How hard is it to assemble a quonset hut type bldg

[Gumby6]

Steve,

I just purchased and erected a 30x40 "A" type building just as you describe. Have a seat sir...I paid 5200 delivered to my property. Explanation, original quote was over 8000, squeezed salesman with other quotes and he dropped price to his "rock bottom offer". No one else could even match this price.

Details...

Appearance:
I purchased this unit without endwalls. For similar reason as those expressed in this thread. I wanted the added volume, ease of maintenance, and strength/durability these structures offer, but also wanted to have it blend with the my existing structures.
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Answer...stick built endwalls utilizing grey cedar siding to match my home. The front end wall faces my house, one long side faces down the hill (forested) and the other side runs along a cut into my hill (read not really visible). Standard roll up and pre hung doors can be installed and it will look like any other structure, only metal roof has a greater corrugation than the standard.

I have included a picture to show the structure just after arches were erected and grouted into the concrete channels in slab.

Labor:
I hired a contractor to erect this as I did not have the time to DIY. All in all, it took 2 people about 60 hours to fully install, and grout. I was involved during the first 2 days and can see time savings just in creating assembly zones and procedures not fully explained in the manual. Builder did not have a tall enough scaffold to fully support the arches while erecting and this added time as more handling and bracing was required than should be necessary with the right equipment. They did not have a loader to use either.

I believe the mfrs 40 hour estimate could be met in ideal situations. Figuring to double the manuals estimate is a safe bet.

I chose the concrete channel method to construct, saving the additional cost of a steel channel. I found that all the manufacturers offer these steel channels, both a residential and a commercial version at additional cost...both costs worked out much higher than just designing the channel into the slab.

I would be happy to answer more detailed questions by PM or can send additional photos for your reference.

Gary

 

[stevenf]

Gumby6, That really does look nice to me, you got a great price on yours was it US Steel or someone else? I did notice one thing in your picture that maybe is just the shot I own a business that is in a 35' X 100' building so I was guessing at the size I'd want based on 3 cars easily parked side by side and some 2 deep in bad weather plus room for my tractor. Your building looks awful small for what I intend to do maybe I should go up to 40 x 60. Also do you think its necessary to have a concrete floor, I plan on putting implements and all in it eventually once I get my house built and I'd probably destroy a regular garage thickness slab unless it was built for commercial use which puts me out of the game from lack of funds. I figured I could just do beams on either side to support the load with a channel in it as you describe.
Steve

 

[Gumby6]

Steve,

You can definitely build this without the concrete floor and pour later if needed and funds allow. Pouring beams (footers) for the arches to sit and be grouted into at the very least. I would pour all four sides though, with the larger footers on the supporting sides. that could bring the cost down significantly for startup. I used 3500 PSI fiber reinforced mix with rebar crossing throughout. 4" minimum slab thickness in field and 24x16 footers. The footers were over designed in case I ever replace this workshop with another home (say it ain't so). The slab contractor said it would easily support my PSD Excursion without damage and he came with great references from the local builders supply so I figure he knows. I told him that Ex weighed 8000 pounds empty and he didn't blink an eye. But you be the judge when you make the call.

The picture really doesn't do this structure justice. That is 14.5 feet tall at the peak and it is all open and usable volume. 8.5 feet tall at the sidewall bend.

You can work the square footage requirements for your needs. Remember that the wider the structure is the more difficult the erection will be. The arches have little support until bolted one to another. But once that is done this thing is a solid. also if you don't need the added height at center, I would go with greater length. This structure can be extended quite easily by just adding arches, endwalls if built properly can be moved as well. It truly is a modular design.

I built mine primarily as a workshop. Woodworking, metal, and equipment storage. I figured 1200 sqft was a good start /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Hard to justify anything larger at this time. Guess I have to buy more tools for that. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

At 14.5 feet tall I plan to add a small office loft in the center above shop floor. Space for a desk, computer with cadcam software for my cnc lathe and mill, oh...and satellite TV. The standard stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Yeah, I'm gonna live the dream. My place to putter away my retirement. MY TC30 HST, Woods FEL, Rear remote arrives just after Christmas...it's been a good year.

I had that floor polished during install, it's like glass.

