Timber Frame vs Pre-Engineered Steel?

[igpoobah]

For a metal building you need footers and piers at your column locations. Not a big deal. Still pour it monolithic, just got to get it dug out first.

 

[EddieWalker]

Harder to get a metal building to look as good as a stick frame building. Harder to get a steeper roof pitch with a metal building.

Metal is faster to build and has less maintenance over they ears, but if it starts to rust, it's a HUGE nightmare.

If you want to do anything with the walls, or have interior walls, you will build a stick frame anyway.

Easier to get big open space with a metal building.

Crew can put up a metal building in a couple of days. Stick framing will take twice as long, depending on siding and roofing.

Eddie

 

[Piston]

My vote is certainly for timber frame buildings over steel buildings, however it's more personal preference. A timber frame to me, has character and beauty, whereas a steel building doesn't. You can still have a clear span timber frame but it would be cost effective. I also prefer the building style which has proven itself for over 2,000 years.
There are many timber frame buildings that have lasted well over a few hundred years. I wouldn't worry in the least about it not lasting through your lifetime, the main killer of these old buildings are inadequate foundations and roof leaks.

Steel buildings are great for strength and won't ever burn down, so there is a plus.

 

[prestigesteel]

Most steel buildings we do are on engineered slabs. So no footings and piers are needed.

Jason Gullett
Prestige Steel Buildings Canada – 1-888-314-5751 Ontario
(888) 314-5751

 

[roadhunter]

Pole barns are about a cheap of construction as you will get per sq ft. They are simple to build (up to a certain size) and do not require the concrete work that a steel building requires.

Steel buildings generally cost more but are going to hold up better long term with concrete footings where a pole barn posts in the ground will eventually rot in most soil conditions.

With steel prices being low now is a good time to go for steel if you can afford the extra cost (primarily concrete) IMO as it is a superior product.

Many pole barns will have 29 gauge steel where a steel framed building is more likely to have heavier 26 gauge sheeting.

But as Eddie mentioned the wood framing of the pole barn is easier to work with if you are going to be doing additional wood framing in the building.

 

[prestigesteel]

We actually install steel buildings with zero concrete now if you want to save money and just have a gravel floor. That way the cost is much lower and you can put the floor in later. As for the wood framing there's really not much of a difference between a steel building and a wood building. The girt spacing can be set a 4' and the standard purlin spacing is also. We have finished the interior of the steel building with all types of material. The bonus is you can pressure wash it and not worry about mold or rot.

Jason Gullett
Prestige Steel Buildings
(888) 314-5751

 

[roadhunter]

I've never seen a steel building that didn't' require concrete work. We always installed concrete piers as well as a perimeter footing below frost line. On bigger buildings the piers across from each other are connected with a tie beam to keep the piers from wanting to spread apart under load. That' is what ends up driving the costs up from my experience but it is a much higher quality construction than stacks of 3 pressure treated 2x6's stuck in the ground around the perimeter.

 

[prestigesteel]

We have started using heli piles. No ground work required and fast.

Jason Gullett
Prestige Steel Buildings
(888) 314-5751

 

[BleedingOrange]

Interesting, what are heli piles ?

 

[mike69440]

Interesting, what are heli piles ?

Heli-Pile(R) Helical Piles Manufacturer: Home

I guess you use a post hole digger to install?