"pole" building vs. steel with concrete slab.

[Chang-kuao-lo]

looking to start in on a new shop, and trying to weigh the pros and cons between a pole structure versus an all steel building on a concrete slab with footers. if i understand right, a pole building has a free standing stucture (no load-bearing walls) and requires no footer on the slab (which can be poured after the poles go up), thus saving a fella $$ on readymix and forms. or is it better to spend the extra and have a slab with 18" footers and an all steel building? i will be putting a lift in eventually, if that makes any difference.

 

[D'Animal]

I went with Steel since I live in a wildland fire prone area. We also have termites in the area.

A Metallica "Red Iron" building was 18% more than building a pole barn style.

The county told me how thick my concrete was going to be and how it was going to be reinforced after they saw the 4 - 14' overhead doors. A Semi truck and trailer can fit inside so I had to make sure the slab would hold it.

I had overhangs on the side of the building. The west side is where I built the horse stalls. They are not attached to the building.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

indeed, we have termites as well, bigtime. wildfires, not so much.
18% more might be worth it. i must admit i don't like going cheap on something that should only be done once.

 

[calstyl2]

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[Joe_E]

Pole barns are cheaper but steel will give you the ceiling height. My buddy just went with a 40 X 60 steel. Instead of the PB type of triangular roof trusses the steel are narrower and follow the shape of the peak with out all the need for web bracing. He put a nice big lift in his.

 

[agomez]

nice overhang....

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

also a good point. the cathederal ceiling is peferable to trusses, even though i should only need ~13' headroom for a lift. 12' wall with a 15' peak should do nicely.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

I went with Steel since I live in a wildland fire prone area. We also have termites in the area.

A Metallica "Red Iron" building was 18% more than building a pole barn style.

The county told me how thick my concrete was going to be and how it was going to be reinforced after they saw the 4 - 14' overhead doors. A Semi truck and trailer can fit inside so I had to make sure the slab would hold it.

I had overhangs on the side of the building. The west side is where I built the horse stalls. They are not attached to the building.

holy smokes. the shop i want to build could fit inside your unit.
you aren't looking to adopt, are you? ;p

 

[Koffer]

when I built my garage back in 2005 steel was retarded $$$$ where if it wasnt nailed down good enough it was recycled in a heart beat ,so I went pole barn
Ive been very happy with it , The place I rented was made by the same company ( www.mortonbuildings.com ) 1990 and had no problems when I was there for 10 of those .
Other the cleaning the gutters , that been it for mine so far.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

it all depends on your local building codes. It does not freeze here, so you can do what you want... another cool options is used power & telephone poles. You can get them for free from the public utility.

 

[Toyo FJ40]

Pole barn doesn't have to be trusses. My barn is 30x40 with Framed rafters, second floor a 12 ft ceiling for my lift.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

just got it all sorted out.
going with a 20'x20' all steel 12' wall 15' peak, and got a good offer on the slab/footers, less than $12,000 out the door.
thanks for the input.

 

[shiptoshore]

Steel shipping container

Extremely affordable and indestructible! Buddy of mine just bought one today! Cost about 300 buck to get moved to his place. He's going to use it as storage and workshop. Very cool.