Metal Garage Kits- Good or Bad?

[Rednine11]

I need to add another 2 stall garage for storing my Harleys and 4 wheeler. I am considering the metal garage kits I see advertised for around 4200 or so.
I'd like some opinions on this, are they junk or should I build another wood garage and side it to match the house?
This building will not be visible from the street. It will be behind the house.

[Joeaksa]

Where are you located? Makes a BIG difference...

[Rednine11]

I'm in WV. Our winters haven't been that bad the last few years. With a metal building I was concerned about a roof collapse with a heavy snow.

[MotoSook]

It probably won't cost you that much more to stick build a simple 2 car garage...simple is the keyword. Start with just footers and gravel the floor for now. The materials for a 2 car garage is in the range of $3500-4000. With either steel or wood, you'll still need footers or sonotubes to support the building. You'll still need a floor...so the big difference is the construction cost...if you can frame and sheat it your self, you'll save some money. Pre-order trusses and you can put the roof up with just two guys. You can even do the roof and siding yourself. The big advantage of a steel building (if it's a kitted building) is erection time. But good framers can put up a stick built garage in less than a day. If you are not running electrical immediately, you can get it inspected and finished in just a few days after the concrete footer cures. Your local building inspector will be willing to work with you to make sure it's safe.

[Rednine11]

I already have a concrete pad there. It's 25x25 So either way I go the floor is ready. I wont need electric in it. at least not right away.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by Rednine11

I already have a concrete pad there. It's 25x25 So either way I go the floor is ready. I wont need electric in it. at least not right away.

Then I would definietly stick build it. If you have a compressor (I'll bet a beer you do), order a harborfreight framing nailer, or pay a few more dollars and get one from the local home supply store, a truck load of 2x4's (get treated ones for the base) and start framing. You can order truses delivered to your driveway.

[Evans, Marv]

Just as a point of reference, I had 9 trusses made for my 16X16 ft. storage shed. The cost was $450 or $50 ea.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The prefab units aren't bad but you're really not going to save that much versus wood framing like Souk said... You'll end up with the same permitting issues and costs, etc. The only immediately obvious advantages are non-flammable construction and simplicity of construction.

I like being able to design/build what I want however. The variety of the metal structures is pretty limited - at least the ones I've seen. I imagine they're a PITA to insulate if you ever want to down the road also...

[Rednine11]

Yep I do have a compressor. It has a 6hp 4 stroke Honda engine on it so it would be ideal for building this out of wood. You guy have me leaning that way. In the end it would be nicer and might increase my property value a dollar or two.
Thanks for all the advice.

[Mr.Puff]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The prefab units aren't bad but you're really not going to save that much versus wood framing like Souk said... You'll end up with the same permitting issues and costs, etc. The only immediately obvious advantages are non-flammable construction and simplicity of construction.

I like being able to design/build what I want however. The variety of the metal structures is pretty limited - at least the ones I've seen. I imagine they're a PITA to insulate if you ever want to down the road also...

It isn't so bad. My aunt has a barn garage with a kind of spray foam insulation on the inside.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Is it holding up okay? Most of the spray-on foam type insulations I've seen tend to flake off and/or fall to the bottom after a while. If you packed it in there between the ribs and then screwed gyp board onto it it'd probably be okay... You'd have to make sure you had good vapor control on the inside so you didn't get condensation on the inside of the metal skin though or it could start rotting the stuff out.

Just curious. Another benefit I suppose is termites don't eat metal (but again, if you detail it properly they won't get to your wood framing either...)

[Racerbvd]

You need to make sure that your area permits them, where I live, those metal building are allowed in residental areas
One thing going for them is they can be put up very fast (had a 30X40 at the old house), and you can use foam board insulation..

[MotoSook]

The thing with wood is: you can easily modify/add with just nails and a hammer. You can insulate it and drywall over it without getting too fancy. And as Byron indicated...the wood buildings look better than steel buildings.

[Mr.Puff]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Is it holding up okay? Most of the spray-on foam type insulations I've seen tend to flake off and/or fall to the bottom after a while. If you packed it in there between the ribs and then screwed gyp board onto it it'd probably be okay... You'd have to make sure you had good vapor control on the inside so you didn't get condensation on the inside of the metal skin though or it could start rotting the stuff out.

Just curious. Another benefit I suppose is termites don't eat metal (but again, if you detail it properly they won't get to your wood framing either...)

My uncle was an engineer. The foam and building must be at least a decade old and none of those problems have risen.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Your climate is pretty forgiving - was it in your area or a cooler, moister one? Do you know offhand who the mfr. was?