Evaluate my possible new shop!

[woodrail]

I've created a few threads about my search for a new house. I'm convinced the relator that is helping us thinks we are nuts.

Our primary requirement is enough space for at least three Airstreams. Bonus points for an indoor spot. Oh, it should have a house also......

Well, Friday we hit a place on 2.5 acres with vacant woods surrounding it. The price is right and the house is OK.

Here is the interesting plus. It has an old 50'x'42' steel building on concrete with 200amp service and CA plumbing. The structure looks OK, but siding and roofing has some small holes in places. Does this indicate I'm looking at replacement soon, or can it be repaired?

 

[ZRX61]

Not that big of a deal to patch steel buildings... But I'd be cutting that vegetation way back to dry out the shed & surrounding area. Looks like a potential rust farm for now.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Dude,

You lose cool points for not mentioning the trolley, (holding the trash) and the Jib CRANE!!!

You are already set up man!

Nice shop. You'll have to decide if it's the one for you though.

 

[Lippyp]

if the holes are just small (they might have reused metal from another building) then you can do something as simple as put a blob of selant of some kind over it or run a roofing both through it or apply a patch with adhesive/sealant or replace a bad sheet. You can also paint it to extend its life. Around where I live here we regularly get guys calling in (I live on a former farm) and ask if we need any tin buildings painted. These people specialise in repainting tin buildings.

 

[MScott]

Around where I live here we regularly get guys calling in (I live on a former farm) and ask if we need any tin buildings painted. These people specialise in repainting tin buildings.

Just be a bit wary of these "fly-by-night" painters. I recall my uncle (and a lot of neighbours) having their barns painted by some of these itinerants. Great price and looked terrific for about a year, then the aluminum paint turned black. Barn looked like ****. Of course by then the painters were long gone.

 

[woodrail]

I noticed the jib crane! It also still has the in-floor bolts for a lift.

I didn't notice the trolley though, who knows if it stays after the sale.

My "first look" was right as dusk and we couldn't get the power on in the shop. We walked thru with a flashlight.

Regarding the vegetation, it is very overgrown around the entire building. I do kind of like the worn, hidden look. But I'm not willing to sacrifice the integrity of the building to keep the "look".

What is not seen is the trash around the site. I think a nice four foot border around the building would be fitting.

 

[69gp]

2-40 yard dumpsters, broom, 40 pounds of sweeping compound, chainsaw and bobcat with a bucket and clamps will have that site clean over a weekend. And that would be just you and your wife doing it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The buildings are a start, they need a little work (don't they all?) and some insulation to making them tolerable for the winter, especially for the lake effect weather.

 

[blazentrout]

By the pics looks like like good starter bones. depending on the size/type of the holes they most likely can be patched pretty easy. if you have to its not to bad to replace a panel or two(did it on my barn to remove a couple of windows). How tall is the door?

As for clean up around the building, find out the rules on burning/bon fires and think where you might want a fire pit and have a couple bon fires to get rid of the all the burnable stuff. Whats nice about this is you can make a pile during the week and then sat light it off while you continue to do clean up.

 

[top drive]

"Around where I live here we regularly get guys calling in (I live on a former farm) and ask if we need any tin buildings painted. These people specialise in repainting tin buildings."

did they come in transits with caravans in tow ?

my first rule of employing contractors is never employ door to door callers.

 

[sberry]

The holes are not a big deal, silicone etc and the size is nice. 42 x 50 is pretty respectable and the math is a fooler, it gives about 2 x the working room of a 30x40. There aint no way it doesn't need some fix up but some of the basics are in place, if you can live with door placement or make improvements etc then it saves a lot of time and money
Replacing steel is not all that big a deal, you got time to shop price and a blast of paint could last a while.
You could get a trailer in there to work on it,,, but used as storage space would go fast. 5K trailer stored in a 60K shop. If I was designing this it would have had doors in the end.

 

[Nowater]

Rust can be treated and repaired. Is the structure of the building such that it can withstand Ohio weather? If in doubt, what will it take to make a secure structure?

Is the wife happy with the potential of the house?

How long is the commute?

 

[AnthonyJ124]

The "what did I do?" Written on the wall is a little eerie.