36x60 footer, Pole vs Stick?

[vennardk]

So we bought a country home with a nice 36x60 footer. There was two 60' cinder block walls. I thought cool! Throw up the other two ends and get a roof on it!

Well, the winter came and knocked over one wall. Turns out there was no rebar or other support into the footer. I have to assume the other standing 60' wall is the same. I figure I can rent a mini ex and just bury the cinder block in a low spot of our yard.

So this would leave me a huge (in my eyes) 36x60 footer. Question is do I go Pole barn or stick built? The budget is around $15k and I'm not afraid of doing some/most of it myself or paying for a contractor. The floor will have to stay gravel for now. Maybe in a few years the budget will open up.

I've contacted about 6 different contractors here in Michigan and only two have actually come out. Both said they would get me a quote and neither of them return my phone call following up a week+ after they said they would get me a quote... Maybe I smell? I'm starting to take it personal.

I've checked out some sites like Pole Barns Direct and DIY Pole Barns. They seem to offer some great prices for materials.

Ok let me sum this up... I have a limited budget of around $15k. I don't need fancy it will likely be used for small projects and lots of storage. Do I use the footer? Do I forego the footer and build a pole barn? If so, how should I align the pole barn in relation to the footer since we want the outbuilding in that area? Lastly, can I build on 3 sides of the footer and use poles on the 4th side? Maybe I build a 36x40 if I could do that...

Give me your opinions! I'm here to learn!

P.S. If you know any good contractors between Ann Arbor and Lansing, shoot me their name and number!

 

[kbs2244]

Do you have a slab floor inside what you call the “footer?”
If not, I would get that done first.

Then, since you are on a budget and will be doing a lot of the work yourself, I would go with stick built.
You can build the walls as flat panels on the slab and stack them until you have enough to bring in some help to tip them up.
Each panel will be 8 or 12 feet of wall length.

This also lets you spend the money as it comes in.

 

[vennardk]

The footer is a wall that goes "6 to 8 feet deep" according to my neighbor who grew up in our house. I've dug down and I know the footer goes at least 46". There is no slab, it is currently a gravel floor.

 

[Highbeam]

The cheapest way to go is pole barn. You don't need to pour the floor until later and the pole barn is easy to build yourself. Less trusses, Less lumber, easier to do in stages.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Can you post up a few pictures.

If there is already a footer there, it's going to be hard to get through that concrete if you want to put poles in, unless you go outside the footer.

 

[carpenter383]

If you plan to insulate and finish the inside out, then you would be better off just stick framing it.