Building a new workshop

[BobN]

I am planning to put up a new workshop, possibly this summer. I have been looking at the Stealmaster type free standing buildings. I can get a 25' x 34' building for around $3200.00 delivered. I will need to pour a footing and put in a floor. Does anyone have one of these buildings setup for a workshop and if so what do you think? I like the free span with about a 15" peak. I am in Connecticut and will be insulating and building my own end walls with lots of windows for natural light. The other area I am concerned with is the floor. I want a wooden floor for the shop and am looking at the cost of pouring a slab and putting down an overlay verses just framing in the floor without the slab. Also any suggestions about the inside walls? Will I have to put up side walls to support cabinets and shelves?
Bottom line is I'm trying to see if, in the long run it's cheaper to put one of these buildings up or stick build a shop. All comments are greatly appreciated.


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Bob Nazro
A Connecticut Yankee
BobN, ;-)
A Connecticut Yankee

[Danford C Jennings]

Bob,

I'm not all that familiar with Steelmaster. No end walls? Is this a post and beam type kit?

As to cost differential the only way to determine that would be to figure the material cost for a stick built of the same dimensions vs the cost of the Steelmaster plus the additional material costs.

As to foundation that cost can also vary a great deal depending on foundation type and mix. I'm not fond of metal shops, they aren't all that efficient in terms of insulating and climate control. In your climate vapor barriers will be an absolute with a metal building.

The least expensive foundation would, more than likely, be poured footings with concrete block, I'd guess that in your neck o' the woods the footings would have to be somewhere between 3 - 4 foot deep, your building department can tell you. This type of foundation would make it very easy to frame in for a wood floor and it should be vented. A "rat wall" slab is another good alternative with a single course of block or use "sleepers" for the wood floor.

In short, there are numerous ways to approach this project and my own personal preference would be not to have an unexcavated foundation under the floor. My own plans for my new shop call for a "rat wall" slab with a single course of concrete block with a framed in wood floor. This may seem to be overkill, but I am very adverse to having uninvited critters amoungst my work and stock....FWIW.

Dano

[BobN]

Dano,

These buildigs are a quanset type construction and I am pricing out several ways to put in the shop. I am leaning towards stick built 10' walls with engineered beams to keep the shop free spanned. I was just looking for someone who had one of these metal ones for some feedback.
Thanks for your input.
BobN, ;-)
A Connecticut Yankee

[Danford C Jennings]

Bob,

I see. Well, I can tell you that engineered beams (glue lams, mirco lams) will increase the cost quite a bit. On the other hand in checking my tables, 2 x 10 Doug Fir joists can clear span up to 26' 9" on 12" centers where the spans are limited by deflection and the dead load is assumed to be 40lbs per cu. ft. (weight of joist) and 10lbs per cu. ft. for lath and plaster ceiling...This would be considered minimum loading so the possibility of storeage would be nil.

For attic floor joists were a live load of 20lbs per sq. foot is used, maximum clear span for Doug Fir 2 x 12 on 12" centers is 23'6".

'Course your local codes may be different but worth checking into. FWIW.

Dano

[DaveZ]

Bob,

They have one of these at jobsite I work at and it is pretty neat, although kinda bright. Its all galvanized. Personally, I'd stickbuild even if it was a little more. Ok lets see we have 118 lin feet walls, which translates into 354 lin ft plates, 1250 lin ft of studs, 37 sheets 1/2" ply (wall), 18 roof trusses @24" O.C., 30 sheets 5/8" roof ply, 5 rolls #15 felt, 10 square roofing equals

$2380.36 in material, oops forgot the header for the big door or any other openings, lets call it $2500.00 material. Now we still gotta side this badboy(keep the wife and neighbors happy) Add another $1200.00 bringing us to $3700. Throw in another $200.00 for the "go fors" & "don't have 'em's"& the "didn't figure it's" and were at $3900.00. Hell, lets call it $4000.00.

Now the above building, will give you all that the steel package will and a little more, plus you can easily insulate it and screw stuff to the walls. Windows and doors are more practical as well.

DaveB