pole barn vs garage

[80chevyc10]

I live in texas and im going to build a 24x30 shop in my back yard with 12 foot walls. the builders around here quote a job like this from 7900.00 to 8400.00 for just a base model with no insulation one entry door and an 10 x10 garage door. i have added up the materials to build a garage style 16 inch centers out of 2x4 but i was wondering which is better. Ive been qouted for all the metal in 26 guage including gutters and the whole shebang roof and everything besides insualtion.for 2400.00 the trusses run 590.00 for 2x6 on 5ft centers and i figured something like maybe another 800.00 for the 2x4 for framing. im i missing something here or do they just make a killing off of these buildings. i came up with 3790.00 plus the concrete cost 1500.00 through my buddy for a total of 5290.00 they also used 29 gauge metal panels instead of 26 like i was qouted. another thing is that the pole barn uses less material the only thing costly is the 4x6 for the support. so my question is which is better. i am very mechanically inclined ive also built a 14x16 storage building before so i know the basics. what does the typical 24x30 plain jane garage cost built yourself. any help appreciated thanks

 

[Chaz]

Even if the frame building was a bit more expensive, I'd choose it over a pole building anyday.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Any lumber yard can give you the materials cost for a stick built structure. But they will need a plan and specs to work from. Whatever they say, expect to pay about 15% more.

I have a 30' x 40' x 10' Adam's Truss metal shop building. Not a pole barn but a close cousin. They give you a lot of space for the buck. But, they are difficult to insulate, heat, cool, and light. And they have an indusrial look that may not be appropriate in your neighborhood.

If I had it to do all over again, I would most likely build another metal building. I live in the country and the looks are not a problem. In fact, most of my neighbors have some sort of metal work shop or shed.

But if cost was no object I would stick build. I like the idea of finished walls painted white, good lighting, and affordable HVAC.

My solution is going to be a framed work room within my shop. One that I can finish out and heat and cool.

But that will come after the storage shed I need for the yard maintenance stuff. I do mechanical work and the lawn mower et al bring in a lot of dirt. And they clutter up the workspace.

I guess my point is ??? What is my point ??? Not sure I have one. But I can say, no matter what you build, it will be to small.

 

[Rusty32]

I just built a 26x32 stick atached to the house for 11,000 that doesnt include isulation or walboard yet. I have two 16 foot garage doors and two walk in doors and electrical done. Connected to the house i had to go down 4 foot with the cement walls. Also did 26 foot of driveway and 80 foot of sidewalk. Its all cost i built it and did concrete myself.

 

[Sundowner]

the difference in the cost for me was in the foundation/concrete.
pole barm was MUCH cheaper.

 

[80chevyc10]

the thing thats weird is everbody says the pole building wood be cheaper but when ive comapred the two with rough estimates the pole building is almost the same if not it cost more because a 4x6x16 in this area are like 50.00 a piece when you needing say 12 or 13 thats 650.00 just for the poles thats not including the 2x4's that run from each one.if your building framed walls and the 2x4x12 they run like 3.79 a piece. say you need 100 thats only 379.00 why is it that the pole is more exspensive everyone ele i talked to said the pole barn is the way to go its cheaper but i havent figured out what ther talking about. and honestly not having to dig the holes pour the concrete in them its alot more work than just framing walls. im not in the market for a luxury garage this one is being built in the back corner of my back yard so im looking for something cheap but yet efective im going to insulate later main objective to get my showtruck a better home than in the single car garage i have now.

 

[g17jimmy]

Construction prices must be much lower there than in SC. I priced it both ways and going with 6x6 pole construction beat stick built by $10,000. This is for a 30x30x12(insulated) with a 10x30 porch. The structure was $18k, concrete $4k, electrical ~$1k. You can see my progress here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11919&showall=1

 

[ShortyMadlock]

I think the biggest thing you might be missing is the footing, which you might not need in Texas if they allow you to build on a slab. Pole barns allow you to go taller with a lot less hassle, it all depends on what you are going to put into it - if you have a trailer (5th wheel or whatever) you are going to have an expensive stick built building.
Take your time in deciding laying out all of the material/build cost as well as check the insurance/use cost. My building is supposed to be an Ag building not a Garage/Shop - there is a difference.

 

[Sundowner]

the difference is in the foundation.
a true pole barn will only have holes dug (about $300-$00 for an excavator to come out) and then you plunk the poles in the holes and backfill with compacted gravel.

with a stick building, you need to excavate for a full foundation, which will cost you about $1500-$2k, depending on the size. Then you need to form, reinforce and pour a full spread footing and skirt wall. That's gonna run you about $1k in formwork and bar. on a garage of your size, that's about 15-20 cubic yards of concrete at a delivered price of about $110/CY. Conservatively figure you need 18 yards, that's about $2k right there. all toghether, your stick built foundation is $4500-$5000 vs. $300-600 for pole barn holes. get it?

