Steel VS Wood building

Sparktrician · Mar 7, 2015

What is the tipping point (size wise) when it makes both practical and cost wise sense to go to a steel building over wood?

Looking (down the road a good ways) at a new building at the farm. IT will be my dream home. yes home. House, garage for personal trucks, business shop, farm shop and equipment storage all in one. Like about 100' x 200 or 300. I know the trusses would be a major deal in wood, but was curious what the largest practical span could be with a wood truss?

Located in southern ohio, 30 min from Indiana hour north of KY

Geo-TH,In · Mar 7, 2015

Property tax may be the tipping point on a very large building.

Leroy · Mar 7, 2015

A lot of areas that would not pass building codes.

bradley martin · Mar 7, 2015

I would think twice about your "all-in one" idea! What happens if it burns? hit by a tornado? explosion? All gone, everything! I would certainly not want my home attached to a farm shop.

Adirondack case guy · Mar 7, 2015

Totally forget using wood for a building that size. Wood trusses can be built, to span a hundred feet, BUT the roof peak will be incredibally high which will cause wind loading issues and take twice as much steel to cover it.
Steel rafters can be built to support a 1 or 2 on 12 slope and the roof blows clear of snow rather than allowing the snow to build up on the lea side of the building. The low pitch also allows the whole roof to warm up when the sun shines in the winter. No mater what type of construction you decide on you also need to consider all the snow that is going to come off the roof and what it will do to the lower exterior walls as it builds up there. Eave overhangs should be considered.
I'm not just blowing smoke. I sold and erected Essex steel buildings. The pics are of a couple of buildings we built for two machinery dealers in the area.
They go up fast once the piers are in place. Erector set construction. A 3 man crew and suitable equipment can efficienty erect them.
Loren, the Acg.
PS my e-mail is open if you have further questions.

notjustair · Mar 7, 2015

One of the neighbors did that. They have a 100x200 I am guessing with the north side being their home. It sits on the highest spot in the county and provides them a great view of the land. They have floor to ceiling windows with a vaulted ceiling in the great room and two floors elsewhere. It is a beautiful home inside. They didn't need to spend money making a house, they just wanted the home part. It works very well for them. I kind of like the idea.

Bryan inIowa · Mar 7, 2015

My sister build pole building for a home , had trouble financing . Unconventional home is what bank said . They got it done though, turned out nice

BAnNC · Mar 7, 2015

Around WNC there are quite a few folks that like the idea of living above their horse barn. They say it saves a bunch of money on building two structures. I say it would give you the opportunity to become well acquainted with the smell of a horse barn.

fixerupper · Mar 7, 2015

BAnNC I was in a building like that in Mississippi. Horse stalls in one end, arena in the other end and two story living quarters in the middle just like a big building with a house in the middle. This building must have been 100X300 as a guess.

JD Seller · Mar 7, 2015

The barns in Europe where that way for centuries. I do not know if they still do it that way over there or not.

I am really thinking about doing something like that if something happens to my wife. I only need a sitting/eating/bedroom and a bathroom. That can easily be built inside of a high bay building. with storage over the top of the living area.

el6147 · Mar 7, 2015

consider this before you build one large structure , a friend of mine has been in the excavation business since he a graduated at 18 whom is now 60 had housed his equipment all in one very large building and lost "ALL" of it in a fire two weeks ago . two pickups with plows , a one ton dump , two tandem axle dump trucks , septic pumper , two front end loaders with snow pushers, two excavators (a mini and a large}, backhoe, and everything else associated with running a business. a fire so hot that there is no sheet metal left from the structure, cause unknown , talked with him a few days ago , has no idea how or if he wants to start over .

BANDITFARMER · Mar 7, 2015

You better check with township and county to see if they will even let you build one first wood or steel, Then call your insurance company to see if they will cover such a building and if they do see what the costs will be. I know Warren, Clinton, Clermont and even Brown Counties have really changed building codes and a friend told me that even Butler County was changing there building codes. With what you described I don't think they will let you build it the way you want. When you mix Home , Business (Comercial) ,Farm shop and Storage in one building your mixing 3 or 4 different sets of building codes for one building and I don't think they will go for it. Make some calls first. Bandit

Geo-TH,In · Mar 8, 2015

I have a friend with just 3 horses. SMELL, NO THANK YOU.

Sparktrician · Mar 8, 2015

As far as commercial and permits, this will be on A1 again land. You can get away with small business on farms here. It would be built as a farm shop then added to from there. I'd have fire walls as needed, and I didn't mention the house part will be somewhat seperated from the shops.

I was just curious what the largest practical span of wood trusses are

MARK ROBKE · Mar 8, 2015

I understand the 'everything in one place' ideal,but if there was a fire or tornado,it's 'everything is all gone'. Just something to consider;might be safer to have a few buildings spread out around the yard.Mark

Steel VS Wood building

Sparktrician

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Geo-TH,In

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Leroy

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bradley martin

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Adirondack case guy

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notjustair

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Bryan inIowa

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BAnNC

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fixerupper

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el6147

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Geo-TH,In

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