Garage Kits Metal vs. Wood? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

kozaz · 07-29-2004, 08:15 AM

Been researching ideas for a garage, the metal garages are half the price of Wood ones. Just wondering if anybody owns one or can give me some ideas on what to look for?

Metal
So far I'm looking at a metal one that is 24Dx36Lx10H. It is $6800.00 Not including fondation.

Wood
In comparisoin. Tuff Shed had a 24Dx30L for $16000.00. Did not include windows, foundation, or garage door installation.

Any advice would be appreciated.

d.d.machine · 07-29-2004, 08:49 AM

I put up a 30'x40'x13' pole building 2 years ago and what a pain in the butt they are to stick up, I have done 20+ wood building and they never took half the time this thang did,, Every thang on a pole building starts at the top and goes down for the most part you spend ALL your time moving a ladder around. Even with a boom truck and a fork lift it was a biach. I would NEVER do a pole building agion... But I do like it and would buy one and have them put it up next time,,,, P.S. mine is a off white color and it stays vary nice and cool in the summer ... like 40* less than the same size bark wood building next to it.

CSP · 07-29-2004, 11:18 PM

Check into what kind of foundation you have to have for one vs the other. Depending on soil conditions, you may have to use caissons with a steel frame building. The same location may only require 3-4ft concrete piers or even no concrete at all for a wood frame.

The thing I don't like about metal frames is the need to run all of your electrical in conduit. With wood you just drill holes and pull romex through them to boxes nailed to the frame.

F-Trooper · 07-30-2004, 06:31 AM

it all depends on what you expect from the finished
product. metal will be cheaper & easier to construct,
but your limited to finish choices as opposed to a stick
built garage. i worked construction in mesa(AZ) for about
5yrs. so you'll have expansive soil issues to deal with.
i would recomend a floating slab, no less than 6" thick,
and code will require wire reinforcement or better. you
may have HOA's to deal with too. if you plan on building
on the sly.....good luck, i know of @ least one shop that
had to be taken down, so do your research & get it right
the first time. you may not have a choice in your neigh-
bor, depending on what part of mesa your in. with heat
being a factor also, you'll acheive a higher r-value(insulation)
with a stick built if you plan on spending alot of time in it.
what is the garage going to be used for? i prefer metal
buildings for a full on shop because i like the utilitarian
aspect, low maintenance, larger span, & easier to revise
or repair, & most importantly- cost.

as for brands (metal), & more info- do a search here & online. i'd
recommend reading Camo's current build-up.

07-29-2004, 08:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
kozaz Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9311 Location: Mesa Arizona Posts: 278	Garage Kits Metal vs. Wood? Been researching ideas for a garage, the metal garages are half the price of Wood ones. Just wondering if anybody owns one or can give me some ideas on what to look for? Metal So far I'm looking at a metal one that is 24Dx36Lx10H. It is $6800.00 Not including fondation. Wood In comparisoin. Tuff Shed had a 24Dx30L for $16000.00. Did not include windows, foundation, or garage door installation. Any advice would be appreciated.

07-30-2004, 06:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
F-Trooper Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24554 Location: Tennessee Posts: 116	it all depends on what you expect from the finished product. metal will be cheaper & easier to construct, but your limited to finish choices as opposed to a stick built garage. i worked construction in mesa(AZ) for about 5yrs. so you'll have expansive soil issues to deal with. i would recomend a floating slab, no less than 6" thick, and code will require wire reinforcement or better. you may have HOA's to deal with too. if you plan on building on the sly.....good luck, i know of @ least one shop that had to be taken down, so do your research & get it right the first time. you may not have a choice in your neigh- bor, depending on what part of mesa your in. with heat being a factor also, you'll acheive a higher r-value(insulation) with a stick built if you plan on spending alot of time in it. what is the garage going to be used for? i prefer metal buildings for a full on shop because i like the utilitarian aspect, low maintenance, larger span, & easier to revise or repair, & most importantly- cost. as for brands (metal), & more info- do a search here & online. i'd recommend reading Camo's current build-up. __________________ Band member Support Group- Free "Snow Trooper" in 2006. Last edited by F-Trooper; 07-30-2004 at 04:33 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-29-2004, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
d.d.machine Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11168 Location: Poulsbo WA Posts: 1,166	I put up a 30'x40'x13' pole building 2 years ago and what a pain in the butt they are to stick up, I have done 20+ wood building and they never took half the time this thang did,, Every thang on a pole building starts at the top and goes down for the most part you spend ALL your time moving a ladder around. Even with a boom truck and a fork lift it was a biach. I would NEVER do a pole building agion... But I do like it and would buy one and have them put it up next time,,,, P.S. mine is a off white color and it stays vary nice and cool in the summer ... like 40* less than the same size bark wood building next to it.

07-29-2004, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
CSP Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Member # 1533 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 2,779	Check into what kind of foundation you have to have for one vs the other. Depending on soil conditions, you may have to use caissons with a steel frame building. The same location may only require 3-4ft concrete piers or even no concrete at all for a wood frame. The thing I don't like about metal frames is the need to run all of your electrical in conduit. With wood you just drill holes and pull romex through them to boxes nailed to the frame.