Metal Building Manufacturers - First Hand Experience

[crooney1189]

Looking to see if anyone has any experience with any of the following builders. How did your build go with them?

Carolina Carports Inc. - Dobson, NC
Real Steel Metal Buildings - Valdosta, GA
Tubular Building Systems LLC - Lake City, FL
Steel Buildings & Structures Inc. - Mount Airy, NC

I'm located in West Central FL, about an hour above Tampa. I've been receiving quotes for a 30'x50'x14' metal building from 4 different vendors, and these are the manufacturers they use.

I've attached the 2 different proposed building layouts (will only be ordering one building, depending on how I end up laying out the yard) as well as the backyard layouts if anyone is interested and would like to offer their thoughts. Maybe you're seeing something I'm not, or have some advice of their own to offer up?

I will be using the building for typical garage and hobby mechanic use. The biggest vehicle in the fleet at the moment is my '18 crew cab GMC and that's what I'm planning the space around, as in if that fits everything else should too. I'll eventually have a mobile 4 post lift (Wildfire XLT probably). The plan is also to insulate and air condition the building as well if I can squeeze it all into the budget.

Appreciate your time and input!

 

[dougf]

I had a building put up from Carolina Carports and had a great experience, but i'm in Missouri and its highly regional/luck of the draw what crew you'll get from any of the manufacturers. After two weeks Carolina carports contacted me to coordinate a delivery date, and the morning of that day three spanish speaking men pulled up in a dually and worked until it was complete and were phenominal. If I ordered again I could get a completely different crew and have a much different experience I suppose.

 

[LXCam]

I had an 18 x 40 from Carolina CP but I put it up. No complaints here.

 

[Mike65]

We delt with a local shed company & they are a dealer for Top-of-the-Line Buildings. They do not have the best reviews but we had no problems. Our install went fine. They were done in 2 days.

 

[brnctt]

I agree with Dougf. The materials are all going to be the same. The quality of construction you get is totally dependent on the building crew you get. Going through this myself.

 

[My Old Tools]

In hurricane country, I think I would prefer red iron and a local buider. Mueller or similar material suppliers, but I always go with a local builder with a good reputation and let him provide a turn key building including foundation and all materials. I prefer red iron personally for the strength and ability to have suspended lofts and overhead hoist (1 ton) engineered into the building. I do my own wiring and interior finish as needed.

 

[freedom561]

@crooney1189 Did you end up making a decision? I am in the same boat as you, same exact shop size as well out here in Clermont.

 

[ludakris04]

A guy on youtube built a shop in that area.. I don't remember if he mentions the name of who put it up or not.

 

[Florida Cracker]

To OP. I too am interested in what you ended up doing.

I've contacted a couple of the larger companies that manufacture these buildings and have sales offices. So far they've been kind of aloof. Lack of returned phone calls, personal service, or " we drop it off at your site and we can find you an erector if you want us to" kind of thing.

I did contact a broker. He was nice, returned my phone call, answered questions, etc. But I'm skeptical of giving a down payment to a person that that just has a lot and office on the side of the highway kind of thing.

 

[bb29510]

just go to a local farm hardware store, they have them

 

[Skinnywater]

I used Carolina after seeing them build my neighbor's shop. Quick 1 day install .Carolina has designs for 170mph winds too.

 

[rmack898]

I’m a little north east of you and I bought my red iron 40x60 from Hornet Steel Structures in Adel, GA.
Hornet exceeded all my expectations on service, price, and delivery. They are only a manufacturer and you need to hire a fabricator or DIY. I chose to DIY and am very happy with what I have.
One of my friends saw what I got for the money and also ordered a building from Hornet which we also put up ourselves.

My build is documented in thread in my signature.

 

[Joe_Lee]

I’m also interested in this. I’m shopping a 24x35x12 and have quotes from several of the companies out there. There is one about 40 miles southeast of me in Foley, AL that seems very eager to do the job. He is in my county and familiar with my city so he can pull the permits as well.

OP, let us know if you chose a builder.

 

[ycgoat]

I bought through a distributor for a Universal Metal Buildings (UMB out of North Carolina I think) the package included erection. This was a 2-1/2” square tube shed type.