Pole barn vs. Steel Building

[mjncad]

I've looked at pole barns and steel buildings, and steel would be my first choice. I think you'll be happier with steel that you've chosen.

I second the suggestion of sawcut control joints as it makes rolling anything on casters around easier.

Go with rebar for the floor slab, and document the location of the PEX tubing with both photos and at least a rough dimensioned sketch of where the tubing is.

I second the suggestion of going with at one door that is higher (~14'). Who knows, you may want to pull a 13'-6" tall semi in one day. Just ask Diamondpilot about not building an outbuilding with a tall door. He kicks himself frequently on this forum for not doing so. You have the height, it's cheaper to do it now than later.

 

[FMD]

I'm currently in this position of researching the differences between a pole barn and the steel building.

I currently have a 40x50' concrete block heated shop. With a 15x50' UN heated 'shed' off the rear.

However I live in the 'city'. Not city of buffalo but in the burbs, and it's beginning to resembe a city... I'm looking to move.

I'm very much interested in the steel vs wood for all reasons stated. Also looking at 14' side walls, and 16-18' center... (I actually do work in my shop, so having the hight would be nice... It's not a place to park toys)

However, my building will absolutely require heating. As I am in the coatings business... As well as have air equipment that won't react well to freezing...

Me question is, as a steel building, that is exposed to outside temps of 0f. Is, sweating. Steel sweats something awful. How do you mitigate this drippage?

 

[Underdog57]

I believe if you put 1/2" foil faced insulation panels under the steel it won't sweat.

 

[cartod]

I'm wondering if there would be a good way to "mark" the pex so you can find/avoid it later if need be.
I was going to use wire mesh for re-enforcement but might use rebar and zip tie the pex to it.

Wedge

I think you could use thermal imaging to mark it when its fired up.

 

[kraftykeltic]

I have a 24X40 heated metal building. in the pocono's until this winter with 6 inch fiberglass in the walls I have been able to keep the building warm enough to work in. Am going to put 12 inches in ceiling, this year to make sure it stays warmer. for heat I use a pellet stove. If I had to do it again, it would have 16 foot walls instead of 12' and a 14 foot door height.
Four post lifts are cheap. but you cannot use them with less than 16 foot ceiling height

 

[grsthegreat]

its my understanding that pole barns are cheaper when the snow loads are light to moderate and the spans are shorter. Once you start getting very heavy snowloads or wide clearspans, the steel structures get to be more inline in prices.

I had my 30x60 barn bid as pole barn and steel. steel was over 2x the cost. But for a 80x240 covered arena, the costs were pretty close ....mind you both were way over what i was willing to pay.

 

[Creamer]

DiskDoctr - I noticed you recommended a floor drain - I thought those were going out for environmental reasons.

The other issue I have is that I am on Septic and the shop location is too far and below the septic tank - other ideas for the a drain for hand washing, mop buckets, toilet, etc?

 

[flusher]

DiskDoctr - I noticed you recommended a floor drain - I thought those were going out for environmental reasons.

The other issue I have is that I am on Septic and the shop location is too far and below the septic tank - other ideas for the a drain for hand washing, mop buckets, toilet, etc?

Dry well for grey water from the sink.

How to Install a Dry Well | This Old House

Drywells for Landscape Drainage | How to install | Soil drainage test method

Chemical toilet for the poo.

Good luck

 

[Pete6114]

DiskDoctr - I noticed you recommended a floor drain - I thought those were going out for environmental reasons.

The other issue I have is that I am on Septic and the shop location is too far and below the septic tank - other ideas for the a drain for hand washing, mop buckets, toilet, etc?

I installed a floor drain in my garage/shop even though i'm not supposed to have one. Its just water running off the cars and from washing them, that runs down the drain.
Friend of mine dug a 10 foot hole and filled it with rocks/stone, that the sink and urinal run into from his shop. My own shop is to far from my Septic, as yours is, so i didnt bother, but if i was to do it again, i'd install a seperate Septic for the shop.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

What I want - 40 x 64 x 16 building for vehicles, equipment storage (tractor, mowers, tiller, etc) and workshops. Plus plumbing for bathroom and utility sinks. I don't have the time to do the major construction myself (framing, roof, siding, floor). I will be doing the finish work inside myself.

Got an estimate from a pole barn builder - good local reputation with the farmers around here.

Then a friend suggested I look into steel buildings. It turns out that the quote for the steel building is very close to the pole barn. And that includes a standard foundation and 5" poured floor with a 2' high concrete stem wall that I want to increase the overall interior height to 18'.

Part of me likes the idea of having a standard concrete foundation with frost footings. And I think a 2' high stem wall of solid concrete would help with general wear and tear on the walls. Both buildings have 26g siding and roof. Both with same overhead doors, personnel doors, windows.

Major difference is that the steel was quoted with standard 1/12 roof; pole barn quoted with 6/12 roof and scissor trusses so that I could get >18ft centerline height inside. A steeper roof would "flow" better with our traditional farmhouse and other barns on the property. But having a 1/12 roof would save on insulation costs (planning on using spray-foam).

Wood posts will rot, eventually. And steel will rust, eventually. But if built right, they would both last my lifetime and probably my kids' lifetime.

Any comments out there on preferences?

They can change the angle of the roof. For example, I'm asking for 5/12 gable roof so that snow slides off.