Frustration mounting

[Houseofnine]

We’re looking to have a “building” put up and that is the crux of our problem. The main purpose will not be to park vehicles in. Does that mean it is not a garage, but a barn? Home builders want no part of it because there is no showcase work on the inside. Garage builders are mostly interested in putting up cookie cutter suburban garages - low pitched roofs, vinyl siding, etc. This is not what we are looking for. Are we looking in the wrong place? Please help!

 

[KEH]

Sounds like the local builders haven't heard the old saying about the customer being always right. Maybe you need to look further for a builder.

KEH

 

[ezover]

what type of building? could be you are looking at the wrong company's to build it.

 

[ambenz]

Well sounds like you need enough cash to hire an architect to design what you want.
They in turn will find you a contractor to work with.
If you cannot afford an architect, you'll have to modify a cookie cutter building.
It takes connections ("I got a guy...") money, or both....and some DYI to do it on the cheap.
Good luck with keeping some money in your pocket book!

 

[Houseofnine]

We had a garage built in Michigan and were very happy with it. Stick built, 22x24, conventional rafter framing, skylight, matched the house nicely. I used that drawing (Architect work) to work from but still meeting resistance. Garage guys seem to want to talk us out of two story, rafters, etc.

 

[lis2323]

Because of zoning bylaws my garage plans had to be submitted to the local planning department as a BARN /accessory farm building.

 

[PassnThru]

It's funny how sometimes it doesn't even seem like you can give money away. You'd expect people to jump all over a more complicated design because that means more money!
Apparently, either everyone is too busy to care or they don't want to step out of their normal comfort zone or you haven't found someone yet that has a crew that can face a moderate challenge.
Hang in there - think about it like this - the ones that turned you down were definitely not the people that you wanted to execute your vision. They did you a favor by not quoting a project that they would have never been committed to.

 

[lis2323]

It's funny how sometimes it doesn't even seem like you can give money away. You'd expect people to jump all over a more complicated design because that means more money!

Apparently, either everyone is too busy to care or they don't want to step out of their normal comfort zone or you haven't found someone yet that has a crew that can face a moderate challenge.

Hang in there - think about it like this - the ones that turned you down were definitely not the people that you wanted to execute your vision. They did you a favor by not quoting a project that they would have never been committed to.

Agreed

 

[rnixon]

We had a garage built in Michigan and were very happy with it. Stick built, 22x24, conventional rafter framing, skylight, matched the house nicely. I used that drawing (Architect work) to work from but still meeting resistance. Garage guys seem to want to talk us out of two story, rafters, etc.

Maybe there is a company like this near you ?
Click on multi car garages


www.kloterfarms.com/page.cfm?p=45765

 

[ard]

We had a garage built in Michigan and were very happy with it. Stick built, 22x24, conventional rafter framing, skylight, matched the house nicely. I used that drawing (Architect work) to work from but still meeting resistance. Garage guys seem to want to talk us out of two story, rafters, etc.

Eh, just keep looking for the right builder/contractor.

Just the nature of the business these days.....

 

[slackdaddy1]

Living in Maryland,, basically suburbs of DC, Builders for multiple generations have been "Trained" by the market demands to supply the biggest, cheapest, most generic structures they can provide.
When I built my 2nd (Current) house, it was a cape style cottage or lodge, a 1-1/2 story. So all the roof framing had to be hand cut with compound angles.
I could not find an Architect, they all only know "assemble components" (trusses, etc)
So I had to design it myself, took me a year of evenings.
When I went to build,, there was not a framing crew in the state that had a clue about anything past framing a box and slapping trusses on it,, I had to frame it my self.

"Home Builders" do not exist in the Mid Atlantic,, only un skilled "Assemblers"
Most likely you are going to have to manage the job yourself.

 

[Houseofnine]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I suppose this is the downside of a strong economy and low unemployment. I will try to be patient and keep looking.

 

[Houseofnine]

You certainly got a nice result!

