18x24 carport on slab? or pole building?

oldboyscout · Oct 31, 2011

I desperately need a place to start storing some stuff and am on a seriously tight budget. I was thinking about pouring a slab and having one of those $700 steel carports put on it for now, with the idea of eventually adding walls.
should I consider a pole building instead? I know I'm going to hit ledge in some spots a couple feet down.
I'd appreciate anyones experience along these lines.

johnrex62 · Oct 31, 2011

I would expect that the carport will ultimately be too small for a final solution. I plan on putting up a carport on dirt floor for my interim solution. I am currently displacing my cars from their carport for my tractor and radial saw. I need to move them, but would really need two 18x24 carports for my tractor, saw, trailer and odds and ends.

I don't see you being satisfied with the carport for long term in terms of storage space.

oldboyscout · Oct 31, 2011

I know the size is small, but there's no way I can go much bigger. I need space for my small tractor, workbench, mower, welder, some shelves, and some open space to work in. Implements will stay outside. I won't be getting a larger tractor unless I move.
Also, I know if I build a huge barn, I'll just keep getting more crap to fill it with, and I'm at the point that I really don't want more stuff to deal with.

johnrex62 · Oct 31, 2011

My L3700 takes as much space as a car, with the fel and rotary mower attached it takes the full length of the bay. I have a 10" Radial saw and it takes the full width of the other bay to give me room to operate it. That leaves me enough room for a 4' wide shelf, a small air compressor and the Troybilt Horse tiller and push mower wedged in the cracks. Everything else is outside and I have a narrow walk path down the middle. Not comfortable for working unless I pull the mowers and compressor out.

I don't have much winter to protect things from and a roof is enough for most of our rainstorms and strong sunlight. I plan on starting with a single 18x24 on the dirt and adding another in a year or so. I haven't decided on the concrete floor yet, am leaning against just due to cost and the fact I don't do a lot of mechanic work. For the few times I do any work that a hard floor would benefit, I am thinking of rigging a couple sheets of 3/4 plywood to lay down to work ontop of. It would only be as needed and not exposed to the ground often.

Gary Fowler · Oct 31, 2011

I wouldnt go less than 20 feet wide for double car port and preferable 24 x 24. That way you can later park 2 cars in it if you want without banging the sides with the doors. I dont think it would cost much more for the extra 6 feet of width. Regardless of whether or not you want more "junk" to store, you will invariably get more so you may as well plan ahead a bit. Check pricing for difference in cost for the larger area. You may be able to swing it now.
I built a 30 x 52 shop/boat storage building 2 years ago and have outgrown it so l am getting ready to put a 14 x 30 shed on the back to move my boat into so I have more working room inside the shop. That is a little more work than I care to take on due to my age and health so I am awaiting on a quote from the contractor who built my shop originally to see how much the damage is going to be. I will go cheap on this phase and not insulate the walls, seal the interior or wire it but will spring for concrete floor. I think I can piggy back onto the existing electrical for lights and receptacles later. My son is an electrician, so I just have to con him into coming for a visit.

Will_C · Oct 31, 2011

You are spending some decent money on a concrete slab. My thought is that you can put up your poles and roofing for a pole barn and have the same structure as a carport-essentially you would have a carport, but one you can side, add doors and windows, and electricity as the budget allows.

Will

grsthegreat · Oct 31, 2011

dont know what kind of a budget your on, but personally where i live (Idaho) I see those portable sheds either collapse or blow apart in the winters here. Back in the day (1996) i had a 30x40 shop installed, with slab, and a loan of $90.00 / month. was cheap in my minds eye. A 10x5 closet in the storage yard rented for more.

You could always check on having a contractor set the posts and add some braces and a roof now, add the walls and slab some other time.

oldboyscout · Oct 31, 2011

the carports I'm talking about aren't the portable ones- but the square steel tube framing with steel roofing and bracing- they are snow rated and seem to hold up around here.
I'm looking at around $1200 installed (in a day), not including a slab.
Not sure how that compares to poles and roof of similar size, aside from labor.

handirifle · Nov 1, 2011

If it were me, and I were in your shoes, I would get a larger one, have concrete footings, only, poured for the metal framing, and lay a crushed rock floor, until I could later afford the concrete.

More square footage is ALWAYS better, especially if you are using it for storage AND a workshop. I have an 18x18 carport, like you describe, for my tractor, mowers, 12ft aluminum boat, and a few assorted other things. I also built a 24x30 stick frame workshop. The workshop and the carport are already crowded and I do not keep buying things.
You do not want to trip over stored items, just to work on some honey-do project.
The unmentioned advantage to a larger carport, is that you do not have to remove half of whats in there to get to what you need to use.

Soundguy · Nov 1, 2011

if on a budget, then how about the carport and gravel, retain t he gravel with a form board. you always can go back in an pour a floor if needed / add sides.. etc.

soundguy