal area designated as an Extreme Wind Zone. So everything on the site has to be built like a brick shithouse (which,by the way, I wouldn’t be allowed to build beca u se we’re also in an earthquake risk zone so no unreinforced masonry is permitted) .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 06/01/2019 at 17:19

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Good times!