Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

Thats' what stimulus money will do

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

However inflation is computed it does not have a large building stuff component to it.

I am closely following lumber prices because I have a Rails to Trails bridge to build requiring 20,000 bd ft of lumber. Wholesale lumber tripled from a year ago, collapsed last November and then rebounded to nearly as high as before. Futured prices for June are lower.

The problem is mill capacity is not up to demand.

Look Up

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

Pole Barn builders in your area, Virgil. I saved more than 60K building my new 24x40x10 shop. True, I did the electric, HVAC and the interior walls (1/2" ply), but they did roof, insulation, steel ceiling, windows, garage door, T&G cedar siding to match my house, and concrete floor.

Re: Look Up

Virgil Johnson

I'll check but I don't think this will work with my lot. My area for the shop is on an inlcline and the rear wall has to be 24" below grade to make the slab just above my driveway.

Same Here

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

We had to cut into the bank 3 feet with a 4' wide swale for the entire west end and 20' of the North side. We put in twin lines of drain tile and the stone "pad" was 6" above the swale level that has 18" of 2" stone.

Shop is dry as old bone even through some 5" rainfalls.

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

al morgan

Pole barn was the way to go for me too. Detached 24 x 32 with concrete floor and 2 garage doors cost 15k about 10 years ago. I did the site prep (ie. flattening the area). The boys came and put it up in 2 days. Did a beautiful job. Only mistake I made was not to get a two story section on it. Also, should have put in a gas heating system in. Look up a reputable pole barn company, I lived in NJ but had to go to Pennsylvania (Lancaster) to find one...did a nice job though.

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga. *LINK*

JL

Have you looked up Morton Buildings?

They did the parish hall for our church.

Look at the examples on their website.


Morton

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

Mark Nowicki

I am assuming, since you are looking for bids or quotes, you have a set of blueprints, excavation details , lot plan, etc., that you submitted to the contractors you invited to bid.

Usually not a requirement, but knowing the budget ahead helps the contractor decide if they want to quote.

Be your own contractor?

John K Jordan

Have you thought about building it yourself? I don't know what's allowed in your area but if it's possible, you can save a tremendous amount of money. Might take a lot longer, though.

I spent a couple of years building my shop. I had the equipment to do the grading and all myself but even if you paid someone to do that you would be far ahead. I acted as a contractor and hired people to pour/surface the concrete and put up the trusses/roof but I did everything else myself from concrete forming/rebar, walls/insulation, electrical to and inside wiring, windows, doors.

I used a post and beam type construction with 6x6s and 2x10s which made it if not easy, at least possible for a crew of one. Probably the hardest thing was hauling and handling all the materials myself but most builders supply places will deliver and stack the materials where you want them. The whole project is great exercise too, but I was only 64 or 65 then so I had plenty of energy...

Before I started I did spend a LOT of time designing every detail resulting in many drawings but that needs to be done regardless of who does the work.

My building is 24x62. This is the far end, before I put up the siding.

Don't know if it's something you've considered but if not, you might.

JKJ

Re: Be your own contractor?

Virgil Johnson

Geez I'm a redneck WoodCentralian of course I thought about building it myself. I have the skill to build it just not the help or connections with the foundation where I have no exeperience. The contractor who was helpful and fast to bid is quoting the package as a finished product and also broke it down in segments where I can take off X amount for roofing, garage door, siding, etc.

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

John Foster

Working at a building supply, I know what material prices are like and how booked contractors are. I would suggest that discretionary projects be put off for a year if possible. Replacing an old house with a new one, a new shop or garage, hobby barn etc.; I know waiting is hard, but waiting might be very financially advantageous. If you want a "first choice" contractor for 2022 you should book them now, a lot of the guys around here that have openings are "second choice" contractors. for 2021 you are looking at "third choice" contractors. All the product shortages drives up delivery costs too. we used to figure we could deliver a complete shed or shop package on one trip with a big truck and handle the few extras and returns with a cube van or a pickup truck; now we have to make multiple trips to a jobsite because there is always something backordered. Even in winter we have backordered in the past week precut studs, plywood and Rockwool insulation, cedar and pressure treated are spotty at times, truss plates for the truss shop are spotty and can hold up production, we aren't currently running out of 2x lumber or drywall but we are barely keeping our head above water etc. etc....

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

John K Jordan

>>>Working at a building supply, I know what material prices are like...

...we have backordered in the past week precut studs, plywood ...

Do you know if this the same all around or worse in certain areas of the country?

Re: Building a new shop. Contractor saga.

John Foster

In Southern Ontario it is the norm.