Pole Barn VS Red Steel building - Need some more advice

woodlandfarms · Mar 28, 2018

So I just got my latest quote. Is it something that should be posted?

Basically they are at 90K for a 3250sqft single slope shop (pole barn) at 16 to the eaves. I need it to be 75K.

The thing I am seeing cost wise is labor... 70 an hour... so lets say the average is $25 an hour for labor. Add fringe of 20% we are at 30 an hour. He has his insurance and markup in all of this, I am still thinking 60 an hour is a fairer price...

Any thoughts?

Oldoak · Mar 28, 2018

"Any thoughts?"

I wouldn't be guessing how a company runs their business or what they pay their workers. That's just pure speculation. I also think your 20% for fringe is far too low no matter what wage they pay their employees.

You got their quote. Now it's up to you. I see three options. You can ask if they can come down on their price, scale down the building size to fit your budget, or forget signing a contract with that company.

EddieWalker · Mar 28, 2018

woodlandfarms said:
Basically they are at 90K for a 3250sqft single slope shop (pole barn) at 16 to the eaves. I need it to be 75K.

At $28 a square foot, it's not too bad. I have no idea what taxes are like there for employees, or materials, but I would keep asking around and looking for bids. Just remember that most of the time when you go with the cheapest bid, you spend the most money fixing what they did wrong.

Some good ways to cut down on the money you pay others is to take on some of that work yourself. A General Contractor rarely does any of the physical work himself, he just organizes what everyone else does and then takes ten to 20% for his time. Can you break down what you want done into specific tasks? Dirt work? Find and hire a crew to do that and pay them for what they do. Then hire a concrete crew to do their thing, and then a framing crew? For some, it's worth the effort and headache to save the a lot of money.

If you became the GC, you should be able to get it down to about where you want it, but you will have to know your numbers and really be on top of what everyone is doing. Also remember to never pay anybody up front, and if they need materials, you buy them for them. Never give cash to anybody until the work is done!!!

fried1765 · Mar 28, 2018

EddieWalker said:
At $28 a square foot, it's not too bad. I have no idea what taxes are like there for employees, or materials, but I would keep asking around and looking for bids. Just remember that most of the time when you go with the cheapest bid, you spend the most money fixing what they did wrong.

Some good ways to cut down on the money you pay others is to take on some of that work yourself. A General Contractor rarely does any of the physical work himself, he just organizes what everyone else does and then takes ten to 20% for his time. Can you break down what you want done into specific tasks? Dirt work? Find and hire a crew to do that and pay them for what they do. Then hire a concrete crew to do their thing, and then a framing crew? For some, it's worth the effort and headache to save the a lot of money.

If you became the GC, you should be able to get it down to about where you want it, but you will have to know your numbers and really be on top of what everyone is doing. Also remember to never pay anybody up front, and if they need materials, you buy them for them. Never give cash to anybody until the work is done!!!

PERFECT ADVICE!
I hope you treat Oscar perfectly too.

woodlandfarms · Mar 28, 2018

Thanks all. Advice taken.

747driver · Mar 28, 2018

$40,000 was my max budget. I got it for $38,000. Key thing for me was getting a barn built by experienced quality barn builders and using quality materials. So there were a few things I didn't get but I will do those things (concrete,a couple more service doors and maybe 4 windows. I am doing all the grading and dirt work myself. At $28 a sg ft that is reasonable. Did the the quote break down how much for materials ? Good advice from Eddie !