Metal vs Wood Pole Building

[WVH1977]

Hello all,

I am going to be eventually be building some type of pole barn/lean-to for keeping my tractor and room for a work table/shop area. I am currently using a shipping container for storing some of my equipment (tools, chainsaws, roto-tiller, zero-turn, etc.). Not sure on the size yet but nothing smaller than 20 by 20 at least to start. I am thinking about 26 by 30. Anyway, I am not a builder and I don't know all the ins and outs of putting something like this together. I was talking to the man that just built my new house and he was saying it will be more expensive to build with wood than to have one of those metal buildings installed. I had a 24 by 26 metal building at my old place and that did the job fine.

My question is this: What are the advantages/disadvantages to have the building made from metal vs wood? I also want to build something where I will be able to add a lean-to to it in the future if need be. I want to do this right and just not really sure which way to go.

I kind of want to build it myself and have some friends/family help me lay it out and get started (they have building experience). However, I am nervous that I will start it and it turns out to be wrong or not look the way I want it to or that it will take me forever to finish it. I know if I went with wood my builder said it would probably cost around 10 grand for materials to just build a 24 by 24 with just a roof and no sides (this is me building it myself and just paying for the material.) He said prices are still going up and they are changing daily. He suggested having one of those metal buildings put up. Not sure which way to go.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Tonyinohio]

Hello all,

I am going to be eventually be building some type of pole barn/lean-to for keeping my tractor and room for a work table/shop area. I am currently using a shipping container for storing some of my equipment (tools, chainsaws, roto-tiller, zero-turn, etc.). Not sure on the size yet but nothing smaller than 20 by 20 at least to start. I am thinking about 26 by 30. Anyway, I am not a builder and I don't know all the ins and outs of putting something like this together. I was talking to the man that just built my new house and he was saying it will be more expensive to build with wood than to have one of those metal buildings installed. I had a 24 by 26 metal building at my old place and that did the job fine.

My question is this: What are the advantages/disadvantages to have the building made from metal vs wood? I also want to build something where I will be able to add a lean-to to it in the future if need be. I want to do this right and just not really sure which way to go.

I kind of want to build it myself and have some friends/family help me lay it out and get started (they have building experience). However, I am nervous that I will start it and it turns out to be wrong or not look the way I want it to or that it will take me forever to finish it. I know if I went with wood my builder said it would probably cost around 10 grand for materials to just build a 24 by 24 with just a roof and no sides (this is me building it myself and just paying for the material.) He said prices are still going up and they are changing daily. He suggested having one of those metal buildings put up. Not sure which way to go.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

I have a 30x30 metal building with 12' lean to's on either end making it 30x54 under roof. To build myself was only 10% less on the price so they had it completed in under 2 days.

I like the barn and it's now 3 years old. No issues. I plan on building another this year so my cattle and feed/hay/straw and in the first and the tractor/implements/fuel will be in the new one.

 

[TractorGuy]

I will second the metal option. My SIL works at a building distributor and says the carpenter bees love the wooden pole barns.

I have an aluminum on wood shed that has been plagued with leaks for as long as I've owned it.

I have a metal carport that is built using the same basic design and materials as my barn and it's over 30 years old with no signs of rust or deterioration. It was actually inferior in design since it's roof panels run horizontal instead of vertical like the barn. I need to clean it again but other than that it's just as I got it. The aluminized steel panels are much better than aluminum IMO.

I had a 32x42 open front built last year by Carolina Carports. They were running a sale and I got it put up for under twelve grand. I leveled and packed the surface and used crushed red brick for a base. They do not offer site prep so you have to have it ready before they will schedule. I probably have $1000 - $1500 invested in that. I added a load to level out the inside and make an apron on front since this picture was taken. Two guys showed up and had it finished in two and a half days.

Something I would have done different if I were doing it over is I would have the lean to panels cut longer for a extended eave. When it rains the crushed brick absorbs the water and it gets damp inside. A few days of sun and it's dry but I would rather the frame work wasn't sitting on top of the wet brick. I'm not sure if there is any way to prevent this with water hitting and running down the sides and back though.

 

[Tonyinohio]

I will second the metal option. My SIL works at a building distributor and says the carpenter bees love the wooden pole barns.

I have an aluminum on wood shed that has been plagued with leaks for as long as I've owned it.

I have a metal carport that is built using the same basic design and materials as my barn and it's over 30 years old with no signs of rust or deterioration. It was actually inferior in design since it's roof panels run horizontal instead of vertical like the barn. I need to clean it again but other than that it's just as I got it. The aluminized steel panels are much better than aluminum IMO.

I had a 32x42 open front built last year by Carolina Carports. They were running a sale and I got it put up for under twelve grand. I leveled and packed the surface and used crushed red brick for a base. They do not offer site prep so you have to have it ready before they will schedule. I probably have $1000 - $1500 invested in that. I added a load to level out the inside and make an apron on front since this picture was taken. Two guys showed up and had it finished in two and a half days.

View attachment 686558

Something I would have done different if I were doing it over is I would have the lean to panels cut longer for a extended eave. When it rains the crushed brick absorbs the water and it gets damp inside. A few days of sun and it's dry but I would rather the frame work wasn't sitting on top of the wet brick. I'm not sure if there is any way to prevent this with water hitting and running down the sides and back though.

Oddly enough my roof metal extends 8" past the walls. Bad for gutters but good for run off. I put down 4-6" of crushed limestone so i never have water inside.

 

[Tonyinohio]

Oddly enough my roof metal extends 8" past the walls. Bad for gutters but good for run off. I put down 4-6" of crushed limestone so i never have water inside.

 

[TractorGuy]

My eaves probably come out that far. I imagine water seeps into your gravel as well but mine being crushed red brick it darkens when the water gets under it.

I tried to mitigate one side by putting down a plastic sheet that came up a couple inches on the side and out 3 feet but the rain that blows against the side of the building still causes it to get damp. I don't think gutters would even help in a blowing rain situation which is common.

 

[3gunr]

I have a 28x36 metal garage with 2 10x9 roll up doors on order. I placed my order back in september and had the concrete poured in october. They told me 16 weeks for delivery but with covid they would not guarantee that. They are saying now before the end of this month, The building was eight at 11,000 . A post frame at the time was around 14,ooo . I see there prices have gone up quite a bit since sept.

 

[3gunr]

View attachment 686628

I think those are the same colors i chose for mine. Good looking building. Are you happy with it ?