wood or metal framed building?

[carsounds_dan]

Hi all,

I'm currently looking into having a garage built for my business, it needs enough room for 2/3 cars, workspace at one end and office/storage (mezimene floor may be best for the office/storage). What sort of size would you guys recomend?
Thing is, do I go for a wood or steel structure? what are the pro's and con's on both, pricing etc.
I'm based in the UK and notice you guys over the pond use alot of wood structures, which has got me wondering about costs etc.

Many Thanks


Daniel

 

[pinebarkauto]

I am located in the states, so what I say here may be of no relevance to your situation. However, if I were thinking of building a shop for a comercial endever, I would first contact the local codes office and check with whoever I planned to purchase insurance from. Construction cost savings can be a pittance when compared to lifelong higher insurance rates.

 

[rsanter]

the general rule of thumb here is that on smaller structures the woob build is cheaper. as the size of the structure grows, the ballance shift to metal being cheaper

bob

 

[Steevo]

In the western USA, I know that for almost any size beyond a basic garage, a metal framed building can be bought for less than a stick-built structure. I think this is mostly due to the fact that the steel framed shops are pretty much off the shelf parts. For any given span they have a truss, for any given length, there is a standard number of posts and trusses, and the skin is cheaper than similar sized stick-built structures.
I am just completing a 24'x40' shop, that is conventional footers/foundation/slab, and stick built with engineered wood trusses. I have seen quotes for larger structures (even a 36x50) of steel frame and metal skin, that are considerably larger, for about what I am paying. Where I am building, no metal buildings are allowed, so I had no choice, but if that hadn't been the case, I'd have likely gone with a steel building to get more square footage for my money.

 

[bucs012]

I just went through this on my 50x30 garage. Priced out 3-4 steel buildings and then finally had a few price me on stick. Stick saved me about $7,000 here in Iowa.

With the housing market the way it is, I think the stick guys have come down on price because they need the business. The steel guys still have all the farmers needing buildings built so their cost has stayed the same and most of them could not even start building for me till spring..........

Ended up with this.
http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m197/bucs012/Garage/

 

[Number21]

I don't know about cost but maybe you should look at concrete block. I just moved into a new shop that's totally concrete and I love it. And it will never burn down or rot out...