Metal buildings

[Ray,IN]

That fiberglass used in the panels deteriorates and then goes to leaking around the screws/nails and ow you have to go up there and replace them or put steel on in place of them. Sounds good at the building but bites later on. Dad put som on an end wall and we are constantly fixing. I would just put steel on and get rid of it.

My ridge-pole skylight is polycarbonate, it will not yellow or darken like those antique fiberglass panels. I agree, those old fiberglass panels that replaced a metal panel were not high quality material 40 years ago. When they vibrated in high winds it tore the screw holes.

 

[G1000VISTA]

Which brand of metal building would you recommend for equipment 30-40ft wide by 60 -80 ft long, Would like one I could put up myself. Thanks

For what it's worth. I'm building a 40 by 60 shop . Doing a lot of research into red iron / steel I beam buildings. Be very wary of ANY of the major manufacturers. I found a used building listed for sale from Big Buildings Direct. Called them and found out it's a fake add. They start asking questions how I wanted it built! Wasn't even built or used like the add said!! They wanted me to drop 18000 on it that day because the promotion only lasted 5 days. I also wanted to erect it myself but they didn't want to let me , even though the building was already drilled and welded. They would only take off 5 percent off total cost. I'm not saying there aren't good companies out there, but be vary careful . I have heard that after they get your money you don't get service. Bad rust after a few years etc. Just go carefully, and good luck.

 

[m16ty]

Until you get up into higher end commercial buildings (red iron buildings), metal buildings have a lot to be desired. The homeowner grade metal buildings are little more than a carport with sides, I’d rather have a pole barn type building.

A red iron metal building will be costly.

 

[m16ty]

4” concrete with a good base is plenty to park just about anything short of a loaded semi on. I would be wary of lifting the 32,000 motor home with a bottle jack though.

It depends on the base under the slab. Our old shop is 4” concrete and has had loaded tractor/trailers on it without issue. We poured a apron out front 6” and it cracked all to pieces with just vehicle traffic, bad base.

That being said, if I were to build new I would go 6” with wire. With a good base that will hold up all you could ever think of putting on it.

 

[Ray,IN]

There are 2 places in Indiana that sell pole barn package for you to install or they have Amish crews that will. Both are in Davis County.
Grabber Post and DC Metals.
I would recommend you buy a pole barn package and get quality materials.
I did the ground prep and an Amish crew took 2 days to build a 30x40x10 pole barn.
I wanted vented eves and clear panel under the eves. View attachment 112356

Mine is almost like your DC metals pole barn, except my sliding door is 20'x14'.

 

[GermantownGreen]

My ridge-pole skylight is polycarbonate, it will not yellow or darken like those antique fiberglass panels. I agree, those old fiberglass panels that replaced a metal panel were not high quality material 40 years ago. When they vibrated in high winds it tore the screw holes.

Also put that panel at the top of side walls, you will get a lot of light there also. GG Wes

 

[m16ty]

I put skylights in two buildings they have all been removed. Yes you do get good lighting from them 20 years down the road you will ask yourself why did you that.

I did the same. Skylight panels went bad and I replaced them with metal sheets. Building was too dark though where I had to have the lights on in the daytime. Ended up climbing back up there and putting new translucent sheets back on. Oh well, I guess I will replace them in another 20 years (if I make it that long) but at least I can see in the building in the daytime.

 

[Ray,IN]

Also put that panel at the top of side walls, you will get a lot of light there also. GG Wes

My garage(#18) roof has no panels, only the ridge-pole skylight, which is 2' wide the length of the building.
My cousin had a pole barn garage built with those fiberglass panels in the sidewalls. They are now so bad he's going to have them replaced. He always told me he wished he'd had the ridge-pole skylight installed. We built our garages at the same time.

 

[MarkB_MI]

A post frame building is, in my opinion, a better value than an all-steel building. Expect to spend a lot of money for a QUALITY all-steel building.