Am thinking of putting up a small workshop, 30' X 36' X 12' pole shed and was wondering if anyone here has ever bought one from Menards? If so how do they stand up? (lol...I know, with poles). Good points / bad points? Just looking for a decent usable building, would consider buying a decent used building but not always easy to find one in your back yard. What other building companies have decent buildings? Im in SW MN. I know there are better buildings, like Mortons that are guaranteed for 40-50 years but I might not be.
- Thread starter Alan K
- Start date
I have bought all the stuff BUT the poles that go in the ground .. I was given bridge planks and used them.. But I just built a 24 x 36..when I compared the stuff to my cleary building I didnt find much difference in "hardware"..on the tin menards was alittle thinner gauge.. metal framing for doors is larger than what menards sales.. little things like that but over all im happy with my little building..
glennster
Well-known Member
i dont know about the menards buildings, but, if you are putting it up yourself, you can add better materials during construction if need be. i have a 60x110 morton and am happy with it. as far as moving one, i'll never do that again. i got a 60x120 morton years ago that we moved to another farm along with 3 grain bins. you need about 6 guys to take one down. then trucks and trailers to move the lumber, tin, poles and trusses. i had to hire a trucking company to haul the 60 foot long trusses with oversize permits. neighbor just had a large pole building put up. he had an amish crew do the job. very nice job. forget what brand building.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
I looked at the Menards buildings before I put up a Morton 14 years ago. Prices were very comparable and the materials seemed to be equal in quality. Only reason I went with the Morton is because they had a crew to erect it. That building crew turned out to be a big joke, but they managed somehow to get it done. Lots of mistakes though, and I am still fighting those mistakes. As for warranty? Morton makes lots of promises, but basically, once the building is up, and you sign off on it, Morton is done with you. Yes, I still have a leak in the roof.
Looking back, Buying the package from Menards and hiring my own crew would have been a better deal.
Fordfarmer
Well-known Member
No experience with Menards buildings, but you could also check Lester Buildings. I think they have a design/price feature on their website.
Materials are pretty much the same everywhere. Costs will vary though. The biggest thing is the crew who puts it up and if they will stand behind the job.
In my area about all crews are Amish and workmanship varies greatly !
Last building I went with a local builder that has a good reputation and even went and looked at some of their recent jobs. They looked pretty good. Well after my building started going up I found out this place subcontracts to at least 7 different crews and I got the newest crew that must of been a bunch of flunkys ! They had some pretty big dents in the metal from nailing it. I made them replace some of the panels as I paid for a new building and a dented up one looked used ! Some of the roofing is dented in where it was smashed by nailing I hope it holds up ?
I wish they would of offered me the option of screws. They never brought it up.
In my area about all crews are Amish and workmanship varies greatly !
Last building I went with a local builder that has a good reputation and even went and looked at some of their recent jobs. They looked pretty good. Well after my building started going up I found out this place subcontracts to at least 7 different crews and I got the newest crew that must of been a bunch of flunkys ! They had some pretty big dents in the metal from nailing it. I made them replace some of the panels as I paid for a new building and a dented up one looked used ! Some of the roofing is dented in where it was smashed by nailing I hope it holds up ?
I wish they would of offered me the option of screws. They never brought it up.
DaninKansas
Member
I looked at pole barn kits - then I checked with A & C Builders in Oklahoma.
http://www.aandcbuilders.com/quote.html
They built my building for about the same price other places wanted for just the kit. On a 30 X 40 building with 10' walls they started on a Saturday afternoon and finished on Sunday afternoon and they provided their own power - all I provided was a level spot to set it up. That was 10 years ago - no leaks are settling.
http://www.aandcbuilders.com/quote.html
They built my building for about the same price other places wanted for just the kit. On a 30 X 40 building with 10' walls they started on a Saturday afternoon and finished on Sunday afternoon and they provided their own power - all I provided was a level spot to set it up. That was 10 years ago - no leaks are settling.
DaninKansas
Member
I had my roof screwed on - but the walls were nailed. I've seen lots of roofs blowed off and the walls left standing. According to my notes (10 years ago) they only charged an extra $150 to screw the roof on instead of nailing it.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
My nephew put up a small 24x24 pole barn from Menards, with plans to make it bigger when he has the money.
He told me that it was cheaper to put trusses on 24 inch, deck it and use shingles.
Depending on your snow load, it might be something to think about.
It is very easy for Menards to give you quotes for metal and shingle.
Hope you would find out if my nephew has his facts right. Please report back.
George
He told me that it was cheaper to put trusses on 24 inch, deck it and use shingles.
Depending on your snow load, it might be something to think about.
It is very easy for Menards to give you quotes for metal and shingle.
Hope you would find out if my nephew has his facts right. Please report back.
George
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
There ok if you like light tin,,Noty 2 by 4s..And i mean all 2 by 4s and ,,,Well i could go on and on.
