Morton Buildings Worth It??

[robot]

I don't recommend buying a Lester Bldg. at all, I bought one and just weeks ago had to pay an Amish Crew from Graber Bldgs. to come in and fix the mistakes and poor workmanship on it. I paid Lester Bldgs. extra to install dripstop on the house portion, but they shorted me on that, I also paid Lester extra to install 3/4" plywood on all exterior walls, but again they shorted me and they incorrectly engineered the exterior of my bldg. I dealt mainly with the Lester Regional Manager who provided me with one of their Lester Bldgs. Dealer/Builders from out of state saying he did "Good Work", which turned out to be a lie. It took this Lester Dealer less than ten days to build my building and then he left town, but before he did he told me that if he had to come back for any reason it would be a $500 minimum. Just weeks later we had our first rain, at which time I noticed that I had 25 leaks in my roof, I had puddles all over inside my bldg., well I wasn't going to pay this Lester Dealer to come back and fix his screw-ups so I got on the roof and fixed them myself and what I found was that this Lester Dealer had installed the roof screws missing the roof purlins and some screws were too short. It took me two days to fix this problem.
It took me two years to finish and move into my Lester Bldg. at which time we started noticing more serious problems, to the point that I finally called in an Amish Crew to check out my bldg., who found several problems, but before I paid them to fix my Lester Bldg. I first called out the Lester Bldgs. Regional Manager and asked for help. This Lester Manager was shocked at my bldg. problems, but after he spoke with Lester Bldgs. Upper Management he told me that Lester Bldgs. doesn't feel any responsibility for my "Building Issues" and will not be helping me. I then asked Lester Bldgs. if they could at least give me a discount on the soffit materials that I need to fix my bldg., which totaled around $2,500, and again they said no. So at that point I paid them Amish Crew to come in and fix my Lester Bldg. and the following is what they found: 8 Roof Purlins not nailed at all, they actually pulled one up and out to show me, which would explain why on windy nights it sounded like my roof was going to blow off. A lot of my soffit only had one staple holding it on and when the staples tried going thru the steel they bent only allowing 3/8" to go into the facia board, which would explain the rattling we were hearing. Lester also used vented soffit on the gable ends which should have been solid soffit. Gaps/Openings in the roof valleys where wind was blowing in and had blown my attic insulation away in that area, cold wind was also finding its way into my furnace plentum/duct work, I'm sure rain had to be coming in too. Facia boards barely on the trusses and nails missing the truss, we had to sister nailers on the sides of some trusses. Facia cover not cut to fit properly causing the ends to dip down an inch on the ends. 2 bird blocks not installed, but the ones that were installed were not nailed at all, I personally screwed every one of them off myself. This Lester Bldgs. Dealer/Builders name is C&C Construction, Willis Childress is the owner and he definitely did poor workmanship on my bldg., but Lester Bldgs. is who recommended him to me and Lester Bldgs. shorted me on roof dripstop and exterior 3/4" plywood and incorrectly engineered the exterior of my bldg., but Lester Bldgs. doesn't feel any responsibility for what they call my "Bldg. Issues", and for that reason I would not recommend anyone buying a Lester Building.

 

[EddieWalker]

The problem with a national chain is that they rely on the great crews to build their reputation and they are slow to replace or get rid of their bad ones who are making them money, but hurting their name. You will find this with any of the companies out there. You might be in the area where there is a great crew. Only way to find out is to go talk to some of their references and personally look at what they did. Sadly, most people who hire out work to be done by contractors do not know enough about the basics of building structures to even know what to look for in their buildings. It's sad for me because I see things that they thought where great and didn't have a clue how poorly it was done. Just because it's still standing does not mean it was done right or the best materials where used. To be competitive, those nation wide chains have learned how to cut corners in both materials and speed to get them finished. Time is more expensive them materials and it's usually where the problems come from.

Having said all that, you could also have the same issues with a local crew. I've found that guys in the trades around here tend to be drunks, drug addicts or gamblers. They show up for work, but only to get paid and then go party. Some have an amazing gift and can do awesome work. Others are barely able to function and are there because of friendship or nobody else will show up.

My advice when looking for somebody to build something is to talk to at least five contractors and promise yourself not to hire one of them until you have spoken to all five. More is even better if you have that option. Then talk to their references and ask to see their buildings. While most will give you a reference of somebody that they have done a great job for, you will be surprised how many contractors wont give references and how many don't realize how upset their clients are with them.

