Need to build a shop on the cheap

[Butch(OH)]

Own backhoe, scaffolding, etc. and do as much as you possibly can yourself. Should have near zero labor costs at least.

The concrete, insulation and HVAC is pretty much the same regardless of the building construction. The main question is which is cheaper for materials currently, metal, pole or frame. I can construct any of them and probably not a lot of difference in time / labor.

ETA: The wife say's I have to build a shop and I have a $30k budget. I tend to agree on the shop necessity, my life expectancy would be notably shorter with

Own backhoe, scaffolding, etc. and do as much as you possibly can yourself. Should have near zero labor costs at least.

The concrete, insulation and HVAC is pretty much the same regardless of the building construction. The main question is which is cheaper for materials currently, metal, pole or frame. I can construct any of them and probably not a lot of difference in time / labor.

ETA: The wife say's I have to build a shop and I have a $30k budget. I tend to agree on the shop necessity, my life expectancy would be notably shorter without one.

Materials alone for a 40x60 pole building will exceed 25k . There are some real cheap steel building prices floating around but they are not something I would put any money into. You better double that budget, or shrink the size.

Don't know how cheap it was, but in 2013 I had Cleary put up a 30'x48' pole building.

Grading the site was $700, the building itself was $14,000, concrete floor $6,000. Wiring, lights, and misc would bring the total to about $22,000. That doesn't include insulation or finishing the interior.

Well over double that now, close to triple

 

[stevieb49829]

You will get a variety of experienced costs if you ask here. I agree with what MarkB is saying: Your most accurate estimates are going to come from local suppliers. They can put packages together for you to DIY it. You may have to check on costs of concrete delivered to your site separate, and do the math for the total yards you will need. I built a 40x48 pole shop myself in about 2006, including hand dug post pier holes and had close to 25K in materials. When I moved in 2019 I had a very similar size built for me and it was just north of $70K.

I do totally understand the shortened life expectancy without a doghouse to retreat to.

 

[Jaden]

I believe Menards has an on-line pricing guide for materials only. That may give you some idea.

 

[old]

So, due to upcoming move I will be needing to build a shop building on the cheap in eastern OK. Something in the range of 30x40 - 40x60 depending on cost I think. Does anyone have recent build costs for the typical options - Metal, pole, frame in the region? In all cases I will do the bulk of the build myself, probably bringing in some help for the concrete pour only. It will need to be insulated and heated/cooled of course, but that part should be about the same regardless of the construction type.

Thanks

Years ago I built my shop but I didn't have to worry about codes when I built it so I used all used metal and the beams are either old mobile home frame and dock section frame and used metal rood. I might have $300 in the shop but $10,000.00 in tool in it

 

[ben brown]

So, due to upcoming move I will be needing to build a shop building on the cheap in eastern OK. Something in the range of 30x40 - 40x60 depending on cost I think. Does anyone have recent build costs for the typical options - Metal, pole, frame in the region? In all cases I will do the bulk of the build myself, probably bringing in some help for the concrete pour only. It will need to be insulated and heated/cooled of course, but that part should be about the same regardless of the construction type.

Thanks

if you use face book look up legacy metals llc hopkinsville ky thy have some price listed end of year sales

 

[Butch(OH)]

Replied to wrong post and deleted

 

[Butch(OH)]

One builder quoted my next door neighbor $75/square foot for a wood frame pole building. I think that was just for the building, no concrete, no electrical, no doors, no insulation, no interior paneling.

That's not far from what I'm hearing locally, depends on how fancy and windows doors and how tall.

 

[farmersamm]

Either go to Idabel for the monthly auction, or check it out on Proxibid. They're right across the highway from a metal siding/roofing manufacturer. There's always odd lots up for sale at the auction. I've bought some steel roofing real cheap from there.

 

[rockgrower]

So, due to upcoming move I will be needing to build a shop building on the cheap in eastern OK. Something in the range of 30x40 - 40x60 depending on cost I think. Does anyone have recent build costs for the typical options - Metal, pole, frame in the region? In all cases I will do the bulk of the build myself, probably bringing in some help for the concrete pour only. It will need to be insulated and heated/cooled of course, but that part should be about the same regardless of the construction type.

Thanks

In that area there are many 40' wide steel truss poultry houses being dismantled. This is going to be your cheapest option. If you are going to put all the money in concrete, insulation, HVAC, I don't know if it makes financial sense to go with used materials though.

 

[john in la]

If you want cheap
You want a pole building (no foundation needed in the concrete floor)
You want a metal roof (bigger spacing on trusses because metal is lighter than a shingle roof)
And you want 4x8 sheets of LP siding for the walls (cheaper than metal; not as cold as metal; has a 50 year warranty and withstands racking better than a metal wall)

This is the way I built my building.
Trusses are 8 feet apart so I could use 2x4 for the roof purlins (cheaper than 2x6)
Cost me 2 extra post and 1 extra truss on a 24x24 building but I saved by using smaller purlins and it made the building much stronger.
I turned the 2x4 wall purlins on edge (2 inch side facing out) and put them between the post.
With a 24 inch spacing this allowed me to use regular house insulation if I wanted it.
Wrapped the entire building with house wrap and used LP siding because it was cheaper than metal and will hold up to strong wind racking better than metal.