Up here GOODON seem to be the biggest seller but i dont know if they go that far south as its a canadion building..
Googel it as i think you will see what i mean!!!
Good day and stay warm :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Up here GOODON seem to be the biggest seller but i dont know if they go that far south as its a canadion building..
Googel it as i think you will see what i mean!!!
Good day and stay warm :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
I wondered about the moving part as well. It "sounds" cheaper to do but Im thinking in the long run with time (especially time) / money you don't come out ahead if you spend as much as a new one and you end up with a used building. Although if a person finds a decent enough deal it is worth considering.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I helped a friend put up a Menards pole building several years ago. Pretty cheaply built building. A few more 2x6's and a few more 2x4's in different places would have made it a pretty fair building. We came up short on lumber towards the end. Menards told us that we were supposed to tear apart the container that the screws and nails and other hardware came in to finish the project. A local contractor was there a year or two later doing some work on it because the wind messed it up. It would have been fine if it would have been built right the first time. My advice to people is to figure out the materials yourself and price the building that way. Figuring materials is actually pretty easy. Each building will be designed a little differently, so you are not really comparing apples to apples when you compare a Menards building to a Morton building.
I put up a 60x80 last year from menards,very good quality,better lumber than the lumber yard gets.
Menards came out a couple times to make sure we had everything we needed.Ended up with 30 extra 2x4's, they said keep them.There are several places that sell buildings,but menards beat them buy 5000 dollars.I had an amish crew put it up.
They don't use post,you can't get straight ones.T
They use 2x6's nailed together.The end in the ground is treated setting on a cement slab.
Menards came out a couple times to make sure we had everything we needed.Ended up with 30 extra 2x4's, they said keep them.There are several places that sell buildings,but menards beat them buy 5000 dollars.I had an amish crew put it up.
They don't use post,you can't get straight ones.T
They use 2x6's nailed together.The end in the ground is treated setting on a cement slab.
We did a 30 x 30 x 11 from them a couple years ago.
Spaced poles @ 10' & dropped the purlins into the trusses.
Normal little glitches in the ordering process.
They can give you whatever you want.
Had extra lumber left.
I give the organization an 'A' for effort!
Excellent at delivering replacements for any shipping-damaged trim, etc.
Local crew added extra wind bracing even though design didn't call for it.
Here's the link to the mother ship:
Midwest Manufacturing
Spaced poles @ 10' & dropped the purlins into the trusses.
Normal little glitches in the ordering process.
They can give you whatever you want.
Had extra lumber left.
I give the organization an 'A' for effort!
Excellent at delivering replacements for any shipping-damaged trim, etc.
Local crew added extra wind bracing even though design didn't call for it.
Here's the link to the mother ship:
Midwest Manufacturing
Alan....I built a 60 x 120 machine shed two years ago and got quotes/specs from about 7 different builders. Ended up narrowing it down to Cleary and Walters. Ended up going with Walters as they had heavier gauge steel, rain gutters and bird netting installed at the same price as Cleary. Menards (Northland Bldg in this area) was not cheaper than the other two. I had a very experienced crew of three that put it up in nine days. They were not Walters employees but at one time they did only Walters Bldgs, but when the business slowed several years ago Walters would not give them any jobs. So they put up bldgs. from a variety of suppliers. They told me on a small bldg. (30 x 40) the difference between suppliers is not that great. But,on large span bldgs. they thought Walters had the best trusses and design. I am very satisfied with the quality of the building, the erection crew and the follow-up of the sales rep. I think Walters may not be competitive on pricing on smaller buildings. Quality lingers long after the lowest price deal is over.
glennster
Well-known Member
pulling the nails out of the tin was a devil. i built slide hammer attachments for long handled end nippers to pull the gasketed nails. to get the roof tin off without bending it, we put a 40 ft extension ladder on a loader tractor, matched up the pitch as best we could, then slid the roof tin onto the ladder and then onto the ground. took four guys for each piece. the roof purlins were another adventure. they used 60 penny ring shank nails and purlins were nailed on end. i built a wood frame and chained it to the skidloader forks to push up on the purlins and pop em out. lowering the trusses was another adventure. 886 with a loader and a boom pole chained in the bucket.
Lester buildings are pretty good, they are head quartered in Lester Prairie, MN. Dad has one he had built in 1974. The building is still solid, but the paint on the sidewalls is faded.
Will you put it up yourself or have the company constuct it with a warranty? Site grading, concrete, wiring, and any plumbing will add up fast.
Will you put it up yourself or have the company constuct it with a warranty? Site grading, concrete, wiring, and any plumbing will add up fast.
jennifer408
Well-known Member
why anyone would ever put wood into earth anymore is beyond me, your just asking for it to rot. here's the correct way to do it.
i also make a rebar cage that goes in the pier and ties to the CBSQ Column Base.
it is called a CBSQ Column Base and is made by Simpson strong tie co.
