Metal Buildings

[Tater]

We found a house that we like, but it's too small for us and has no garage. I looked into adding an attached garage, but it would be too expensive for us. Plus, the electric service meter is where I would want to put it anyways.The only other option I see is a metal building. A garage part of them would be nice, but I would need a place to keep tools, a LOT of fishing stuff and other misc. stuff. Are they secure enough to keep stuff like that in? Are they usually sealed up pretty good to keep out bugs and mice? Has anyone built in a small insulated living area in it that could be heated? Any other pros and cons?

[avator]

Electric meters can be moved. Have you done an actual cost comparison on the wood attached garage and the stand alone metal building?
Bare in mind, there are lots of costs involved including permits, contractors and taxes. If I'm not mistaken, wood is a better insulator than metal so the cost of heating and cooling would be a factor.

[Bicycleman]

Good morning, Jerry.
About 18 years ago in Louisiana, I had a Bass Tracker that I wanted to keep in a building [instead of parking it under an Oak tree].  The building would have needed to be about 18' x 8' with no utilities or foundation.  When I priced just the building it was about $7,500.  In today's money, that would be about $13,000.  Add your slab, utilities, and whatever else you need. 
Good luck Jerry on finding that perfect home.

[maraudinglizard]

Jerry, they are known as portable buildings. They build them on site but can be moved later on. I live in one and it survived a Cat 5 hurricane. Mine built in 2007 and not had any problems with leaks, security, or vermin. I finished it out inside to live in. Way better than a mobile home and less property tax as well. A little effort in pre prevention on your part these buildings can be impervious to the elements and vermin. The link below will give you some idea of what you can do with them. Mine is metal siding(less maintenance, no painting), insulated with Styrofoam sheeting(does not hold moisture or vermin), spray in foam is the best for insulating these buildings. I finished the walls in wood paneling(sheet rock is heavy and is worthless when it gets wet). Window AC and oil radiators handle the heating and cooling for now, I will eventually install mini splits to reduce the appliance use.

https://www.bestwayportablebuildings.com/portable-building-products-panama-city/custom-buildings


Check for deed restrictions and HOA restrictions on the property.
Bill has pretty much explained the monetary side of it.

Electric meters can be moved. Have you done an actual cost comparison on the wood attached garage and the stand alone metal building?
Bare in mind, there are lots of costs involved including permits, contractors and taxes. If I'm not mistaken, wood is a better insulator than metal so the cost of heating and cooling would be a factor.

[Tater]

Thanks everyone. We hope to look at some this weekend if I can find a place with displays built.

[anti-squirrel]

I worked construction for a number of years.  There's no way on earth I'd build anything "stick-built" ever again.  Metal is effective and cost-friendly, and insulation can be a literal snap, using foam sheets, spray-in, or bats.  We'll be erecting a shop using such construction next year to accompany our quonset-hut home build. 

Just as in stick-built homes, metal buildings can be as airtight or as "free flowing" as you want.  I'll be storing tools and equipment in ours; it will have power and climate control.  The only difference between a metal building and a wood building is material.  You still need a floor, walls, and roof in your scenario, and cost-per-square is usually vastly less expensive on steel.  Summer heat is far more reflected by a metal roof than a composite shingle roof.  My quonset hut- prior to endwall construction- still kept the area under the cover nearly 30 degrees cooler where the ambient temperature sat at 102.

In other words, price the slab first.  You'll save money doing some of the work yourself if you can, but that's also some backbreaking work without equipment... Equipment which can be rented   I see no reason NOT to choose a metal outbuilding, simply because the cost is worth it. 

[Privateer]

Having built everything from Homes to Factories, and demolishing the same?
I'd go metal. I can get in a stick build structure faster and quieter then a metal built structure.
You can always build a room inside with wood later if you don't want metal framing for that.
Been there, done that.

[avator]

I would like nothing more than a wood living space with a lofted bedroom and bath/laundry built inside a large enclosed metal structure. All my tools and toys right outside my door yet still inside.   

[Sqrl Klr]

Bill I've thought about that too. A big metal shop over the home inside with a lot of room to store everything by the home yet still be inside free from weather and pests.

[avator]

Something like this from Kris's link would be awesome.

