Loooong Time Lurker Finally Building a Shop

[Metallitubby]

Hi everybody!

My name is Andy and I have a shop problem. I can't decide which type to build for myself after 25yrs of working in someone else's. I am building a small hobbyist, automotive garage North of the Atlanta area in Georgia and am a bit lost when it comes to construction.

I'll be asking lots of building-type questions rather than tool or automotive questions since I have most of that stuff figured out by now.

See you on the field!

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Hi Welcome To GJ. Lots of help on this board. Great bunch of guys and gals.
I have some prints on my build you might find helpful.

 

[Metallitubby]

Hi Welcome To GJ. Lots of help on this board. Great bunch of guys and gals.
I have some prints on my build you might find helpful.

I just got the quote from my home builder (I'm building a house at the same time as well) and it's almost three times that of a Morton-built. To me it doesn't need all the amenities of the house because I've worked in some real dumps as a technician.

Is it kosher to post a thread about the pros and cons of metal vs. stick-built? Or IS there a thread already?

Thanks for the welcome. I look forward to another rabbit hole to **** up my time @ work.

 

[pmiranda]

I bet you can find a few stick build vs. pole/metal threads if you search.
Metal goes up real fast, but it's a pain to attach things to compared to a stick build or even a (wood frame) pole building. If you're planning on insulating and having interior wall finish, then you often end up stick building some framing anyway.
The big benefit of steel frame is really big clear spans inside. engineered wood or steel trusses on stick or pole walls can get you there, too.

 

[readhead]

Depending on the size there is a crossover where metal is less expensive than wood. In my area the number is around fourteen hundred square feet. How easy or hard it is to finish the inside depends on how the building is specd out.
There are also different types of metal buildings. Red iron, tube steel and steel stud framed which you will see more common in commercial use.