I just purchased a building from RA Enterprises in Cascade Iowa that forms some of their own steel and builds their own rafters. Price was better than Menards after comparing apples to apples. The first load of lumber was delivered yesterday and I am well satisfied. Menards wanted to use 3 ply laminated poles and only 4 ft in ground where we are getting poles 5-6 ft in ground and are 4 ply. Nice quality lumber what I have seen so far. Good luck
Alan, I had a 42' X 70' Cleary building put up here five years ago and am well pleased with it. It was built with good grade lumber and all the steel is screwed on. It went up in three days. I went with the two color option, and the fit and finish on all the steel is excellent.
Make sure you grade it up so that you have some run-off. I've seen sheds built on flat ground, and you WILL have drainage issues. Dad has a Wick building that was put up on very flat ground in 1976. It is a very good quality building, but he has had to fight with the south doors(sliders) being frozen in ice many times over the years.
Make sure you grade it up so that you have some run-off. I've seen sheds built on flat ground, and you WILL have drainage issues. Dad has a Wick building that was put up on very flat ground in 1976. It is a very good quality building, but he has had to fight with the south doors(sliders) being frozen in ice many times over the years.
My sil bought a barn and a garage from Menards, joists were 8 ft between centers, Our inspector said that was NOT up to code, They paid extra for a blueprint and went by the plan, they ran out of screws for the siding and the Co said, to bad, buy more. They said they used to many, but they did it according to the blueprint. Several mistakes on the order, it was supposed to be a complete kid. By the time they bought a lot more 2X6s for joists they spent way more then getting a good kit from another lumber yard
Pitalplace
Member
I put up a Menards 40x 64 in 2003. First you can build your building however you want. Eight, ten ft. centers on poles, 2x4 or 2x6 girts, light or heavier tin, etc. You can design your building how ever you want. You get what you pay for. I ordered the heavier tin, poles on eight ft. centers and 2x8 girts. I designed mine exactly like (the best) Morton building and even after I paid a couple guys to help me put it up I was half the price. What was funny was that the colors for the Menards and the Morton were the same. I put in a Dalton overhead door and the Dalton/Morton colors are the same. I was not impressed with what Menards offered in overhead doors. I have had a couple contractor friends say that the rafters were some of the best they have seen.
First thing is to check your local building codes!
Like someone else mentioned there is very little difference between the various brands on the small buildings. Just make sure everyone you get a price from is bidding on the exact same thing. If you want something above and beyond what's required by code then it's up to you to specify it.
A buddy just had a building put up. He got bids from Morton, FBI and someone else. He told them exactly what he wanted. All three came back with different specs! He told them to re-bid exactly what he wanted. Morton did. The other two bid something different a second time. He couldn't understand why. I told him they were afraid to bid exactly what the others were bidding. They didn't want an apples to apples comparison. That's where the complaints come from with Menards and others. They'll try to sell a lowball package then hope to sell you upgrades. It's not limited to Menards. Many of them do that.
For the size building you're wanting Menards is probably going to be fine.
With bigger buildings the differences are in the truss design, truss attachment, and purlin attachment.
Like someone else mentioned there is very little difference between the various brands on the small buildings. Just make sure everyone you get a price from is bidding on the exact same thing. If you want something above and beyond what's required by code then it's up to you to specify it.
A buddy just had a building put up. He got bids from Morton, FBI and someone else. He told them exactly what he wanted. All three came back with different specs! He told them to re-bid exactly what he wanted. Morton did. The other two bid something different a second time. He couldn't understand why. I told him they were afraid to bid exactly what the others were bidding. They didn't want an apples to apples comparison. That's where the complaints come from with Menards and others. They'll try to sell a lowball package then hope to sell you upgrades. It's not limited to Menards. Many of them do that.
For the size building you're wanting Menards is probably going to be fine.
With bigger buildings the differences are in the truss design, truss attachment, and purlin attachment.
Hey, I've got a darn good idea.
Buy one of them kits, larger the better,
assemble it on my land and see how difficult it is,
then wait a few years and see if it weathers well.
If it does, then you can go buy one and put it up on your
property with no worries.
Always willin to help, just let me know when you want to get started. I'll trade the land space even up for the cost of your 'test' building, so you won't owe me anything nor have to remove it after 'test' period...
I'm a nice guy,
Always willin to help out when I can.
HaHa, Danny
Buy one of them kits, larger the better,
assemble it on my land and see how difficult it is,
then wait a few years and see if it weathers well.
If it does, then you can go buy one and put it up on your
property with no worries.
Always willin to help, just let me know when you want to get started. I'll trade the land space even up for the cost of your 'test' building, so you won't owe me anything nor have to remove it after 'test' period...
I'm a nice guy,
Always willin to help out when I can.
HaHa, Danny
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