Move 40 x 100 Pole Barn

OrangeGuy · May 8, 2010

I have an opportunity to get a 40 x 100 Lester's Pole Barn; 2-12 x12 overhead doors, 1-20 x14 sliding door. The problem is it is already standing and I want it 20 miles away at the farm. I plan to get a bid from a contractor experienced in moving pole barns. Any hints on what I can expect from such a move? By the way, sheet metal is screwed on, not nailed. Any thoughts on how much this might cost me?

OrangeGuy

radman1 · May 9, 2010

Yikes, that is a big pole to move. The best and cheapest way is to move the whole barn at one time. However, that building is probably too large. Is the bid for dissembly and reassemble on the new site? Often the time to pay someone to take down and put back up, makes the move financially difficult unless the building is very new or extremely cheap.

CurlyDave · May 9, 2010

What happens top the barn if you don't move it?

Maybe scavenge the higher-value parts, like the doors you mention, and let the rest go...

Egon · May 9, 2010

At 40 foot width it may not fit on the road.

Helicopter?

OrangeGuy · May 9, 2010

Pole barn would need to be disassembled and reassembled. Condition is very good. I have no idea what to expect for a cost to move. I received a bid of $19,000 for a new 28 x 40 with 3 overhead doors plus extras. If I could get it moved for less than the price of a much smaller new one, would I be ahead of the game? The contractor I am working with just took a smiliar sized pole barn down with the intention of reassembling it. This barn had nailed sheet metal. He used a JLB manlift and a Lull rough terrain forklift to aid disassemble.

I am going to go to Menards to price out a new 40x100 to get an idea as to value.

Thanks for the imput.

OrangeGuy

radman1 · May 9, 2010

OrangeGuy said:
Pole barn would need to be disassembled and reassembled. Condition is very good. I have no idea what to expect for a cost to move. I received a bid of $19,000 for a new 28 x 40 with 3 overhead doors plus extras. If I could get it moved for less than the price of a much smaller new one, would I be ahead of the game? The contractor I am working with just took a smiliar sized pole barn down with the intention of reassembling it. This barn had nailed sheet metal. He used a JLB manlift and a Lull rough terrain forklift to aid disassemble.

I am going to go to Menards to price out a new 40x100 to get an idea as to value.

Thanks for the imput.

OrangeGuy

Your evaluating the move in the right way. See what a new one costs of that size. The problem with moving by disassembly, is the holes in the tin. Nearly impossible to use all the same existing holes for the new screws and you will have holes scattered here and there. May not be a huge issue depending on how you want to use it. If the mover has done this before, maybe he is good at using the old holes. The move is all labor. I knew a guy who bought a shed about that size at an auction and moved it himself. He does construction work. I think the shed cost him about $4000 plus his labor/time.

Let us know what the $$ to move the pole barn. Would be interesting to know.

quicksandfarmer · May 9, 2010

First of all, do you need permits where you are? Will your inspector allow you to do this? Codes change all the time and they don't get less strict, something that may have passed when it was built may not pass today. Around here it used to be that it was almost impossible to get caught if they didn't catch you in the act but now they do aerial photographs with every re-assessment and you'd never get away with it.

The best thing would be to price out a 40x100 with materials and labor separated. Figure the labor to disassemble and reassemble will be roughly twice the labor to erect a new one. The total cost to you will be purchase price plus labor. Value to you will be some portion of the cost of a new one -- maybe half. It is used after all, and it will never go back together as nicely as a new one. So the most you should pay is the value to you less the labor to move and assemble.

There is some chance this will be negative, in which case you should walk away. Even if it's positive there's a good chance the seller will think this number is unreasonably small, he still remembers what he paid for it -- and he doesn't have to move it!

OrangeGuy · May 10, 2010

Building permit will be required. Ag use so this used building is qualified. Building stands in the way of commercial development. I am a friend of the developer so my cost is minimal. Labor is the big issue. Hate to see such a nice building go way of the bulldozer.

OrangeGuy

mjarrels · May 10, 2010

I know it sounds odd, but, get a Navy Commanding Officer to ask the Chiefs Mess that a 40 x 100' pole barn needs to be moved 20 miles. You will wake up the next day with large pole barn on your property!

mark