Know what to look for. Straight walls, tight fitting boards, proper headers and everything lined up evenly. Even better if you can go see a job in progress. Look for how organized they are and what type of mess they make. Both indicate how nicely the building will turn out and if they will hide problems or cut corners.

Eddie

 

[iplumb]

Sorry about bringing up an old thread. But has anybody in Michigan built a barn lately? I found this thread from a Google search about Morton reviews...Pretty funny. I was considering getting a price from them, but now I not so sure.

 

[robot]

I don't have any experience with Morton buildings, all I can tell you is how poorly my Lester Building experience was. I've had some people say that it all depends on the crew that puts your building up and its not the company's(Lester Buildings) fault. Well that's not true in my case. Yes, the Lester Building Dealer/Builder did a poor job on my building, but it was the Lester Building Company themselves that did not give me what I asked for and paid for. I paid them to apply dripstop to all of the house portion of my Lester Building, but they shorted me on part of that area. I had to pay a spray foam company to spray that area. When Lester Buildings heard my complaint, they immediately said it was the garage areas that I didn't pay for dripstop on, but I had to correct them and tell them that I was not talking about the garage areas, it was the house portion that they shorted me on and when I re-explained it to their district manager he then understood and couldn't believe it. I also, paid Lester Bldgs. for 3/4" plywood on all exterior areas of my building, but they only ran it up to the bottom of the soffit, which allowed cold area to run down my walls. It was also Lester Buildings who provided me with their Lester Dealer/Builder advising that he did good work, but ended up doing poor workmanship on my building, and guess what, the last time I checked this Builder was still a Lester Buildings Dealer/Builder. I found that Lester didn't care that their Dealer/Builder did the poor workmanship on my building. So now, when ever anyone asks me about pole buildings I immediately tell them to go to the Amish. Thats who corrected the problems with my Lester Building. The Amish company that I used was Graber Buildings from the Amish country of Illinois and their the ones that pointed out purlins in my building that weren't even nailed, they actually pulled one of the loose purlins up and out to show me. There were 8 roof purlins that didn't have even one nail in them, they were just set in the hanger and the roof metal put over them. The Amish care about their workmanship, so my recommendation to you is find an Amish crew to build your building. Don't worry about them living too far away from you either, mine were well over an hour away, but didn't mind finding their way to my location.

 

[iplumb]

Thanks for your input! Where is your Amish crew out of? I'm considering this. Has anybody had an Amish crew build for them in Michigan?

 

[WM75Guy]

Morton built our stables. They are not cheap but to us it was worth the cost. Going on 6 years without any issues.

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

We have a Morton building, 25 years now, no problem. Farrowed pigs, freshened cows and goats, had horses, good ventilation, no rust, no leaks. Withstood blizzards and hurricanes.

 

[hutchman]

Morton built our stables. They are not cheap but to us it was worth the cost. Going on 6 years without any issues.

View attachment 438653

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Very nice! I could live in that!

 

[hutchman]

The problem with a national chain is that they rely on the great crews to build their reputation and they are slow to replace or get rid of their bad ones who are making them money, but hurting their name. You will find this with any of the companies out there. You might be in the area where there is a great crew. Only way to find out is to go talk to some of their references and personally look at what they did. Sadly, most people who hire out work to be done by contractors do not know enough about the basics of building structures to even know what to look for in their buildings. It's sad for me because I see things that they thought where great and didn't have a clue how poorly it was done. Just because it's still standing does not mean it was done right or the best materials where used. To be competitive, those nation wide chains have learned how to cut corners in both materials and speed to get them finished. Time is more expensive them materials and it's usually where the problems come from.

Having said all that, you could also have the same issues with a local crew. I've found that guys in the trades around here tend to be drunks, drug addicts or gamblers. They show up for work, but only to get paid and then go party. Some have an amazing gift and can do awesome work. Others are barely able to function and are there because of friendship or nobody else will show up.

My advice when looking for somebody to build something is to talk to at least five contractors and promise yourself not to hire one of them until you have spoken to all five. More is even better if you have that option. Then talk to their references and ask to see their buildings. While most will give you a reference of somebody that they have done a great job for, you will be surprised how many contractors wont give references and how many don't realize how upset their clients are with them.

Know what to look for. Straight walls, tight fitting boards, proper headers and everything lined up evenly. Even better if you can go see a job in progress. Look for how organized they are and what type of mess they make. Both indicate how nicely the building will turn out and if they will hide problems or cut corners.

Eddie

I wish I lived close to Eddie ... I'd have him build my place!

 

[japody]

I wish I lived close to Eddie ... I'd have him build my place!