[Nvreloader]

When I built my metal shop/garage/reloading room 40' x 40' x 18' tall, I used the 6"+ wool insulation on the walls and roof, then also installed 3" rigid foam sheeting on all walls/roof areas, 1/2 half of the upstairs is also a second level storage area for all the stuff we have obtained over the last 50+ yrs.

I have a 8' x 20' x 8'reloading room, a 8' x 10' x 8' tall walk in cold box room for hanging game etc, and a 8' x 10' x 8' restroom, with hot/cold water and a spare shower, all with HD electrical wiring to run the gun shop lathes/mills etc, and overhead water plumbing.

The total costs was around $20,000 (bought on sale) and the son and I put it all up, including the 4x12 pitch roof, we had to make a sliding frame work to put the roof on, tin is hot and slick in the summer....LOL

The electric water heater keeps the restroom well above freezing, and during the summer I have to keep the 12" x 16' roll up doors open to keep it halfway reasonable in the summer,
Just the opposite in the winter, I haven't installed the wood heater yet. I have been tickled pink I built this shop/garage/ reloading room/ toy hauler trailer cover.

The only negative problems I have encountered is the Hummers (Birds) like to rest/roost inside during the summer and the starlings are always prowling around looking for a nest area, they are discourage by the 22 cal Ack Ack rifles............LOL
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[maraudinglizard]

Mine is 24' W x 44' L, 24' x 30' is enclosed and the rest is porch on each end. I have a full size bath, kitchen, dining area, washer and dryer area, living room, small room, and a bedroom. I paid 14k for it in 2007. I did all the electrical, plumbing, carpentry, floor tile, and appliances in side. It took Best Way 2 days to build it on site. Beats living a travel trailer, mobile home, or waiting on a house to be built.

[Tater]

Great info you guys. Some of you have some really nice set-ups it sounds like. First-hand experiences are priceless.
I'll be talking to my wife about it more and hopefully find some displays set up to check out.

[Back_Roads]

 I have been researching and deciding on a steel building for a good 5 years now also have similar likes as Bill LOL, though my dream would be a dome over the house and property
 I figured this style would fit a 100+ year old house.

[avator]

Yeah James, if that building was 40' x 60' I would do the first floor in 30' of one gable end and the second floor the full length. That would leave me a 40' x 30' enclosed shop and toy area. I would have a roll up door and a man door in the shop area and a man door in the living area leading out to a covered/screened patio. Maybe even a deck above the patio with access from the upper floor.

[tennx]

    Do your homework on your property….my brother had a client who built a rather expensive metal shop…..it straddled the property line…..county made him take it down…..only saving grace he had left the floor unfinished 🤷🏼‍♂️…..good luck…..

[avator]

    Do your homework on your property….my brother had a client who built a rather expensive metal shop…..it straddled the property line…..county made him take it down…..only saving grace he had left the floor unfinished 🤷🏼‍♂️…..good luck…..

LOL... yeah that would be a wise thing to do even if you're running a fence.    I think proper permits require a professional survey.

[tennx]

    Do your homework on your property….my brother had a client who built a rather expensive metal shop…..it straddled the property line…..county made him take it down…..only saving grace he had left the floor unfinished 🤷🏼‍♂️…..good luck…..

LOL... yeah that would be a wise thing to do even if you're running a fence.    I think proper permits require a professional survey.

yeah my brother sold him the property,he took it upon himself to go permit less…blamed every one but him self…I still wonder what his plans for the floor were…lol…

[Nvreloader]

And something else to think about, if you have the space,
plan on putting a window so you can shoot down the range target area safely.

My second level has had that option on my 300 yds range, UNTILL the neighbors put their 10+ horse corral right in the middle of my range, (I had the written OK) to install the back stop on a very old high ditch bank.

Now I can only shoot my air guns...... towards the hay fields grrrrrrr.

[Tater]

And something else to think about, if you have the space,
plan on putting a window so you can shoot down the range target area safely.

My second level has had that option on my 300 yds range, UNTILL the neighbors put their 10+ horse corral right in the middle of my range, (I had the written OK) to install the back stop on a very old high ditch bank.

Now I can only shoot my air guns...... towards the hay fields grrrrrrr.

A shooting window or two would definitely be included. I still haven't found a place to look at some that are already built and see the different all types available.