Constructing new 36x40x12 Pole barn

[Jim Timber]

Should've made her a gazebo instead. I wouldn't waste that much good roof on a patio.

 

[LD1]

3500-4000 seems a bit high to me for 2 days and only doing posts and a roof structure with the builder not buying anything.

IF you figure 3 helpers and a business owner....

3 laborers @ $20/hr for 8 hours a day is ~$1000. That puts $2500-$3000 in the owners pocket. Seems steep to me for a few days work...

But that may be the norm. The only way to know what a good price is in your area is to shop around. But he is pushing the $3/sq ft mark for just setting posts and installing the roof...

 

[Ryan03]

3500-4000 seems a bit high to me for 2 days and only doing posts and a roof structure with the builder not buying anything.

IF you figure 3 helpers and a business owner....

3 laborers @ $20/hr for 8 hours a day is ~$1000. That puts $2500-$3000 in the owners pocket. Seems steep to me for a few days work...

But that may be the norm. The only way to know what a good price is in your area is to shop around. But he is pushing the $3/sq ft mark for just setting posts and installing the roof...

The quote was around $1200 or so higher than I was guessing it would be. I will have to wait for more quotes to come in before
I can determine about what the going rate is.

 

[mikefromnh]

3500-4000 seems a bit high to me for 2 days and only doing posts and a roof structure with the builder not buying anything.

IF you figure 3 helpers and a business owner....

3 laborers @ $20/hr for 8 hours a day is ~$1000. That puts $2500-$3000 in the owners pocket. Seems steep to me for a few days work...

But that may be the norm. The only way to know what a good price is in your area is to shop around. But he is pushing the $3/sq ft mark for just setting posts and installing the roof...

Around here unless you are hiring drunks and paying them cash under the table $20/hour is low. The local day laborer job agency is close to that for unskilled workers who can't hammer three nails without taking a smoke break... Most of whom I'd never trust on a roof.

 

[LD1]

I believe wages are a bit different around here. And to be clear, we are talking regular old employees of a contractor and not a bunch of sub contractors right?

I was out of work for about 6 months last year. Was considering a career change into the building/carpentry trades. I decided the ~$17-$18 per hour wasnt nearly enough and ended up getting a job doing what I was doing before.

 

[murphy1244]

Should've made her a gazebo instead. I wouldn't waste that much good roof on a patio.

I stained the whole inside too. Turned out great! Mrs very happy, bought me another tractor.:licking:

 

[mikefromnh]

I believe wages are a bit different around here. And to be clear, we are talking regular old employees of a contractor and not a bunch of sub contractors right?

I was out of work for about 6 months last year. Was considering a career change into the building/carpentry trades. I decided the ~$17-$18 per hour wasnt nearly enough and ended up getting a job doing what I was doing before.

If the contractor is a legit business enterprise (not a tail gate slammer paying cash under the table) the cost basis for employees needs to take into account payroll taxes, SSI, Medicaid, workers comp insurance etc. That's easily 1.5 times what the hourly wage of the employee, nevermind any other benefits offered to keep good employees (health insurance, paid time off etc.) Then the contractor should be adding something to cover wear and tear and maintenance on equipment, fuel, overhead, rainy day fund, vacation time, retirement and of course profit.

People often don't want to pay anything but wages even though they expect far more than just wages from their employer... I would never quote a job to just cover wages as I'd be losing money.

 

[VH5150]

If I could shamelessly hijack this thread for a moment, can anyone advise on where to get detailed plans to build a pole barn? I've Googled this and found a few places, but the pre-made plans they sell are for sheds that are much larger than what I need. I'm looking for a 12x16 pole barn (shed) with a garage door, side entry standard door, and a few windows. I'm not an experienced builder by any stretch, so I need some ID-10-T-proof plans (ID-10-T = idiot ). I do have access to family and friends who are more experienced builders than I, so I won't go this alone.

 

[LD1]

If the contractor is a legit business enterprise (not a tail gate slammer paying cash under the table) the cost basis for employees needs to take into account payroll taxes, SSI, Medicaid, workers comp insurance etc. That's easily 1.5 times what the hourly wage of the employee, nevermind any other benefits offered to keep good employees (health insurance, paid time off etc.) Then the contractor should be adding something to cover wear and tear and maintenance on equipment, fuel, overhead, rainy day fund, vacation time, retirement and of course profit.

People often don't want to pay anything but wages even though they expect far more than just wages from their employer... I would never quote a job to just cover wages as I'd be losing money.

All of that considered, I still think it is too high for just setting some posts and attaching a roof structure.

I would certainly think 2 days with 3 guys should/could do it no problems. Thats 48 man hours topps. That puts it $75-$85 per man hour. Which I think is high for the work being done.

But the only way to know for sure if its high is to shop around.

 

[DJ54]

Back in 2000, I asked a local contractor who built pole barns the same thing. I first asked for a completed price, then asked what he would charge to frame it, and get the steel roof on, me buying all materials though him. Price was $9999.99 finished, $8999.99 framed with roof. He got neither from me. I built a larger barn for about half, buying materials through a small local lumber yard.