Maybe we can get him to come to Virginia to do two jobs?

 

[hutchman]

Maybe we can get him to come to Virginia to do two jobs?

+1!

 

[robot]

There here in Illinois and the name of the company is Graber Buildings, but you should have amish in Michigan too. I can't say enough about the way they care about their workmanship. Hope that helps a little.

 

[iplumb]

There here in Illinois and the name of the company is Graber Buildings, but you should have amish in Michigan too. I can't say enough about the way they care about their workmanship. Hope that helps a little.

Thanks

 

[73blazer]

Sorry about bringing up an old thread. But has anybody in Michigan built a barn lately? I found this thread from a Google search about Morton reviews...Pretty funny. I was considering getting a price from them, but now I not so sure.

Morton just finished our building. Sales was from the Brown City office. I can say without a doubt, it is a very quality building. Mines a 30x53x10 with a 4/12 roof with a 26' double slider on one of the '53 walls. cold storage building. They used a mammoth steel header for the door opening, was not expecting that. I opted for all SS screws, concrete lower poles for just a few hundred bucks more. Just outstanding quality. Perfectly straight, super strong, doors work like butter, trim work is second to none. I actually visited the Morton factory in Kenton, OH where most of lower MI stuff comes from. I can say, as an engineer, I was extremely impressed. Everything that can be done ahead of time, is done, at the factory. Truss brackets are their own from raw steel, cut and shelved for when your trusses are put together. Many holes pre-drilled. Trim work matches steel contours, no gaps, once concrete floor is in ,it'll be a sealed deal. Poles are pressed and fastened, and chamfered at the lower to meet the concrete column bracket, at the factory. No problem with sales, crew was awesome, kept the site super clean. Yes, they had the radio on...can you blame them...I would too if I was building it. They cover the materials when they drop them off, nothing sitting in water or getting soak in rain for a mabey days to weeks it takes a crew to show up. I think a huge advantage is the building is engineered. If you want insulated, the whole design changes, more trusses, poles are closer..etc. But, just little things everywhere, roof panels have a sprayed on felt like material on them on the back-side. This prevents any flash condensation from dripping. Just, attention to details, everywhere.

That all said...what I started with was a workshop I could put my auto lift in, fully insulated, 12' walls and a 6/12 roof with 3/12 interior chord. But since the friggen township wanted bribes to build a 21' building, in the middle of nowhere mine you (there's no reason for a height restriction, I'm not within 500' from anyone, including a road)..but anyway, long story short, there is a height restriction and they wouldn't grant me a variance, so I had to change the building. Do I need this level of quality is what will be essentially a cold storage building? Probably not. FOr a fully insulated finished metal interior, I think they were fully worth the cost. But I think, for what I ended up with, essentially just barn I'm gonna park stuff in, like cars and a tractor I could have save several K with some effort into finding a local contractor who cares. But, you can't beat a Morton. That thing is solid as heck!

 

[catgo22]

We're about to find out. 60x80x15 delivered Monday. In Illinois. Rep was great to work with.

 

[catgo22]

Got the idea from member on here "Beavis" (Thanks) for a Morton Building with an apartment inside. Counties in central Illinois are becoming more tolerant of this kind of "summer home"...

 

[varmint]

Just ran across this thread... let me start by saying that I was a 56 year old semi-retired architect, with a fair amount of building experience, including wood work and boat building, when we had our Morton building (just 24' x 32', but insulated, finished inside and heated) erected in 2001. I thought about designing the shop, and having contractors build it, but being new to the area, and too well experienced in the iffy nature of good vs. bad contractors, like Eddie noted earlier, I checked into the area's pole barn builders, and really liked what I learned about Morton's product. The crew that put up the building, which impressed me with material and engineering design choices, could not have been better in terms of care and accuracy. Their conc. sub, and excavation sub, were first class professionals. In the 14 years since, I have zero complaints or concerns about the building, its construction or the materials used. If it were destroyed, I would replace it without changing a thing, other than make it bigger.

 

[Redneck in training]

We have two of them. The first we built in 2004 was converted to our dwelling and the second built two years ago is my shop. Just looking at the boards the trusses are made from gives you sense of attention to quality. They are more expensive than competition but I think they are worth the money.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

We're about to find out. 60x80x15 delivered Monday. In Illinois. Rep was great to work with.

Keep the pics coming

 

[varmint]

Redneck... looked at you PV link, and was blown away to notice you have 96 panels (or, at least 96 micro inverters) that's quite a system if installed on a residence! Good for you.