Menards Garage

[ffjosh]

Im looking to build a 24x24 (or close to that size) pole barn and I have been looking at Menards kits.

I am not 100% sure what Im looking for but I see lots of kits that are the same size (and height) but are $500 different.

What should I be looking for in a quality building kit?

 

[JKJavelin]

Their lumber is lousy. You'll spend 3 weeks sorting through it to find decent boards. A guy wanted to build one for me for several thousand less than a conventional builder. I'm glad I didn't!

 

[Hoops.]

I built a 24'x24' Menards kit garage in 2006. It went very well and i had good luck with the wood quality.
I have since moved and will likely use them again to build a 32x40 this year.

 

[oilslick]

They sent me lots of garbage wood, shorted me on stuff, no service. Be warned but maybe I was just unlucky.

 

[pmason0]

I built one of their kits about 25 years ago, back then it wasn't too bad, the options are typically different doors or windows, upgrade on shingles, etc.

 

[purplezr2]

They sent me lots of garbage wood, shorted me on stuff, no service. Be warned but maybe I was just unlucky.

This is common, I was a load builder for Menards at one point in my life. We don't have time to sort through to find you every good board. We just count off the number on the sheet, and go to the next item. Some are better then others, I think I only sent out a load once were something was shorted, and I heard about at the month meeting.

 

[orangeracer]

I'm in the process of putting up a 40x64 Menards pole barn kit right know and have had very little problems with the quality of the wood. I did have some scratches on my vented ridge vent but had no problem getting that taken care off. One of the contractors in my area that puts up a lot of pole buildings uses menards kits.

 

[kert]

This is common, I was a load builder for Menards at one point in my life. We don't have time to sort through to find you every good board. We just count off the number on the sheet, and go to the next item. Some are better then others, I think I only sent out a load once were something was shorted, and I heard about at the month meeting.

In the past I've had good luck with Menards delivery. The stock seemed better than what I could pick through in the store. I figured the guy loading was taking from a pile that hadn't been picked through already.

Last week I had some drywall delivered and was not happy with it. One pile had busted corners that just looked like scraped paper on the pile. The driver also smacked the second pile on the trailer. We made a note of the damage I saw and I'll take back what's too bad to use, but I paid for the convienience of delivery, and if I have to take things back or wait for another delivery furring a 6hr window, it isn't very convienint.

 

[ffjosh]

Im also thinking of getting a plan and sending it off to a local lumber yard and have them give me a quote.

Something I did notice most of there kits are 9 foot on center and I heard the most you should go is 8 foot.

 

[Big-Foot]

I have used Menards for building materials for many years. Also have had them deliver spec kits.
One thing you will want to do is to not lolly gag around in building this garage. The studs that you get are not EVER fully cured and once cut from their bundle will start to air dry and they will twist into propellors if not nailed into a wall and supported in some way.
You may be able to get better results if you tell them you want to pay an additional 10% for "Select" quality lumber.. But those too will start to twist on you after a while..

 

[prd2hnt]

We put up a 40x63 in '06. No problems. If you think you need a 24x24, build a 36x36. Nobody ever says they built too big.

Brian

 

[ffjosh]

#1 - I cant afford any bigger
#2 - I want to heat/AC this shop and do not want anything any bigger.
#3 - I will be building another shop in 5-10 years.

 

[mrpowderkeg]

Mine is a mernards building, I have had to take about half my lumber back. I sorted through and got half my walls up, and the rest was unusable, the green treated lumber was terrible, I would exchange my lumber no questions asked as long as I had a receipt. I chose to do this on Monday nights at 8pm so the yard was nearly empty and an employee would help me unload and often get a fresh bunk of wood down for me. I took back 63 12' 2x6s one night

 

[Kevin54]

Not talking about the wood or Menards, but when you build, don't go any less than 28' in depth. There has been a few threads on garage depth this week. Must be the warm weather rolling in.

You will regret 24' depth. Trust me on that, and others will chime in on it too.

 

[ffjosh]

Not talking about the wood or Menards, but when you build, don't go any less than 28' in depth. There has been a few threads on garage depth this week. Must be the warm weather rolling in.

You will regret 24' depth. Trust me on that, and others will chime in on it too.

Problem is also where im putting the garage. 24 feet is already pushing how close it gets to my well line.

 

[ilovevocs]

FWIW I just bought a bunch of 2x4 from menards that were closer than 3.25" wide than 3.5. I don't know if it is an isolated incident or the supplier is just lowering their standards to meet their price point and still be profitable. Havent been back to verify against other boards in store, not claiming this is their new product standard, just simply a FYI.

 

[CKC]

#1 - I cant afford any bigger
#2 - I want to heat/AC this shop and do not want anything any bigger.
#3 - I will be building another shop in 5-10 years.

I put up a 20 X 24 15 years ago Big mistake, go at least 24 X 30

 

[ffjosh]

I put up a 20 X 24 15 years ago Big mistake, go at least 24 X 30

If I can fit it I will do it.



I will be building my own leantoo on the side to park another car. There will only be one car in the garage at all times.

 

[Kevin54]

If I can fit it I will do it.



I will be building my own leantoo on the side to park another car. There will only be one car in the garage at all times.

Can you post up a lot size where you are planning on putting the garage. We may be able to kick up an idea or two so you can go larger. BTW...where are you located? It's not in your profile.

Depending on how deep , or however you do your foundation, if you run into your water line from your well. "T" off of it and put a hydrant in the garage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Some of those kits are priced with T111 siding, while other have vinyl siding or metal siding. If you chose vinyl, I suggest paying a few bucks more and buying a better siding that their bottom line stuff.

One of the other options might be the roof, metal roof over shingles. The metal probably won't be sheathed but will use 2x4 purlins and trusses 48" O.C. The shingles will need OSB or plywood decking and trusses 24" O.C. Shingles will need double the number of trusses as the metal roof. Keep in mind that the shingle price might be for 3 tab shingle and not a dimensional shingle, again a price premium.

 

[ffjosh]

Can you post up a lot size where you are planning on putting the garage. We may be able to kick up an idea or two so you can go larger. BTW...where are you located? It's not in your profile.

Depending on how deep , or however you do your foundation, if you run into your water line from your well. "T" off of it and put a hydrant in the garage.

I can take some better dimensions however code is the final say so.

I have a electrical line running to the south of the garage and a well line to the north. Between the 2 I have about 30-35 feet.

However I have to keep the building 5 feet away from the electrical line per code. So that puts me 20-25 feet.

Now I am not sure how far I have to stay away from the well line. Also the well line makes this weird curve. So I might be able to gain another 10 feet.

I am also trying to keep 12 feet between the house and garage for a leantoo and parking. The other side of the garage I should have another 10-20 feet to play with but I need to keep it away from a hill side and allow enough room to get a trailer behind it