How hard is it to assemble a quonset hut type bldg

[freebird914]

I just bought a hut which was never assembled just wonderi ng if anyone has instructions they can share 24by32. Thanks

 

[MotorSeven]

Here ya go Freebird:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/97429-truth-about-arched-steel-buildings.html


I would build another one in a heartbeat. James is right, a 30x50 should not cost over $8K delivered. Yes there is labor involved, but if you do it yourself, you can save about $20K off the price of a stick built steel building installed by the mfg. My buddie just got a quote for $45K for a 40x60 stick built steel building, that's on a slab with doors and no insulation or wiring. The same building done by the owner should run $25K on a slab with wiring.

 

[freebird914]

The hut i just bought is a 32 by 24 we believe. What i an doing is cover a pool that has been filled in. We aregoing to put a deck where the 16 by 32 pool was. I have the basic concept down our includes the end piece. Will proably ask questions as i go. Thanks forthe reply. I am glad i found this site i see lots of greaat information.

 

[cmyoung2]

Freebird, I could scan the instructions for a US Steel building if you can't get a set from the manufactor. Mine is 25x40, I built the endwalls. THe big thing on these buildings is to make SURE that the foundation is level and square or there will be problems lining up bolt holes. Don't tighten the bolts until you are finished, same reason. Anchoring and grouting is critical for strenght, I used the big groove method instead of the metal plate. I used scaffolding on wheels, my floor was already poured. I put up the first three bows by my self, just to see if old hardhead could do it. Yes you can, no I would not recommend it. Having put up one, I would not hesitate on another.

 

[freebird914]

cmyoung2 Thanks I may take you up on the offer, I can't find anything to ID who made this bldging may not be looking in the right spot, Will look again tomorrow when I actually have time... Thanks

 

[mojoinco]

I went to help a buddy with putting his together. He got to where he didn't tighten the arches up too much until they were attached to the building (after assembling countless projects, it seems like a reasonable thing to do to me).

He and his Dad had a system going, so I ended up doing more watching than anything. Seems like a great investment in a couple of 3/8" impact or air wrenches. Maybe even just a couple of 1/4" butterfly impacts. I think having a team of 2-4 wouldn't make it too bad.

Layout the ground frame in advance, then spend a weekend in getting the first couple of arches up and supported, scaffolding figured out, then the next weekend have the crew start early and get two good days in. I would think the lions share of work would be done then.

This was probably largely covered by those that have done the whole thing, but I didn't have time to read the whole post.

 

[MotorSeven]

I went to help a buddy with putting his together. He got to where he didn't tighten the arches up too much until they were attached to the building (after assembling countless projects, it seems like a reasonable thing to do to me).

He and his Dad had a system going, so I ended up doing more watching than anything. Seems like a great investment in a couple of 3/8" impact or air wrenches. Maybe even just a couple of 1/4" butterfly impacts. I think having a team of 2-4 wouldn't make it too bad.

Layout the ground frame in advance, then spend a weekend in getting the first couple of arches up and supported, scaffolding figured out, then the next weekend have the crew start early and get two good days in. I would think the lions share of work would be done then.

This was probably largely covered by those that have done the whole thing, but I didn't have time to read the whole post.

Yes, finger tight only at first because it will need some flex as you add arches. We went back and tightened all 5,000 nuts and bolts using battery operated drills. That took 2 days and you need 3 drills minimum, when one gets hot, grab another while it cools.

A tractor with a boom makes life easy, build an arch, sling it, pick it up with the boom, drive down the building, lower and hold in place while the first bolts get put in place, unhook & repeat.

One big thing, I know the companys all recommend the "trough" method to keep prices down. Pour a footer with a 6" trough in it, set the ends of the panels in the trough and backfill with concrete. This is cheaper, but think about this for a min. Galvalume metal in direct contact with concrete...how long before it corrodes? I have seen older buildings corroding at the junction with the conctete. I highly recommend buying the Industrial Base Plate. This goes on top of a flat footer and mates to the arch bases...no panel metal touching concrete. The cost is about 10% of the building and well worth it to me.

If it is really windy, don't even attempt to set arches....they will catch in the wind and pretzel. Two men and a boy will take a week to get a 30x50 up...the more workers you have the faster it will go.

 

[freebird914]

Thanks for the advice, Here's my dilema, I found this building at a really good price, on pallets and never assemblied. I want to cover my pool the pool is within 6 inches of being filled and build a wood floor on top like a deck, Since The concrete is already poured I am debating how to continue? I have the channels for the side was going to drill concrete and mount channel to concrete and then fill in channel with concrete once its built. I am open to suggestions Money is tight and need a shop to make more money... Also I was going to build a deck using 2 by 8 by 16 planks any comments suggestions Thanks

 

[Taylortractornut]

My frien that builds our dumpsters built a 50by75 The Channel was going to add 4500 to te cost. The company that sold the building was wantint to send a concrete company to do this for 8k more. He wouldnt have this so he had the floor poured and thenwent to the print for the overall wall width. He welded 3by4 1/4 angel and made his 2 side and end rails. He assembled the first arch and pulled it up with a rope. Then then drilled through the angle using the buildings holes fo a template. the second arch took some doing. He bought a huge scissor lift from a scrapper and reworked it in a few days which was amazing.


He would rest the top arch on the hand rails, then bolt on another panel per side, then would raise it up another section, andtill it got all the way up. When it had all the sections on it he would drive it into place and then bolt it on. Then he got to doing 4 sections at a time. When it was bolted all together and tightened and he borrowed my mixer and grouted in the section from the angle to the building on an angle toshed water.

Hes had the building up about 5 years now and still theres a bolt or 2 missing. cordless drivers and 3/8s impacts are a handy thing to have.

 

[MotorSeven]

Fb if you have the channel, then just spray or paint something on the ends of the arches so concrete does not touch metal. Even a paint designed for metal would help it last many more years and it won't cost a bundle.

Why not just bring in some gravel & top the pool off? That is cheaper than building a deck.