 

[DennisDW]

I built a 32 x 48 standard pole barn construction back in 1998 and I don't remember the costs. I'm sure that wouldn't be much help today but I do wish I would have gone BIGGER.

 

[Dwoklahoma]

It will get down to zero with some regularity in the winter. Frost depth is supposed to be 20" though it's at the southern end of that band on the map so reality is probably a bit less. Generally I want to be able to keep the shop a stable temp to prevent condensation / rust issues on machines and probably 65F-85F depending on the season. I have containers, but I'm not sure those roof on container structures really make sense for anything but a covered unconditioned work area.

I'm in the Tulsa area. We built a 20x30 10 years ago. Pole building no floor. 10,000 for the basic metal building. I see ads around for 20x30 pole buildings around $15000 to $20,000 without floor. There actually are code and permit requirements in Tulsa County and surounding counties. I would check with the county building department. They were most interested in my trusses and spacing for wind loads (tornado alley here). For temperatures we get a small number of days below 10 degrees (maybe 5-10). Rarely does it get to zero or below, maybe once a decade. We do get hot, in excess of 105-110, so you have 100 degree swings. Footing depths in Tulsa County is 18". Hope this helps.

 

[Dwoklahoma]

It will get down to zero with some regularity in the winter. Frost depth is supposed to be 20" though it's at the southern end of that band on the map so reality is probably a bit less. Generally I want to be able to keep the shop a stable temp to prevent condensation / rust issues on machines and probably 65F-85F depending on the season. I have containers, but I'm not sure those roof on container structures really make sense for anything but a covered unconditioned work area.

My post was in error. We built a 30 x 40 instead of a 20 x 30. The pricing I've seen lately is around $20,000 for 30-40 with no floor.

 

[Mark-Ia]

I priced a 40x60 in august. Just the building installed was just shy of $80,000.00. dirt work would be around $2,000.00. Concrete for half was $12,000.00. The electric and heat was extra.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Bruce,
Shipping containers are not taxed in my county.
I think some people have posted on YT shipping containers have condensation issues.
If you look at the cost per square foot, shipping containers are more expensive than a pole barn.
It would take 4 shipping containers to make about a 8x32x40 ft building.

My friend had a 40 ft shipping container delivered $4600
That would be $9200 for two. About 60% of my total cost of $16,600 for my 30x40x14 Labor included.

 

[wh]

This is in central alabama

 

[wh]

This is in central alabama

 

[john in la]

Bruce,
I would like to see the figures. Is there a cost savings in using 2 shipping containers.
Has any YTer made a pole barn using shipping containers?
I would like to see a picture.

Shipping containers is all about location.
I can get a 40 ft used water tight container delivered for $2500 to $3000.
And they are the most secure building you can buy.
I could be in your pole building within a few minutes with nothing more than a socket wrench. It would take a cutting torch to get into a container.
Where shipping containers shine is an open center design. For the cost of your pole barn roof and 2 shipping containers you could have an open barn as big as your pole shed plus two secure sheds on either side.

 

[wp6529]

"Either go to Idabel for the monthly auction, or check it out on Proxibid. They're right across the highway from a metal siding/roofing manufacturer. There's always odd lots up for sale at the auction. I've bought some steel roofing real cheap from there."

Good information I'll have to check on that.

"In that area there are many 40' wide steel truss poultry houses being dismantled. This is going to be your cheapest option. If you are going to put all the money in concrete, insulation, HVAC, I don't know if it makes financial sense to go with used materials though."

Any references on where to find these used trusses and whatnot?

Given that I already own four containers that wouldn't cost anything. A crane for half a day to stack wouldn't be terrible expensive. Used 40' steel trusses could go on top and give 24' x 40' space under cover. Cut side doors into the containers for interior access. Dirt work cost mostly just diesel since I own backhoes and tractors. Electrical, HVAC, etc. I also do myself so just material costs there. I'll have to crunch the numbers when I have time and see what it would work out too.

We all want 10ac bomb proof shops with bridge cranes and enough HVAC to keep 80F year round, but I'm pretty poor and just need enough space where I can work in relative comfort to extend my life expectancy and perhaps make a small income doing odd repairs / job shop work.

 

[John M]

Shipping containers is all about location.
I can get a 40 ft used water tight container delivered for $2500 to $3000.
And they are the most secure building you can buy.
I could be in your pole building within a few minutes with nothing more than a socket wrench. It would take a cutting torch to get into a container.
Where shipping containers shine is an open center design. For the cost of your pole barn roof and 2 shipping containers you could have an open barn as big as your pole shed plus two secure sheds on either side.

What kind of container is that? I see, load, unload them all day and havent seen one yet that required a torch to get into unless there was a problem with the latches.