SMALL Polebarn costs: $45,000+??? YIKES!!!!

bczoom · Mar 3, 2005

Bob,

I'll concur with others that stated that this price seems a bit high. Although I don't have brick, slate roof or fully finished interior, My 32x48' was completed for a little under $20K.

As I recall, you're plate is already busy for the year but do you have time to be the GC on this project?

Around here, the GC adds his %, adds another % for all materials... If you could arrange some of that yourself, you may do better.

Get different companies to do the concrete, framing, HVAC, electric...

Can any economies be found having parts of this initiative be coupled with other projects you have going on?

Brian

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2005

Brian, most other years I would have time to act as the General Contractor. I've done that before, and I've even swung a framing hammer more than a few times. But my life is pretty hectic lately, if I want a building, someone else will have to assume the headaches and coordination of the project. I've got many other projects that are lining up around this one too, so there is a house expansion, some remodeling, fencing, a new 60' by 120' Japanese garden, the Snow Trac restoration, and did I ever mention that I am going to take back part of my farm field behind my property and plant it with corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and potatoes for donation to the food pantry at church and for my night shift workers? And then there is the family time . . . oh, and I still have to find time to go to work and actually do some work!!!

dmccarty · Mar 3, 2005

Bob,

I had our builder give us a guestimate on a garage/workshop. The disk with the CAD is having problems but I think the size of the building was 36/40x42. Basically a two car garage with a "shed" roof 12x42 running down the west side of the garage. The back of the garage had a shop roughly16x24. I think I had staris running to the attic for storage. There where a couple of windows, maybe two 36" doors and a 16' garage door. Brick on four sides and good quality shingles on the roof. Garage was finished inside. Also had a concrete slab between the house and the garage 24x42.

The price was 40K.

Your price seems high. My price seems high. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

rdln · Mar 3, 2005

<font color="orange"> I chuckled a bit reading that </font>

I am glad it wasn't taken the wrong way.

I also want to ad a parallel which is evident at this time of year, Girl scouts sell their cookies in Detroit (median home value 63k) for $3 a box and $4 in Bloomfield Hills (median home value $854k)

Michigan_Mike · Mar 3, 2005

Bob,

A dunb questions, but could the higher cost be because it really is a garage?
My pole barn only has posts every 8 feet, with siding spanning these posts. I would guess a garage of the same size, with studs 16"oc, would probably cost much more.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2005

Mike,

The HIGH bid is using pole barn construction, posts every 8'.

The LOW bid is traditional stick (stud wall, 16" o.c.) construction; the low bid also includes higher quality details (real brick, real furnace, real limestone, more windows, matching light fixtures, etc).

Dargo · Mar 3, 2005

rdln, I had to laugh when I read your tag line. Just last month I noticed that my water bill doubled in cost. To make a long story short, I found that the auto flush urinal in my barn took to flushing at random; whenever it felt like it. It was rather odd the day I discovered that fact. I was in the main part of my barn when I heard the urinal flush. I thought I was alone. Needless to say, I was taken a bit by surprise when I heard the urinal flush! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

For the record, I do have the auto on sink, (so the knobs don't get all dirty in the barn) and it still works fine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

EastTexFrank · Mar 3, 2005

Bob, I respect and agree with your opinion on most things, I'll even let your opinion on Rolex slip by without comment, but not being able to recognise Carhart or where to buy them ... I'm sorry but that's unforgivable. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I don't know why storage buildings/pole barns/additional garages cost so much. I desperately need one and last year I scoped one out, 32' x 36', and went out for quotes. I didn't think it was anything special but I didn't get a reply that was less than $28,000 and most were in the low $30K's. Needless to say, I still don't have one and the way lumber and steel prices keep on rising, I may never get one. Pity, I really need (want) the additional storage space. Sooner or later, I suppose, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and DO it.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 3, 2005

Frank, OK, just for you, I looked up Carhartt on the internet. I even found pictures. Somehow I think those clothes will clash with the Hawaiian shirts that I typically wear /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As for Rolex, they are big and shiny. But I don't want to drop $5,000 to $10,000+ for a watch that is made by a machine, with machine stamped gears, and CNC milled cases. My favorite rugged machine made watch is a Breitling, great with blue jeans (or I suppose Carhartts), although I like Gevril as well, but those are not as robust and work better with a suit. . . both are somewhat less expensive than a Rolex. More pricy than the Rolex are the hand made watches, if you want to get into beautiful watches, with hand cut gears and hand wound springs, nothing can touch my Piaget with my black tuxedo and a vest/tie that coordinate with the lovely Mrs_Bob's evening gown. Then there are the mechanical marvels of watches, the prices of those really skyrocket, but I just love to look at those on the watch winders . . . but I digress. Now to bring all this back to tractoring I typically wear a Breitling or a CYMA when my hand may end up buried in mud or covered in grease.

Sorry about your Rolex, but if you need to know what time it, just set it 5 minutes fast every morning and by the time the lunch bell rings, it should be just about right /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif