Experience with pre fab garage kits

[frankd]

Sorry if this has been addressed before. I tried searching with a few different keywords but couldn’t find anything.
I wanted to know if anyone has experience with pre-fabricated garage "kits". I'm looking to build a freestanding garage/storage building...probably around 20 x 30. I do plan on running electric but the building will not be heated/cooled.

The materials should run about $6k. (not including the slab or electric) I've seen some online that arent much more than that. One site in particular (bigbuildingsdirect) claims to sell a 20x30 garage "starting at" around $6k delivered and installed.

So I'm curious if anyone has purchased any of these buildings and if so, what was their experience?

PS- the building will be located in the Catskills region of NY which gets plenty of snow

Thanks!

 

[mikehaugen]

Are you talking actual pre-fabbed kits... as in the walls come as walls that you assemble, etc? Or by kit do you mean you gets plans and a materials list and you assemble?

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[readhead]

Metal, wood, prefabed wood walls? Need some more info.

 

[frankd]

Sorry for not being more clear. I'm talking about kids that come delivered and installed. Like this:

https://www.bigbuildingsdirect.com/product/marice-garage-24x32x11/

 

[readhead]

I am a dealer for Versatube which is a similar system but diy. They do not offer installation but use heavier materials. Some quick tips if you get a quote on tube steel buildings. Make sure they can build to snow load and can provide actual engineering. Many can’t. Pay carful attention to concrete details and connections to the slab. Do not settle for bubble wrap insulation. It will fail. Vertical siding should also be available.

This is a bit of a sketchy industry so be very careful.

 

[frankd]

Thanks for the reply. I was checking out the versatube site and that could definitely be an option. Regarding the "frame only" stuff that you sell, what do people normally use for sheathing? Whats the benefit of the frame only.
Also, do you think a 12 foot height on a structure about 24x32 would allow room for a lift?

Also, whats the "bubble wrap" insulation? I wasnt planning on insulating the building at all so I'm not sure if it matters.

 

[readhead]

By purchasing the frame only you can install different finishes on the outside or have a lot more choices of what kind and color metal you want to install. When I sell a building I source the metal from my own supplier which also provides me with a little more profit.

Why would you not insulate now? It will never be less expensive. 12' is usually minimum for a lift.

 

[frankd]

We don't plan on having any sort of climate control in the building. The building would mainly be storage for power equipment and toys. The house is a summer cabin so we're not there in the winter... so I just figured that insulation would be an added cost that we wouldnt really benefit from, right?

Once we're getting ready to have the slab poured I'd love to chat more in depth about it

 

[readhead]

Makes sense about the insulation however you will absolutely need a vapor barrier under the slab. Even during the winter you could experience condensation from ground moisture coming through the concrete.

 

[frankd]

Makes sense about the insulation however you will absolutely need a vapor barrier under the slab. Even during the winter you could experience condensation from ground moisture coming through the concrete.

Ok, cool. Thanks for the tip!