Post frame construction questions.

[CDN Farm Boy]

Wow. I wish lumber was that cheap here. I'm working on a 30x40x14 for a customer right now. No loft, just a straight up pole shed and my cost is $4800 for the lumber not including the trusses. Trusses will be adding another 3500 or so to that

 

[SirReal63]

Fortunately we won't have need for trusses or anything extra for roof structure, just lumber for enclosure. It is the other benefit of this style building. There are a lot of benefits to the metal structure, fire resistance, low cost, ability to add lots of insulation and a very solid structure once the inside is framed out. We really noticed how much the inside framing added to the structure when we did the 24x24x14' tall guest house. No movement of the walls, no torquing or twisting, even with 50 mph winds. You can slam the doors and there is no movement.

This is what I am about to frame out, I still have a couple windows to add but it should go pretty fast.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Ah. I missed the metal building part. We have nothing like that up here, you must be WAY south and not have to deal with snow loads. I can see how the additional framing would stiffen it, there's not much to it to begin with.

What did the shell cost you if you don't mind me asking?

 

[SirReal63]

Central Texas, snow on rare occasions but never more than an inch and it melts almost instantly. Cost for both buildings, both with 14' walls, two rollup doors, dirt work, fill, 5-1/2" thick slabs and plumbing came in at around 75K. We could not have stick built it with 2x6's (to get the R19 walls), trusses and roofing for any where near that. I know this style of building isn't for everyone, and we were not sure it would be for us until we finished the first one. One of my close friends is a home builder, he has been amazed at what I have done, and for the price paid. The 24x24 guest house, after completion has been a little less than 30K, and that includes everything but the solar.

 

[LD1]

I am at $4600 in lumber for my 40x72x14 stick built

Thats with 2x6 walls.

That price includes
12' studs 2' on center
All the 2x4 roof purlins
2x8 sil plate
OSB sheathing for exterior
OSB sheathing for 40x40 of the interior
A 40' long wall build to divide the building into a heated side and a cold side. Also 2x6 studs (but 14' long) and sheathed
And a loft/mezzanine 8' out all along that 40' wall. Built to 100PSF loading

All the loft stuff I just got.

The lumber for the shell was $3600 delivered, but that included the 14' studs and enough sheathing for that middle wall. Take off all of that, and the interior sheathing, probably could have done just the shell for $2500 or so.

 

[jymbee]

Looks great. But I now realize that it looks like you're working with a pure steel building where what I'm considering is post/frame construction. The only metal would be roof & siding.

Fortunately we won't have need for trusses or anything extra for roof structure, just lumber for enclosure. It is the other benefit of this style building. There are a lot of benefits to the metal structure, fire resistance, low cost, ability to add lots of insulation and a very solid structure once the inside is framed out. We really noticed how much the inside framing added to the structure when we did the 24x24x14' tall guest house. No movement of the walls, no torquing or twisting, even with 50 mph winds. You can slam the doors and there is no movement.

This is what I am about to frame out, I still have a couple windows to add but it should go pretty fast.

 

[SirReal63]

Our climates are very different, you may not be able to use the same kind of system I did. There are many different construction methods for steel. I made my 30 year career in the mfg., distribution and sales of wood products, so going steel was counter to everything I knew and loved. It was the benefits and cost that swayed me from what I am comfortable with. Metal over a conventional slab home is new in this area, for the most part, but it has too many advantages to overlook.

I threw it out there as an option because dollar for dollar it has advantages over post frame and regular stick built homes. It also has some downsides but these are mostly aesthetic and can be overcome. I would at least consider it. Two years ago I never would have dreamed I would be doing it this way, but I am very glad we went this direction.

 

[Fawken]

Metal doesn't rot, warp or attract termites. A metal frame building can be engineered with any gauge steel and trusses can be moved closer together to create a structure far stronger and more durable than any made of wood. I would use this method in a heartbeat (I did for my shop) the only thing I do differently is put a brick ledge around the perimeter for future use.

 

[MacLawn]

SirReal, a guest house, eh? I've always wanted to visit MeadowLakes area.

 

[SirReal63]

All will be welcome Mac, once the main house is done, we are staying in the guest house, it was actually made for our obnoxious night owl kids, mostly to keep them out of our hair when they visit. It is also out in the country, not in Meadowlakes. We decided we were not old enough to live in Meadowlakes, as beautiful as it is.