I think this is supposed to be something to celebrate but skyrocketing expense seems to be shrinking the build very rapidly. I have to keep back about $15K for home remodeling. I was never eager to borrow since the home is currently free and clear. But the loan payments will be half what I am now throwing away in monthly shop space rent and will be going into my own property to build equity/increase value.
Initial shop plan was 2400', 40'x60', with two roll-up doors on the North 60' side. Rhino quoted $24,000 for the building not including assembly, doors, or insulation.
That was not great, but not too bad. Then I discovered the horror of getting a concrete foundation. Still looking for a better deal, but the initial quote was $11.00 per square foot!
By the time the balance of the 2400' build is competed I would need significantly more money than will be available when the loan closes in Sept.
So now I'm exploring slightly smaller alternatives.
One is to pour a simple 2,000' (40'x50') flat-work slab at $7.00'. This would be braced at each edge by a 40' "High-Capacity" shipping containers for 660' of instant secure storage space. I can buy 50' trusses for $300.00 each, six to roof over the gap between containers. Then build end walls along the 50' dimensions with doors for drive-through convenience. Weld post to the inside walls created by the containers to mount the trusses. At least a third less expensive than the 2,400' Rino steel building but only 2,000' of free-span space. Total of around 2,600' in three bays.
Now looking into other alternatives, wood, cinder block, etc. I always understood steel to be the least expensive and block the most? Really hate the idea of ending up with an incomplete building to be "Finished later", at 65 I really do not have a lot of "Later" left!
I will never be "Happy" with the current 1,180' rented shop, in addition to being too small the door is only 7' high and the ceiling 8'.
Since I am in the high desert heat and cold are both issues. And good reason to avoid a steel building due to their lousy thermal properties issue unless another $3K in insulation is added.
But what else might be a decent alternative for a modest budget? Seems crazy that a simple shop building can so easily cost more than the 1,500' house and 2.22 acres of land!
Lots of knowledge base here, so looking for suggestions.
1,800' free-span is really the least that makes sense to me as I already have the "Joy" of cramped quarters.