As mentioned, you may try to find some Amish. They do good work, and are fast. They built a 30' X 40' X 10 for my Dad back in 1990, in 5-1/2 hours, stopping 45 minutes for lunch, sans the 3 OH doors Dad installed himself. Not too shabby for a crew of 7.

 

[SPIKER]

I had mine put up by CHUPPS Builders (Amish crew out of Apple Creek/Holmesville area) that is South of chardon 40 or 50 miles but probably well in their driving distance. I am heading out to do some work for their brother this weekend. I dont have the builders phone number anymore but was real good with best quality materials thru amish hardware place in Kidron Ohio. https://www.lehmans.com/

This is a pic of my barn (click it to see progress of over 100 photos) this was just after they finished my place in 2002 and cost me 20K they provided everything to that point including man doors and roll up door. It is 50x50 11 foot 1st floor and 11' 2nd floor. the 12' leantoo off one side. PM me and I can give you his brothers phone number (Amish down there have cell phones.) and he should be able to get his brothers phone # for ya.



(click pic it to see progress of over 100 photos)

Note concrete I had done in 2011 by Amish crew was GREAT Ron Weever, (very busy but did really great job.) cost me 7800 for 60 yards of 6000PSI mix with fiber, I did under layment-insulation & mesh & in-floor radiant tubing myself. I have his # for if when ya want to go that way. He is out of Holmesville area as well.
Mark

 

[murphy1244]

Spiker, that Bobcat looks like the one they used here.

 

[SPIKER]

Spiker, that Bobcat looks like the one they used here.

Murph did you have Chupps do some work too? There job has held up real well I done a lot more to the barn in years since then. Removed and rebuilt the stairs for one as I didn't want what the provided as it took up space where I needed it. Made a L shaped set using the old stairs and new platform w some new low steps.

I like the siding but think it would have been better as Metal after the fact for Roof but Wood Siding was much easier for installing windows and doors after fact. Will probably add vinyl siding to that thing someday soon.


Mark

 

[murphy1244]

I had J&M build it but they are from the same place. My Amish came from Fredricksburg. They don't have the cell phones in their name but own them.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I just priced a pole shed for a customer of mine, came to about $28 per foot including labour, materials, steel siding & roof, compacted gravel pad, doors, the whole package.

Having built them before, I don't understand how anyone could build one in 2 days.

Day 1 - set posts in concrete
Day 2 - everything else

Just doesn't add up to me neither in theory or practice. To have enough guys to try to get it done in 1 day, you'd be tripping over each other

I've done 30 x 50 Cover-All buildings in 2 days with 2 guys but that's a whole different game.

 

[murphy1244]

I just priced a pole shed for a customer of mine, came to about $28 per foot including labour, materials, steel siding & roof, compacted gravel pad, doors, the whole package.

Having built them before, I don't understand how anyone could build one in 2 days.

Day 1 - set posts in concrete
Day 2 - everything else

Just doesn't add up to me neither in theory or practice. To have enough guys to try to get it done in 1 day, you'd be tripping over each other

I've done 30 x 50 Cover-All buildings in 2 days with 2 guys but that's a whole different game.

Don't set in concrete, they set the poles on concrete cookies then place poles.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Don't set in concrete, they set the poles on concrete cookies then place poles.

Is the cookie purchased pre-made or just a footing poured in the bottom of the hole before setting the post? Never heard of them up here

 

[murphy1244]

Is the cookie purchased pre-made or just a footing poured in the bottom of the hole before setting the post? Never heard of them up here

yes. premade. after framing they pour the floor.

 

[SPIKER]

yes. premade. after framing they pour the floor.

These cookies are available all pre cast in several sizes and grades. Mine were 18" x 8" of 6000psi fiber added design. The holes were 36" and 4~5' deep initially and dirt removed bottom compacted some and the cookie tossed in. The Amish boys used the POST (6x6x14~28') to flatten the concrete cookie into the bottom of the hole like a hammer! They picked them up and dropped them onto the cookie 10 or 15 times each to set the cookie into bottom of hole so it could not move during back-filling. They back filled the holes with crusher run (I provided gravel on-site) and dirt out of the hole. They compacted the crush-run gravel and added clay cap on top & compacted it more. I went back over the posts after they finished using spud bar and added some Portland cement to top of each post & spud bar tamped that in. That left me with a rounded humped up area HIGHER than the surrounding area so water sheds away from the posts.

here is pic of what SOME of the posts looked like, this one shows where I put in threaded rod for mounting beam/bender after concrete was put in. It is actually dug down and dirt removed and mixed in 3pt mixer to make a larger high psi mounting point for a car lift someday...

(click pic for full size pic.)




I think somewhere in the photos shows some of the landscaping around the barn to move water away from it. I also used 4" tile around the barn and plastic to move it farther away underground. My posts should be really dry for 50 years or more...

Mark

 

[Ryan03]

yes. premade. after framing they pour the floor.

When I wrote of concrete cookies, I was speaking of a poured in hole footing made of concrete. I never even thought of looking into a pre cast footing. At 24 in round and 8 in thick ill bet they would be heavy. I suppose I could transport them to each hole with my fel,the slide them in and beat them into place. Might be wothwhile not to have to worry about trying to get a mixer truck to each hole in mid spring when ground is soft.