Any Legit Steel Building Dealers?

[RonL]

I figured a Quonset hut style building would be a quick and easy way to build something to store my equipment out of the weather. I know there are a number of dealers that are just brokers. Found a place that stated that they were "factory direct" dealers. Their products are 100% American made. You're led to believe that you are dealing directly with the manufacturer. Well OK. Specced out a building and had em send me the contract. They wanted a substantial down payment. Non refundable. Two pages of contract that they wanted signatures on and provided a space so you could place your deposit check, scan the contracts, and sign the ACH form so that they could immediately deposit your down payment. There was an entire page of why they could increase the cost of the building and the shipping. and keep your deposit. Any legal remedy would have to be dealt with in the home State of incorporation. Talk about not passing the smell test. A little further digging revealed that this was just another broker incorporated by an attorney.

 

[czar800]

We have a few Morton buildings and they are a good building. I couldn't be happier with them. I've seen some wick buildings around don't know much about them.
Find out if the buildings are engineered or not. Ask about snow loads,gauges of steel, treatment of lumber and type of fasteners to name a few.

 

[RonL]

Got back from out of state and found that I had a number of messages and missed calls from the steel building salesman. Also found that I had a number of calls from phone numbers that are reported as scams. I'm on the do not call list and have an unlisted phone number, not that it matters much nowadays. Got to wonder if it is related to this or the fact that my cards and information got hacked in the Bailey's situation.

RonL

 

[fearofpavement]

I've used Impact Buildings in the past and was happy with them. Used another company too but can't recall the name off hand. (maybe Heritage?) The biggest thing is to compare apples to apples. Most advertised prices are for "full sheet buildings" which means that price will buy you a xx' by xx' building completely covered in siding. If you want an opening for a door (that's a handy thing to have) or a window or whatever, the cost goes up. So decide exactly what you want/need and get quotes on that specific building.
Quonset style buildings seem cheap on the front side but unless you're just using it as a shed to cover equipment/hay they're not that good of a choice for a number of reasons. (they do withstand violent weather well)

 

[fearofpavement]

Don't fall for the "oh, we just had a cancelled order for a xx building and can get you into that one for such and such $. Just get quotes on what you really want and it shouldn't be more cost than a pretend "deal".

 

[RonL]

I realize that this is an older thread, but I thought a followup was warranted. I got sidetracked.

My original thought was that a qounset style building would be a quick and easy way to provide a closed in storage area. No heat or electricity. Just storage. I was acquiring a couple of new machines in preparation for retiring and working full time on my properties. I wanted protection from the elements, but most importantly, protection from the field mice. Hate those things.
Dealing with the people that deal in quonset style building left me with the feeling that I was dealing with people that also sold knives on late night tv. I decided to go a different way. I decided to put up a building that could be closed in, insulated, heated, and have electricity. I wanted a steel frame building, but wanted to use dimensional lumber for the purlins and girts. I wanted to build a building that looked like an old fashioned New England barn. I just wanted to buy the trusses. The rest I would supply myself. I looked at Perka buildings and watched their U-Tube videos. They had a gambrel shaped building (4500) that appealed to me. I specced out a 30' x 60' building. They came up with a 30' X 64' building that used their trusses on 8' spacing. This gave me a 95 pound snow load and 115 MPH wind rating. I ordered the trusses. They gave me an estimate for shipping, and wanted half the cost, the rest upon delivery. I told them to give me a firm price on shipping and sent them a check for the entire amount. I told them to advise me of the exact delivery date. I had a major setback and postponed delivery. We arranged a new delivery date. The day before delivery the driver called and said he would be a day late. I put the forks on the backhoe. My neighbors came over to help me unload. The driver was late. You have to understand where my property is up North. It is 12 miles up a gravel road that is off a gravel road that is off a gravel road. My neighbor and I jumped into his car and headed down the mountain to see if we could find him. He went by us. We flagged him down and had him follow us back up the mountain. We unloaded the trusses in short order.

I expected to have the building built by now, but life is unpredictable. Hopefully I'll start again this Spring. When I build it I'll document it and post it.

The people at Perka were very good people to work with. They did exactly as they said they would.

RonL