Do I need a "Barn Builder"

[Stickfigure]

Simple question for those of you who have built barns. Our plan is to build a pole barn or metal barn around 36×40 on concrete. Should we be looking for estimates from local home builders in the area or just "barn builders"? I would think a barn would be an easy job for a home builder contractor. What are the pros and cons?

 

[beemerphile]

The average "home builder" is a GC who hires individual crafts. You aren't likely to find a home builder who wants to mess with it, and if they did, they'd probably charge the moon for it. If you are talking about a house framer, or framing contractor, then pole and metal construction are not crafts the average home framer has any experience in. Even an excellent home framer would probably do it less well than an experienced barn builder.

 

[jack stand]

Start with the "pole building" guy. They're very simple economical buildings and a good experienced crew will have it done in a 1/4 of the time (time = labor costs)

 

[kbs2244]

go with experience in what you want to build

 

[rayra]

well, at least a new guy asked for info BEFORE he built / bought, for a change.

Find some pole builders, they should be better and faster at it. But try and look at their prior work / referrals if you can.
But know there are several methods / techniques and lot of disagreement and wildly ranging costs for whether or not wood goes in the ground. Get familiar with what is available and how it is usually done in your area. You don't say in your profile, but 'frost heave' can be real trouble. And what codes - IF ANY - you might be subject to also plays a huge role in costing.

And maybe go watch some vids from the builders posting their work on youtube, get a feel for what a proper build should be / look like.
RR Buildings is 'moving up in the world' and builds palaces now, but their early works really do a good job of showing the basics and for a then three-man crew they worked wonders.

 

[kwb]

Everyone has a formula on what makes them the $$ they need to do a job.

Guys that specialize in building a house are as a whole going to expect to make more on a project. Guys that specialize in Pole building are going to be good at getting a shell up fast and on to the next job. If you ask the House guy to stop at framing, it messes up his system. If you ask a pole building guy to start doing things like real insulation (not the R-3 blanket typical) wiring, sheetrock, then you mess up the system for them.

If you want a pole building- go with those that specialize in that. If you want stick shell built you might end up being GC and deaing with concrete, framing, and roofing.

 

[Stickfigure]

Thanks for replies. Makes sense to use a dedicated barn builder after reading the replies

 

[jives]

Let us know your location and you may get names of actual builders. As with the the other posts, get a dedicated pole barn builder. They tend to do one thing -- build pole barns -- and do them fast and efficiently. They can also do them with real cheap quality depending on your town's codes for outbuildings. Get online, check out the diagrams and specs of multiple companies and figure out what you need and want. Then run it by the GJ folks. . . .hah!

 

[marak]

Any Amish in your neck of the woods?