Most Cost-Effective Way to Build

[Bull]

I have been dreaming about having a place to work on and store cars for many years now. But, I am only a teacher, so my salaray is not large, and my family homestead has needed lots of work work since I moved in back in '99. I would just love to finally build something so that I can actually pursue my hobby...I've been selling off my cars because I just can't enjoy or protect them.

Anyway, I am wondering what the most cost-effective type of garage construction is? In other words, how can I get the most bang for my buck? I have a friend who is a builder, and I have connections in the plumbing/heating/AC business, so I already will be able to save money when it comes to actually making the structure. I am wondering, though, what the best type would be to make?

Thanks for any suggestions, I hope my question is not too vague.

Dave

 

[Dave Carney]

Pole building, unless you are building really small.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

You could also just enclose a work area, but run the roof out far enough to provide cover for a few cars. As time and money permit somewhere down the road, the open areas could then be converted to walled workshop/garage as well.

 

[autoist]

Do-it-yourself is always cheaper....I've been doing mine myself for almost 10 years - am on 4th addition!

 

[Bull]

Thanks for the replies, thus far, everyone, I appreciate your insights.

Any significant drawbacks to pole barns? I do want to be able to heat/insulate the structure, have electricity etc. Can they be made to look fairly nice?

I'll have to see if my picky town allows them, as well...though I do live on an old farm, so a barn might blend in nicely.

Dave

 

[Dave Carney]

I do want to be able to heat/insulate the structure, have electricity etc. Can they be made to look fairly nice?
Dave

Mine is a pole and accepts standard insulation batts and standard interior wall materials. My build thread link is below.

 

[Bull]

I just read through your build thread. Very interesting. I'm going to check out that company and see what they have to offer. How much did the labor itself cost?

 

[brownbagg]

pole building or some metal building offer residental models, which are cheaper than commerical. But this is the wrong place to ask. Here its how much you can spend not how much you can save.

 

[Bull]

Here its how much you can spend not how much you can save.

Really? Is that true? I have noticed that there are some very wealthy people on here, but I think I've seen people with modest little garages, or smaller budgets, too...no?

 

[W-Cummins]

I'm not sure about the spend as much as you can deal. I have been trying to spend as little as I can for the best quality I can get. I have used as many used/surplus/low cost items that I can find. When I started my building, the cost for the new materials was about $12.00 per sq ft. of floor space, to construct the basic shell (insulated and concrete footings/floor). The cost of materials has kicked that up and I figure that the basic shell (erected), now would be about $20.00 per sq ft (BTW I put most of mine up but, I can't really say that was cost/time effective.

Still, at $20 per ft it's very cost effective as far as I can see. You can have a pole building built for a slightly lower rate. In some places the red iron building would be less too, due to not requiring a full foundation (in areas that are not subject to a hard frost).

William.....

 

[The Money Pit]

I don't think he meant spend as much as you can but how much can you actually spend on a garage. In other words what is the max you can put out for a building without going broke. Always over estimate because you will usually spend more than that amount. I went WAY over budget on mine and I'm slowly working on what I can afford. I have saved a ton of money subing things out and using people I know cut me a deal on labor.

 

[Dave Carney]

I just read through your build thread. Very interesting. I'm going to check out that company and see what they have to offer. How much did the labor itself cost?

Excluding concrete but including dirt work the labor portion of the total cost was $4850

 

[Grim Reaper]

pole building or some metal building offer residential models, which are cheaper than commercial. But this is the wrong place to ask. Here its how much you can spend not how much you can save.

I don't think thats true. I actually think its a pretty unfair statement. Yes there are some folks here that have been fortunate enough to make some stellar shops that have some of us drooling by the bucket.

There are a lot of threads that show building a good sturdy shop for a reasonable price as well.

There is a lot more to consider then just price as well.

Yeah I could slap up a steel building for under 5K for a Quonset hut style but it looks like hell in a residential neighbor hood. I would have to do a spray in insulation and forget making it look decent inside. There is no way to frame it in without eating a huge amount of space.


You have to consider any requirements of the area. Some places you can't build a steel building due to local code. Some people don't want a steel building because they want the exterior to match their home to make them complement each other. Pole barn is a good alternative and can be framed in to give it a more pleasing outside appearance then a steel building. Yes it will cost more but its a trade off.

I'm as cheap as they come and if I build where I am it will be traditional 2x4 construction with a nice siding so I can make it complement my house not only to please my neighbors but to please myself. It will be the most expensive route I can go infact but I don't want to walk out my back door and feel like I just walked onto a commercial property. It would be a different story if I had 10 acres and could build the shop off a little from the house where I could use landscaping ot provide a little break from the house. A 40x60 steel would be up in a heart beat.

 

[Ramblur]

pole building or some metal building offer residental models, which are cheaper than commerical. But this is the wrong place to ask. Here its how much you can spend not how much you can save.

Wow. Sounds like sour grapes to me. I don't get this impression of the
Garage Journal at all. In the 4 months I've been here I've learned a lot of
ways to save money or time,sometimes both. I'm pretty sure the owners
of even the most impressive garages here have spent time wrenching on
stuff in their driveways. I see this site as being very educational as to the
best deals,best planning and making the most of what you have.
To each their own...

 

[bmwpower]

Here its how much you can spend not how much you can save.

Wrong. It's how little can you spend to get the best quality stuff - period. I don't think there is a single person on here that has an unlimited budget and doesn't care what things cost.

 

[PAToyota]

Considering how many on here are doing all that they can themselves, I wouldn't say that it is geared toward unlimited budget shops. BMWPower hit the nail - how to get the most quality for the money that you do have. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I think the question was asking if he should go with metal building, pole building, concrete block, frame construction, some sort of combo of metal and wood or otherwise. No idea which is cheaper, its more of where you live and what you want it to look like and type of use it will get.

Charles

 

[theblur98ss]

I've been doing alot of pricing lately myself. So far the best pricing I've found was on an adam's truss building. The materials for a 32x72x12 were just shy of 12k. I like their design of the wood/metal as well. I think it's the best of both worlds and I think I can build it myself and save more there.

 

[SCOOTER]

I don't think thats true. I actually think its a pretty unfair statement. Yes there are some folks here that have been fortunate enough to make some stellar shops that have some of us drooling by the bucket.

There are a lot of threads that show building a good sturdy shop for a reasonable price as well.

There is a lot more to consider then just price as well.

Yeah I could slap up a steel building for under 5K for a Quonset hut style but it looks like hell in a residential neighbor hood. I would have to do a spray in insulation and forget making it look decent inside. There is no way to frame it in without eating a huge amount of space.


You have to consider any requirements of the area. Some places you can't build a steel building due to local code. Some people don't want a steel building because they want the exterior to match their home to make them complement each other. Pole barn is a good alternative and can be framed in to give it a more pleasing outside appearance then a steel building. Yes it will cost more but its a trade off.

I'm as cheap as they come and if I build where I am it will be traditional 2x4 construction with a nice siding so I can make it complement my house not only to please my neighbors but to please myself. It will be the most expensive route I can go infact but I don't want to walk out my back door and feel like I just walked onto a commercial property. It would be a different story if I had 10 acres and could build the shop off a little from the house where I could use landscaping ot provide a little break from the house. A 40x60 steel would be up in a heart beat.

I'm with "Grim" 100% on this one, My building is gonna be 28x36 two story the biggest I could do by code and lot size..I'm doing stick framed..and will remodle the house to match.....