 

[DenisG]

The general term for a non-residential building is "outbuilding". There are different types:
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-outbuildings.htm
Without defining the purpose of what you are building, and the associated legal regulations involved that you must meet, be prepared to face continued frustration.

 

[Houseofnine]

The general term for a non-residential building is "outbuilding". There are different types:

Without defining the purpose of what you are building, and the associated legal regulations involved that you must meet, be prepared to face continued frustration.

Indeed, we are well aware of this and had the property rezoned agricultural last year to accommodate.

 

[yeldogt]

There is no one answer to this problem ... but, it's not new. I have built and rebuilt many types of buildings/houses and it can be a challenge to find a good fit. Part of the problem is what's a builder? contractor? remodeler? ... when is an architect acting as an architect .. and not just a draftsman?

Typically, you don't hire a remodeler -- a guy who does design/ build kitchen and baths to build you new house.

I did not hire the same architect when I was gut rehabbing and adding to a 1800's building that helped me design and build a steel and glass "tree house" on a river.

You also have to match the quality to the contractor -- you don't want to try and take a guy who buys all his supplies and trim from home depot and have him build a house with lots of specialized details .. it's just not going to work.

For years I always did drywall/skim plaster .... I was forced to do "level 5" at my beach house a bunch of years ago. Now "level 5" gets you a deer in the headlight look from many contractors. What's that .... the quality of drywall work is so bad today ... i notice it everywhere

finding/ getting what you want is never straight forward

 

[Jinks]

It's funny how sometimes it doesn't even seem like you can give money away. You'd expect people to jump all over a more complicated design because that means more money!

Hang in there - think about it like this - the ones that turned you down were definitely not the people that you wanted to execute your vision. They did you a favor by not quoting a project that they would have never been committed to.

So true! In today's world of incompetence I've given up trying to convince contractors there's a different/better way to do something. When hiring someone I judge heavily on how well they listen to me & how willing they are to satisfy me. As soon as they start telling me "you can't do that", or "we don't do it that way" they loose the opportunity to earn my money. Too many of those guys have a comfort zone they're afraid to leave & an easy way to make a buck. It takes longer to find competent people, but the effort pays off.

 

[yeldogt]

Living in Maryland,, basically suburbs of DC, Builders for multiple generations have been "Trained" by the market demands to supply the biggest, cheapest, most generic structures they can provide.
When I built my 2nd (Current) house, it was a cape style cottage or lodge, a 1-1/2 story. So all the roof framing had to be hand cut with compound angles.
I could not find an Architect, they all only know "assemble components" (trusses, etc)
So I had to design it myself, took me a year of evenings.
When I went to build,, there was not a framing crew in the state that had a clue about anything past framing a box and slapping trusses on it,, I had to frame it my self.

"Home Builders" do not exist in the Mid Atlantic,, only un skilled "Assemblers"
Most likely you are going to have to manage the job yourself.

This is some of the problem -- there is so much work that even some the better guys don't want to do anything unusual. When the downturn occurred no one added people -- they kept the best (usually older) and the younger guys went off to do other things. As the economy improved -- and that took years .. the old guys started to retire. This was a real problem 3-5 years ago.

I had work done in that period and all the better builders were working on many fewer projects and not doing any spec ... it hurt the industry. Much longer wait times ... and some builders wanted crazy prices. I had one do it to me when we went to sign back in 2017 ...... after I had waited 7 months for a spot.

 

[rusty1]

build it yerself...

 

[Marctrees]

House - What kind, type, approx size, etc building are you thiinking you want ??

Low per sq ft cost, or fancied up ?

You said not parking, so workshop ??

Menards Pole building or what ?


Edit - Somehow I missed your post #5.

Duh.

Marc

 

[Dragfluid]

So, you haven't really said what you're expecting it to look like in the end. A stick built garage or a simple pole shed?
Don't sell a pole building short. Some can be made pretty fancy. Too bad SE Wisc is so far from Milaca, MN. That's where the place is that put mine up. But there are lots of other pole shed companies. See what they have to offer. Morton, Wick, Meyer, to name a few.

Best of luck!

