General Steel red iron building

[rfpowerdude]

I am researching for a building a metal building garage/shop/entertainment and have gotten quotes from Versatube and General Steel.

I am leaning towards the General Steel red iron building (https://gensteel.com/). Anyone dealt with them and/or have one of their buildings up on their property? Doing a search on the forum for terms "general" and "steel" doesn't help LOL.

I need to look at others' experiences, pitfalls to avoid, general construction tips, best insulation methods, finishing out the interior, HVAC, etc.

Thanks all...

 

[JamesW84]

The search here is not good. For a better search of the forum, I'd suggest doing this:

Go to Google and type what you were going to type in the garage journal search box and add "site:garagejournal.com" to the end without the quotes. Like this:

General steel site:garagejournal.com

That searches garagejournal.com for whatever you put in front of "site". I picked that up about a year ago and it works very well.

Here is one I found:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311175

 

[willymakeit]

Check your local suppliers. They usually also use local subcontractors so the process can be better.
Ive dealt with the getting bids from the high marketing steel building suppliers and when you get into the fine print they don't compare

 

[TTMotorsports]

How I got the supplier for my building was. I emailed and called every damn company I could find online and locally. I then would put the online guys against each other. Easily brought the price on my 50x80 from 42k down to 34k. Then I went to good local supplier with that quote and see if they could match it. And they did along with including foundation engineering and a couple free roll up doors.

Also when I encountered a small issue at permitting I drove to their office and they adjusted it on the spot and got it back submitted same day. An outfit across the country couldn't provide that service.

 

[rburke65]

I haven’t any experience with a steel building but I have to think your better off with a local company or at least one in your state.

 

[readhead]

General Steel is the model for brokers. The owner originally worked out of a bedroom in his house. Check Colorado court records for an interesting read. You have no idea who is building your building and delivery can be a crapshoot. Once you have sent your deposit you are on your own and if there are material problems good luck getting help. The builder already cut his price to the bone to get the job so they may not be to responsive.

Try to deal with a local supplier that reps a manufacturer or two. I could meet or beat any internet price if given a chance.

You are comparing two very different building systems. Always look at inside clearance and not just eave height. Versatube can be erected with very little equipment but you have trusses which lowers vertical clearance. Red iron will give the most volume but require some equipment to erect.

Keep looking and be patient. A local contractor or supplier can come to you and may be able to point out cost saving strategies that some internet salesman can’t.

 

[rfpowerdude]

Thanks for the responses all.

readhead, it seems the Versatube is better if I'm gonna do this myself. Otherwise, I should probably go with someone who is relatively local. What's the best resource for searching out local building suppliers? I guess I will start with Google...

 

[readhead]

What size are you looking at? I just noticed that you are in Florida. You have a whole unique set of requirements. I would definitely try to work with a local supplier that is familiar with your area. Keep an eye out for buildings going up or existing buildings and ask who did them. If you have a metal building component supplier, which might be a lumber yard, ask them who the key players are.

Versatube is more DIY friendly but requires a lot more labor and I find that on very large buildings you will still need some equipment to erect the trusses. You also loose all the usable volume in the trusses.

 

[rfpowerdude]

I want a 36'x50'x12'. Not too concerned about the loss of volume above due to trusses as 12' eaves is plenty tall for how I want to use the building. GJ user ticklechicken is about 5 minutes from me and he did a Carolina Carports building some years ago. He was happy with it, but I am not sure that it would be appropriate for the size I want.

This building will need to be climate controlled (hotass Fla). I will use it for half car hobby shop with a lift and the other half entertainment (bar, movies, small live music venue, etc.). Here is a quick floor plan rendering of some initial ideas of which none is written in stone. Just starting the planning for interior build out. Not even sure if a metal building would necessarily be appropriate...

 

[readhead]

Link doesn’t work. I could go either way at that size but I think I would steer you toward red iron with straight columns and flush or inset girts for the most usable space. At 50’ you will have only one rigid frame. As an example with a four man crew we would unload the truck and have most of the steel up the first day but your results may vary.

Again, eave height can lead you down a bad direction. With tube steel eave height is usually equal to bottom of truss. With red iron eave height is top of steel. You need to subtract purlins and rafters. However depending on door placement you can actually get more vertical space with less eave height.

