I got questions on the building itself and finances and looking for a little guidance.

Looking for something cheap and fast and am thinking about one of the buildings like a car port but with insulation sandwitched between the sheet metal and frame... are they OK? What about companies to buy them from, any recomendations? Also how is payment usually done? One company I been talking to wants $23,000 installed for a 30x40 with 12 foot walls garage door and man door but they want %5 when I make the order then 50% when it is ready to install and the balance when it is done... wouldn't it be safer for both of us if I put the money into an escrow account or something till it's done? The price is barely affordable to me and I am a little uneasy about taking that much risk from some company I saw post a random add on the internets...

I have a local trusted reputable concrete guy willing to do the slab in trade for a truck I have...

I my opinion, $23,000 installed is better than the going price here in Idaho. They are $29,000 to $32,000 without the slab and grading.

Ask for references and contact them to see if they where satisfied.

This guy is from Spokane, where in Idaho are you?


This is a no frills shop Im looking for with no windows and I am sure a crappy roll up door but I need something quick and fast, my landlord has listed this place for sale and it may be a month to get out or a year or maybe whoever buys it may not want me to leave I just don't know so want to get something on my own property...

Star is a few miles N of Boise.
I'm in Sandpoint - though moving to Meridian/Boise border next week - and one local guy is $50/SF for just the pole barn: no doors, concrete, electrical, just the shell.
Saw one built & it's nice; they're big on 14' height & RV openings, that's their basic spec.
Kalispel, you're gonna want heat, I'd bet.
Mac's Tie Downs is a mile from me and their all-metal bldgs cost them about $200/SF, but they're VERY nice.
When it comes to contractors, in this area it's hard to get things done - friends & I built 4 pole barns, a house, and a couple renovations ourselves - about 10 years ago.
In some cases, we got stuff done before people bothered to return calls.

I'm actually in thompson falls now. I wouldn't mind a pole barn.

I see ads for General Steel all the time, have you contacted them?

Make sure you're allowed to build whatever it is you're thinking of.

Permits will add to the cost
You'll need power - how much to run that in and install lights, outlets, etc?
Do you want "water" now or in the future - maybe a crapper. Plumbing needs to be considered before pouring concrete
Want it warm - in your area you want insulation UNDER the concrete.
Want a hoist in the future - you need to pour the thicker pads now.
What about heat?

Slapping up four walls and a roof is no big deal - its all the other stuff that, if you don't plan and invest in it now will just cost you double and piss you off in the future.

This is Montana, no codes HOA or any other crap like that to worry about. My electrical panel is right there already as is fresh water but probably won't do anything but a sink, I would have to add another septic to do a crapper so that is out, I can walk my happy butt to the house or take a leak in outside on a tree. I already have a deal for the concrete with thick pads under the lift and insulation under it. I have a nice big wood stove that is mine in the shop im in now so heat is no issue, I could even go this winter with no insulation as the shop I am in now is not insulated at all and extremely drafty, just getting this one sealed up till next year would be an improvement over the one I'm in right now. I am building a 5.7 hemi and a-500 combo for an electricians 67 dart right now so there is that... I just got to get the dern frame and walls figured out.

Steel pole building is the way to go. Have you thought of a pre-fab wooden garage just to get through till you build one

i have always been leery of paying up front for anything unless i know the person REALLY WELL. If they are well established MAYBE. In 25 years I never took a penny up front. Nor did I ask for payment until the work being billed for was done and parts on site.

IF they file bankruptcy next week or something happens to the owner where's you $$. Sign an enforceable contract with nothing upfront, or pay him with a credit card if you must, and the other 45% when the materials are on site, balance when done.
Or buy the building yourself and hire him to erect it

EDIT: Does one pay inn advance for their Groceries, Gas, or most anything else? NO!

Don't be so sure about that. If you are in city limits, check with the city, if in county, check with the county. It may be more involved than you think.

It's a slippery slope, but to me money up front is a red flag. It has in recent years become more of the norm. If you have to be their banker, I would set it up as a certain percentage paid at specified points of construction.

The worst part of what I am reading here is that you are in a rush to get a building up. That may cause issues with your expectations of when you want to start, the total price, getting materials & an unrealistic schedule to finish it. All it takes is one setback such as a concrete contractor who can't start on the date agreed to start a domino effect that could extend the project time by weeks or months. Is it possible to rent another space while you plan better for this garage build?

I just had another thought. Draw up a contract between you and he guaranteeing him the job at an agreed upon price. Once the material is on site, I would include a start (window) IE: 1-2 weeks? and estimated finish time. His 5% upfront fee is likely there to keep you from changing your mind and him getting stuck with the materials which is to a degree understandable.
With the above contract notarized etc. YOU then buy the materials at his cost and have them delivered directly to your property. He still get's his profit/ markup and you at least have the materials if somethings happens to him.

That looks like a good plan, after you check his references. Also, I really bet there are building codes your new building will have to meet.

this late in the year, A pole barn will probably be the fastest build, and may be the only thing that can get put up before the ground freezes too hard, and that is really debatable at this point. I don't see how anything can even get started before Nov1st. I would price out a metal building if there is a resource in your area. The metal buildings used to be better quality (and slightly more money), but that was several years ago.

Honestly, I'm surprised you can get any 30 x 40 with 14' sidewall building with materials and be erected for the quoted price.

Pole barns are pretty much common up in your neck of the woods.

Yes they are, but it is also not legal to put them up in most towns and cities. There are also restrictions on how the roof needs to be reinforced to handle a specific snow load. If a guy intends to insolate a pole barn, its cheaper to build a metal building or even a "stick built" garage here. Any bare bones just outer shell 30 x 40 building erected on a prepared sight around here is easily 2x the price he was quoted.

Get one built as big as you can, even straining to make it bigger than you think you need now.
My shop was built as a pole barn originally with two thirds of it with a dirt floor and then the former owners added onto it three times, I had the dirt floors converted to concrete and added insulation, electrical, windows and drywall as well as several sky lights to make it useable for me
I would like to add onto it again and double its size, it is right at 30x40 ft. now with the 15 Ft. wide center part with 14 ft. high walls and a 15x14 Ft. roll up modern metal door. the two outer sides have 7 Ft. high ceilings with sky lights in them now.
You know the old saying, a man can never have too big of a shop, correct

Rule number one: figure out what you need or think you need then DOUBLE it. If needed at that point work backwards from the double size but never down to what you thought you needed.

Some of you shop guys have it made. I fit 3 cars with probably over five parts cars worth of parts in a 2-1/2 car garage. Lol. All of the larger hoods, fenders, doors, seats, etc are upstairs in the rafters.