 

[yeldogt]

So, you haven't really said what you're expecting it to look like in the end. A stick built garage or a simple pole shed?
Don't sell a pole building short. Some can be made pretty fancy. Too bad SE Wisc is so far from Milaca, MN. That's where the place is that put mine up. But there are lots of other pole shed companies. See what they have to offer. Morton, Wick, Meyer, to name a few.

Best of luck!

he did in #5

 

[SALIV8]

Have you spoken with Mortons?

 

[Houseofnine]

So, you haven't really said what you're expecting it to look like in the end. A stick built garage or a simple pole shed?
Don't sell a pole building short. Some can be made pretty fancy. Too bad SE Wisc is so far from Milaca, MN. That's where the place is that put mine up. But there are lots of other pole shed companies. See what they have to offer. Morton, Wick, Meyer, to name a few.

Best of luck!

The more it looks like a house, the happier I will be. This and the fact that I plan to climate control and subdivide the interior have led me away from post frame and toward stick built.

 

[Houseofnine]

build it yerself...

This would not get it completed in a timely fashion. I’ve opted to make sacrifices for expediency.

 

[larry_g]

My son has built a good reputation as a higher end builder and is taking deposits to start two years out. He can't meet the demand and can't hire employees to expand. He has some say that they will contact him in a year or so to see if he can do the job. He tells them it will still be two years or more from the day they commit so waiting a year or more will not get them on the schedule.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[yeldogt]

My son has built a good reputation as a higher end builder and is taking deposits to start two years out. He can't meet the demand and can't hire employees to expand. He has some say that they will contact him in a year or so to see if he can do the job. He tells them it will still be two years or more from the day they commit so waiting a year or more will not get them on the schedule.

lg
no neat sig line

This is the case around me -- maybe not two years. But, over a year ....

It took me over 6 months just to work through the bid process. And this was after I put the word out that I was moving forward with the project -- almost two months for that process ...before we could narrow the field to two possible firms. So eight months -- + sign paperwork ... firm up the permits ... more time.

My project still has 8-9 months of construction. The cabinet people are running 4-5 months out .. and that's after they finalize the plans

It used to be much faster ....

 

[Houseofnine]

Thanks all for the replies. If nothing else, I’ve learned that this is a widespread issue, and not just me, my area, or my project.

 

[sberry]

Might look for a different kind of contractor. One that LIKES owner parcipitation. Semi retired, does limited jobs, glad to let the owner be the general/builder, doesn't have a problem with changes, not interested in parts markup and holding the wallet. Willing to take pay when milestones are met to satisfaction. Someone can do it without subs.

 

[Jackfre]

Might look for a different kind of contractor. One that LIKES owner parcipitation. Semi retired, does limited jobs, glad to let the owner be the general/builder, doesn't have a problem with changes, not interested in parts markup and holding the wallet. Willing to take pay when milestones are met to satisfaction. Someone can do it without subs.

As I was reading all of the very good posts I was formulating my response. then I read it Most builders, successful ones, know the formula or the market they are successful in. As volatile as the business can be you can hardly blame them. They remember when, as a good friend custom builder in the Napa Valley told me, "I was always connected to the Trust Fund Babies and had work regardless of what wa going on. Beginning in '08, even they weren't building so much as a dog house."
How do you find the guy SBerry refers you to? Perhaps you look at the suppliers of building materials in your area. Talk to the owner/GM of such companies and tell them what you are looking for. I can't say you will get a great deal, but I bet you will get a good job and enjoy the process. Don't overlook that, enjoying the process aspect of this. You are going to spend a pile of dough. It doesn't have to be unpleasant. I was very fortunate when I moved west several years ago onto a nice property with a house that was essentially shot. The architect took a flat fee. He still draws by hand. I put together a 4 man geriatric crew, the youngest being 57, me the oldest at 68 then. I worked with them when I wasn't traveling on business. It was the best type of business leading to friendships. Oh, and the work was first rate. Those guys are out there. You have to get out there and find them. I think it will be worth it to you if you can find the types of guys SBerry suggests & I found.