Several times I have contracted to erect an owner purchased building and halfway through the owner says “my motor home isn’t going to fit under that rafter”. He and the internet salesman never discussed interior clearance and the owner presumed that eave height equaled inside room. Expensive mistake but the salesman got his commission.

 

[rfpowerdude]

The image link is hosted on imgur.com. That site may be blocked from wherever you are viewing. Anyone else have an issue seeing the previously posted image?

I only need about 10' of inside clearance.

 

[readhead]

Usually with a lift 12’ is considered minimum. That is a perfect example of why red iron could be the way to go. There will be more clearance available at the center but watch for overhead door interference.

 

[rfpowerdude]

Versatube is is pretty nice though...

 

[TTMotorsports]

Versatube quoted me 55k for my 50x80 building where red iron with insulation and 4 rill up doors was 40k delivered. That along with the 1000 hours saved o erection made my decision easy.

 

[rfpowerdude]

Oh damn, maybe I should step up my efforts on finding a good red iron supplier somewhat near me. Thanks for that info. And thanks readhead as this seems to be what you're telling me too! (I am a bit dense sometimes).

 

[rfpowerdude]

readhead (and others), who would y'all suggest as a red iron building supplier if it were to be delivered and I had a local group hired to do everything from site work/concrete through finishing the building? I guess I am asking who are NOT the brokers?

 

[readhead]

I have no idea who the players are in your part of the country. Most building suppliers are somewhat regional because of freight costs. When you call a company the first question should be "do you build your own buildings"? If they have a hard time with that question then move on. Dealers on the other hand may rep one or more building companies and they have local offices. Many metal building companies tend more toward commercial work so they may not be as visible to the public. Go to your local small aviation airport and ask who builds the private hangers and you will probably start hearing many of the same names doing the buildings.

 

[Lonnies Performance]

I recently had a building built that I am very satisfied with.

The brand is Metallic, & it was fabricated by a local contractor.
http://www.metallic.com/

Maybe you can find a local rep in your area.

I do not have a price on the steel, as I got a turn-key build, but the fitment was very good

 

[Cobradriver]

Joe,

Dean Buildings is across the state in Ft. Myers.
They might be able to give you a rough idea on costs.

Chris

 

[rfpowerdude]

Thanks guys, I will check them out. It was suggested to ping Elite Metal Buildings in Louisiana too.

 

[jimp]

I haven’t any experience with a steel building but I have to think your better off with a local company or at least one in your state.

I bought my building from a local distributor (only sales the building), not the erector. Talked to the erector during construction and found out I could have gotten it a lot cheaper if I had come to him in the beginning. Find a local business that does it all or at least all above ground work and see what they offer. You are going to deal with them anyway more than likely during construction. Don't mess up like I did.

 

[rfpowerdude]

Thanks all, I have a lot to go on in this thread now...

 

[Metal]

Here are 2 estimates to compare red iron vs commercial grade carport style. keep in mind the red iron does not include installation and does require footings. Also note the sizes are slightly different at 40x60 vs 40x52

 

[rfpowerdude]

Thanks, but they are so small, I can't read them!

 

[Metal]

Haha, you're not kidding! let me see what I did wrong

 

[Metal]

this is blown up 300%

 

[rfpowerdude]

Looks the same.

 

[Metal]

I don't know why it keeps scaling them down. I dont have a photo hosting service. PM me your email and I'll send you them

 

[rfpowerdude]

There is a file size and pixel size limit to image files on here and using png types restricts it to pretty darned small. I will resize and post them (just under the limit).

 

[rfpowerdude]

With the size restrictions, the general steel one becomes illegible. It was for about $17k back in Jan 2017.

 

[Metal]

With the size restrictions, the general steel one becomes illegible. It was for about $17k back in Jan 2017.

It was $21,393 for the general steel. they had the line item for the deposit making it look $17,000ish

 

[rfpowerdude]

Oops, you're right, sorry, got mired down in trying to resize it over and over

 

[Metal]

test

 

[readhead]

The GS quote is pretty amusing. Everything on that quote is standard for any metal building. The I beam construction is contradicted by the welded components a few lines down. Except for a few cases all the columns and rafters, the primary steel, are built up fabrications. The snow load does not state if it is ground snow or roof snow. Big difference. That is definitely some feel good marketing.