 

[anojones]

In addition to the foundation, it seems a stick built would need more trusses as well as sheathing and depending on the siding housewrap etc.

 

[Kevin54]

At the time I built my 28' x 36' with 6' overhangs on two sides, the whole "shebang" building it myself except the concrete pour and foundation, I had right at $13,000.00. This is insulated, vinyl siding, two 9' doors, 8' ceilings, wiring, and all drywall finished off, and electric from house to garage. But in the last coule of years prices have went up. The roll of wire that was $35 is now $95 or more. Add a buck apiece more for a 2x, etc.

Kevin

 

[80chevyc10]

ive estimated my concrete off of this 24x30 pad 6 inches deep is roughly 13.8 cubic yards well my thinking is 4 inches should be plenty which is only 9.1 cubic yards well. concrete as of today is 105 a yard plus a 15 dollar delivery fee. so you always order a .5 yard more than needed so for 9.6 is $1023.00 delivered if i go 6 inches deep its 14.3 yards $1516.50 delivered. My buddy does concrete for a living and my job well just be a weekend job were him me and one of his other workers are going to do the pad. he told me he would charge somewhere around 500.00 to 700.00 to do this pad as long as i help him. can you not build this structure with 12 foot walls and set it on the 4 inch slab is that to much weight because the 26 guage panels dont way nothing. do the trusses need braced differently or what. I built my 14x16 storage building including trimming it out with some nice trim and 2x4 walls with some decorative outside paneling that was preety heavy and i had wright around a $1000.00 in its a pole style

 

[Sundowner]

1) where are you?
your building department will not let you build something that does not bear below the frost line.

 

[80chevyc10]

i live in texas in the country

 

[Tscott]

Just my .02, I think pole barns are the bvest way to go if you are going to build it yourself. They are simple, very tough and highly customizable. If you plan to permit it, Then county inspecotrs around here tend to accept most anything in a pole structure without to much scrutiny.

Tom

 

[rodnok1]

I would go with pole barn style, if you were going 8-10' I would stick build if you don't need deep footers. I know you said Texas, but it's a big state...how deep is your frost line. When figuring DIY vs having it built, it will usally be just as much for parts as labor... When you are comparing stick vs pole remember you still have to have either plywood or girts with the stick built to attach the siding to. If you were planning on fully insualting the building I would consider stick built, since you basically have to frame a pole building to do it(depends on style somewhat). And yes they make a killing off buildings like this.

 

[80chevyc10]

if you were going to build stick why couldnt you attach the 26 gauge sheetmetal straight to the 2x4's im trying to get out cheap and not build the dream garage i plan on moving in a couple of years i just have a show truck that needs a decent home to keep it out of weather and somwhere to turn wrenches. also the 6x6 in this area are high considering i would need approxiamtely 13 or so at 50.00 a piece i could nearly by all of my 2x4's for the stick build mabe even cheaper. thats 650 just for the poles than you need the 2x4's to span to each one. I plan on installing pegboard on the inside of the building that will help strengthen it also any help is appreciated this is my first build and i need input obviously thanks

 

[Kevin54]

with a stick building, you need to excavate for a full foundation, which will cost you about $1500-$2k, depending on the size. Then you need to form, reinforce and pour a full spread footing and skirt wall. That's gonna run you about $1k in formwork and bar. on a garage of your size, that's about 15-20 cubic yards of concrete at a delivered price of about $110/CY. Conservatively figure you need 18 yards, that's about $2k right there. all toghether, your stick built foundation is $4500-$5000 vs. $300-600 for pole barn holes.

Those prices may be for your area. Around this area you can get the footers dug for around $250-$500 for an area that size. "Hoe work is around $80-$100 / hr. and to dig that out is only a couple of hours work. And if the operator uses the proper bucket and the ground is firm, there is no need to form the footers. The walls of the ditch is used as the form. You will have footer concrete whic is a little more expensive that the concrete used for walls and floors because of the strength. The stem wall can either be poured or block layed. Block layers in this area get around $1.25/block layed. And from the ones that I have talked to who has built pole barns vs. stick built on a foundation, by the time it is all done and over with, both come out to about the same price. That is for a finished product though. By that I mean finishing off the inside. With a stick build your studs are already there to be able to hang cabinets, drywall, OSB, or whatever else. With a pole barn you will have extra in lumber to be able to frame enough to hand the same, and you will have to add in for putting up a ceiling. So everything balances out. What I like about a typical hard foundation vs. a pole type foundation, is when the insulation is ran and the wall finished off, any water will go against the block or concrete. With a pole barn, the concrete goes right up against the bottom board so any water has a chance to wick up the insulation and or any wood that is there. But each one has it's pro's and con's. But as a DIY'er I prefer a block or concrete foundation.

Kevin

 

[rodnok1]

The girts run horizontal allowing for screwing where you need to. If you could only screw into 2x4's every 16 inches more than likely the siding joints wouldn't be secured, plus if you landed on a high spot it would tend to distort the metal.