Need to build a shop on the cheap

[wp6529]

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

 

[Butch(OH)]

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

When you figure out how to build a 40x60, concreted, Insulated, heated and cooled for cheap please let us in on it, LOL

 

[wp6529]

When you figure out how to build a 40x60, concreted, Insulated, heated and cooled for cheap please let us in on it, LOL

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.

 

[Goose]

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.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

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

My advice,
Check with your county appraiser and ask what the taxes will be first.
I was going to build a 40x60 until I found out what the property taxes would be.
I then decided on a 30x40x14 ft and made a second floor.
My taxes are based on the square feet, not the height.
I also found out I couldn't build on a vacant lot.
So I attached the vacant lot to my house's property adjacent to it.
I highly recommend putting even on the pole barn and putting windows under the vented eves.
I had a 10x10 ft overhead door too.
Check with your building inspector to see what he wants.
If you don't require a permit, check with reputable builders for their recommendations on the correct materials to use.
For $16,600 an Amish crew built my pole barn in days back in 2019 before the massive inflation. I did the ground work, Labor for my concrete finisher $1000 Concrete was around $2600 for a 6 inch floor with wire and plastic underneath. I was told my pole barn would cost about 2x what I spent.
With ridge vents and eve vents ZERO condensation issues.
In my opinion windows are like advertising online: ROBMENOW.COM
The clear siding under the vents is plenty of light in the daytime.
Well worth every penny. The loft is a great place to store things. I can easily add more lost space when needed
I think you should look at the cost of using the best materials, not the cheapest materials. Only use CCA treated lumber for poles and any wood that comes in contact with the ground, Inspector or no inspector, built to the right way.
The cost of materials from Menards was more than what it cost me from a local builder who used Amish labor.

 

[wp6529]

My advice,
Check with your county appraiser and ask what the taxes will be first.
I was going to build a 40x60 until I found out what the property taxes would be.
I then decided on a 30x40x14 ft and made a second floor.
My taxes are based on the square feet, not the height.
I also found out I couldn't build on a vacant lot.
So I attached the vacant lot to my house's property adjacent to it.
I highly recommend putting even on the pole barn and putting windows under the vented eves.
I had a 10x10 ft overhead door too.
Check with your building inspector to see what he wants.
If you don't require a permit, check with reputable builders for their recommendations on the correct materials to use.
For $16,600 an Amish crew built my pole barn in days back in 2019 before the massive inflation. I did the ground work, Labor for my concrete finisher $1000 Concrete was around $2600 for a 6 inch floor with wire and plastic underneath. I was told my pole barn would cost about 2x what I spent.
With ridge vents and eve vents ZERO condensation issues.
In my opinion windows are like advertising online: ROBMENOW.COM
The clear siding under the vents is plenty of light in the daytime.
Well worth every penny. The loft is a great place to store things. I can easily add more lost space when neededView attachment 97859View attachment 97860

We're talking rural Oklahoma, not in a city. No building code, no permits, and property taxes are much lower than here in TX. I also know how to build and will build it myself. Mostly looking for recent cost comparisons. Also no windows, extra cost, leaks and I don't want them anyway. Personnel door or two and probably a single bay door since a chunk of it will be machine shop and palette racks, not a vehicle bay.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

How cold does it get where you live? And how warm do you need the shop? Cheapest thing I have seen is steel trusses welded on to a pair of 40’ sea containers. And for extra height, stack two containers high on each side. I have even seen old sea containers with the galvanized hoops and tarp structures built over the span.

 

[wp6529]

How cold does it get where you live? And how warm do you need the shop? Cheapest thing I have seen is steel trusses welded on to a pair of 40’ sea containers. And for extra height, stack two containers high on each side. I have even seen old sea containers with the galvanized hoops and tarp structures built over the span.

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.

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

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

I put up a 30x60 in 2013. Ordered a bolt-a- frame metal building out of Pennsylvania. It was shipped all sheeting, fasteners and insulation. Hired the pad, concrete and electrical and the construction of the building out. Also had to locally purchase 3 10x10 roll up doors and 1 walk in door. All said and done i had a little over $30.000 in it. Keep in mind that was 11 years ago. If you can do it all yourself with minimal help you might be able to swing it within your budget. Prices are much different now. I too had no zoning issues nor permits to deal with.

 

[jon f mn]

I just took delivery of the trusses for my new 40x60 pole shed. Just basic with no floor or insulation, a 20' sliding door on each end and one man door. Over hangs on the gable ends but no eves. All done on my site the total cost is $48,000 with labor. I think materials were about $24,000, but that will be higher here because of the snow load.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

How cold does it get where you live? And how warm do you need the shop? Cheapest thing I have seen is steel trusses welded on to a pair of 40’ sea containers. And for extra height, stack two containers high on each side. I have even seen old sea containers with the galvanized hoops and tarp structures built over the span.

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.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Get 50' trusses and as many container boxes as you need for the dimensions you want and set the trusses on them.

 

[wp6529]

Containers with a roof may be ok for unconditioned sheltered space, but I don't believe they have any advantage for a conditioned space. I already own four 40' HC containers and to get a useable shop ceiling height for palette racks I'd have to stack two high which would mean crane rental as well as fabricating stairs to make the upper ones accessible, and then I'd still need to frame up two insulated walls for the ends as well as insulate the container sides as well for conditioned space. More difficulty and likely more cost than just building a standalone building and keeping the containers for cold storage.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I was wanting to do the container and truss thing about 15 or 20 years ago but the county has barred the public from using them like that. I was going to paint them one color when I was done. Thought the boxes would make good storage in a building without having problems with being able to lock up just them.I was also going to put them on a slab above grade a bit and with the high cube ones you could have an 18 foot ceiling in it. They would make the siding and support for the trusses. With angle welded to the corner of the box the truss would not move and be able to be braced well. Then you could also just heat or cool them for the machines and let the rest of it be the ambient temp. Though loading machines like lathes with forklift sized pieces it might be a bit of a problem since you would want to load over the back side while being on the operator side to chuck it up. Don't have a clue on the cost except that dad bought some trusses this summer and paid about double what he woulds have last winter late or early spring. If you build your own trusses they would be stouter and cheaper if you use rough sawn lumber.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

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.

You basically use the container as side walls to support the roof structure Geo . And like every other enclosed space, it requires ventilation to prevent condensation.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

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.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

You basically use the container as side walls to support the roof structure Geo . And like every other enclosed space, it requires ventilation to prevent condensation.

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.

 

[Russ from MN]

How cold does it get where you live? And how warm do you need the shop? Cheapest thing I have seen is steel trusses welded on to a pair of 40’ sea containers. And for extra height, stack two containers high on each side. I have even seen old sea containers with the galvanized hoops and tarp structures built over the span.

Bruce, I think one of your fellow Canadians, John Deere D, built one like that, and posted a photo.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I would contact a lumberyard in the area and ask for a materials quote on a post frame building of your desired dimensions. That will get you started. I got my materials from Carter Lumber; I don't know if they have any locations where you're going, but I'm sure there are other suppliers that will give you a quote.

 

[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.