Gary

 

[james04]

Gumby,

I know this is an old post. But what manufacture building was this? USSteel?

James

 

[jdtractor]

hi i bought a 30x50 steelmaster A building ,and im begining to wonder if i did the right thing. it was delivered in january of this year ,i havent had a chance to start anything about this building yet except to try and keep it covered from the elements , which is a pia, windy,rainy s-----for weather,we have had too much rain tor me i cant get anything done except complain about this lousy weather here in southwestern pa.i think all of us need abreak with the crazy weather all over the country.the building i was talking about im regreting buying is because after looking into the blue prints etc ... there is too much work involved to make any fast construction of this building. they say 3-4 days with 3-4 men,people,to build they dont put into the fact foundation etc etc they tell you what you want to here, i didnt believe it then and i definetly dont now. i wish i had went with the tarp building i was considering before this came along , my cousin and brother have the same style , bragging how nice but they dont talk about the work to build it,time is money and money is time. a dealer i know said they could build me a tarp building same size approx complete in a few days and alot faster. it would have 4ft kick boards and tarp roof with 1 end built in etc... i wish i had talked to him first. im not completely sold on these buildings (my opinion) they are fire proof etc but the building of these buildings makes me wonder if the time is worth it.too many bolts and too much labor for me . i might sell it and go for tarp instead .( they are well overated the steel buildings from my point of view.)

 

[james04]

hi i bought a 30x50 steelmaster A building ,and im begining to wonder if i did the right thing. it was delivered in january of this year ,i havent had a chance to start anything about this building yet except to try and keep it covered from the elements , which is a pia, windy,rainy s-----for weather,we have had too much rain tor me i cant get anything done except complain about this lousy weather here in southwestern pa.i think all of us need abreak with the crazy weather all over the country.the building i was talking about im regreting buying is because after looking into the blue prints etc ... there is too much work involved to make any fast construction of this building. they say 3-4 days with 3-4 men,people,to build they dont put into the fact foundation etc etc they tell you what you want to here, i didnt believe it then and i definetly dont now. i wish i had went with the tarp building i was considering before this came along , my cousin and brother have the same style , bragging how nice but they dont talk about the work to build it,time is money and money is time. a dealer i know said they could build me a tarp building same size approx complete in a few days and alot faster. it would have 4ft kick boards and tarp roof with 1 end built in etc... i wish i had talked to him first. im not completely sold on these buildings (my opinion) they are fire proof etc but the building of these buildings makes me wonder if the time is worth it.too many bolts and too much labor for me . i might sell it and go for tarp instead .( they are well overated the steel buildings from my point of view.)

JD,

How much was the 30x50? Did it come with end walls? I am trying to get an idea on what these are going for. I looking into getting a 30x30. It seems the salesmen will try and get you for all they can. If you don't know what to expect. Let me guess. Yours was on clearance and you saved it from the auction block.

 

[jdtractor]

the price they quoated me was well into the 20s including tax and delivery and yes it was at the end of the yr, sale time it has 2 end walls and a man door ,with allowance for an 8ft x16ft overhead door (i have to purchase the doors yet) they are slick about telling you what you want to here they want to sell them . good luck

 

[james04]

the price they quoated me was well into the 20s including tax and delivery and yes it was at the end of the yr, sale time it has 2 end walls and a man door ,with allowance for an 8ft x16ft overhead door (i have to purchase the doors yet) they are slick about telling you what you want to here they want to sell them . good luck

I was trying to find out what you paid. Well into the $20K is full retail. They are never sold for that. Well maybe to uncle Sam. I am guessing less than $10K. Likely closer to $7K. Since they frequently claim 30 cents on the dollar.

 

[RHughes]

I've been considering one of these, or something like it, for a farm shop; probably in the 30x50 or 30x60 range. How difficult is it to wire one of these buildings for power?

 

[grsthegreat]

all i know from quanset hut style structures is this....

two winters ago our record snowfall crushed about 20+ buildings here in north idaho......several were full steel buildings...all steel beams,gurters,etc, there were a few pole barns, the rest were quanset huts. Alot of quanset huts collapsed.

i thought the quanset huts would shed the snow better than they did. but with 110" snowfall, they collapsed.