New Garage

[4wanderingeyes]

This spring/summer I will be building a 40x50 garage/shop/shed with a bonus room built in the tresses on my hunting land, then a couple years after that I will be building a house and moving there. I had gotten quotes from 2 of the local lumber yards, also Menards, and Home Depot. What I found was, Menards blew the others out of the water, and was $15,000 cheaper (25%) then the next quote. Mind you I handed them the parts lists, with the specs, and I went over them to make sure we were comparing apples to apples here. About the only differences I noticed was the Mendards tresses were actually beefier, and looked (on paper) to be a stronger tresses. The only other difference was the steel siding, Menards quoted me with 40 year siding, rather then life time warranty siding (same thickness, just a longer paint warranty), and was $4000 cheaper. They explained to me that the 40 year siding is what they sell the most of, and said chances are the siding will out last me, and the problem with Lifetime warranties are the manufacturers are rarely around to stand by their warranties longer then 40 years anyhow. Made sense. Menards shipping costs was $1500 cheaper as well.

Anyhow my concerns are of course building anything with Menards lumber. I know they exchange any lumber I dont want to use, but that is a pain, but is the pain worth the $16,500 price difference?
Has anyone purchased their lumber and materials from Menards? Any issues with it, an wish you hadnt? Prior to getting in all of the quotes, my original plan was to get most of the materials from the local lumber yard, then get the accessories from Menards, or wherever they were on sale. But after getting the estimates, $16,500 savings is huge!

Just looking for inputs.

 

[Northbound]

I'm a general contractor, without writing a novel. Menards Lumber is fine, actually I prefer it over small Lumber yards as the longer Lumber sits before use the worse it is. Build while it's still wet and saves so much frustration.
Menards 40yr steel is thin, Actually nice for sidding as is easier to flex into trim. Hail damage will be severe if you ever get a hail storm. That's what insurance is for. I don't use it on roofs as I have a local supplier that is thicker for same price.

 

[JFK52]

I use Menards lumber for everything on my tree farm. I have built several sets of stairs to my stands over the past 4 years. I can not climb a ladder any more because of osteoarthritis in both knees. My hunters are also aging and they find the stairs a much easier method of access into a stand. When I do go the outside yard at Menards, I find that I have to pick through the stacks of treated lumber to get acceptable pieces for my project.
One thing I would suggest is that you put in a 12 to 14 inch concrete footing wall around the perimeter of your floor. It will keep the wood off the concrete and prevent any water problems down the line. I did not do this with my garage and truly regret it.

 

[T-Max]

My wife and I are just finishing up our second Menards post frame kit. We actually live in the first one we built. I think we have two exceptional buildings now. We have had good luck with their lumber and have had no problems exchanging anything we weren't satisfied with. We built both ourselves, and I will say the instructions are vague at best, but totally manageable with basic construction skills.

 

[j-bird]

Heck with that sort of savings you can afford a really cool door....makes getting things in and out pretty easy!

 

[Red Picqua]

no worries on Menards. timber is straight. Home depot lumber is a joke. good advice up top on menards steel. I totally agree. I believe the Menards Pro steel is decent. If my memory serves me right???

make sure you put in the rat guard and go with the bigger overhang on the eves for ventilation. just some friendly advice.

 

[swat1018]

I wouldn't buy my lumber anywhere else. Built 2 houses with the lumber, experienced the same as you.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Thank you for the encouraging words about their lumber, it makes me feel much better.
I am planning on using ICF blocks for my foundation, 5 feet down in the ground, and 3 feet above grade. Fully insulated flooring, with in floor heat. The exterior walls will be 2x6 construction, and not a pole barn.

 

[ksgobbler]

No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.

 

[Northbound]

No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.

Depending on the building that sounds to cheap. Ask your builder if he needs more work

 

[Red Picqua]

No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.

sounds about right, maybe a bit high???. I would ask for a break down on the quote. The 12 foot walls are the real killer in your price. I can tell you that for a 30x42 with 10 foot walls and concrete it was under 25k. I don't know your current financial situation but if you know the builder (i am not condoning this) but ask him/her what is the price if you paid them in 100 dollar bills. I think you might be surprised at that number. I replaced my furnace at my house along with my air conditioner, (i know my hvac guy really well) I asked him what is the price in 100 bills. It went from 8800 to 7000 in one second. Most of these hard working people like 100 dollar bills. Yes.. you might say wow 8800 for both a furnace and AC unit most people pay over 8800 for just the furnace. I don't ask a lot of questions and cash is king in this world. completely untraceable.

 

[ksgobbler]

I want 12 ft walls so I can have 10 ft tall doors and also so I can have overhead storage

 

[4wanderingeyes]

No Menards round here. Darn.
Got a quote tonight for a 40x60x12 with 5” concrete. $45k and that doesn’t include the dirt work to get the site level. I have sticker shock.

With mine being a 40x60, 14 foot interior walls, and having a live in quarters above the garage, along with the ICF foundation, my quote from Menards just for Materials, no concrete, no labor, no dirt work, $45. But if I hit it right, I can get it on the 11% rebate sale and save a little more. This isn’t a complete building either.

 

[bueller]

With mine being a 40x60, 14 foot interior walls, and having a live in quarters above the garage, along with the ICF foundation, my quote from Menards just for Materials, no concrete, no labor, no dirt work, $45. But if I hit it right, I can get it on the 11% rebate sale and save a little more. This isn’t a complete building either.

If you can fit it all in a bag you'll get 15% buying right now

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Would the printed material list count?

 

[ksgobbler]

$13,700 of it is the concrete work

 

[Kooch]

I'm moving a 16'x24' 2"x6" stick built garage from my neighbors place a couple of miles away to my place this Summer. It's not finished or even insulated. He built it then bought new machinery that won't fit and it was either raise it a couple feet or start over.....

But, it's a start, OSB skin with roll on roof. The price is $4K moved. I'll figure out how to dry it in once it's there. I was quoted $3500 for a concrete slab foundation with a 6' skirt on the front. I figure that'll cost me at least $500 more. Rounded up that's up to $8K for a shack, and I don't know how much for roofing materials/tyvek/siding, a new door, insulation, interior paneling, electric heat (yes I have electricity at the Kooch 80) wood burner, beds.... The list goes on and on.

My point is, this stuff is expensive. But I think I'm getting a good deal on the skeleton of the shack. Can't wait to have a place to get warm.

 

[Big Snow Man]

Does Menards have a upgrade in Steel or is it just one or none ?

 

[swat1018]

I want 12 ft walls so I can have 10 ft tall doors and also so I can have overhead storage

Yea, that's exactly what I did. Now I wish I would have went 14 or 16'. You can't get any descent 5th wheel or Motorhome in a 10' door. I built ine and had about 30K in it. Mine is 40 x 88, plus a 13' lean-to down one side, all concrete. 3 overhead doors.

 

[ksgobbler]

Got another bid today. This one includes gutters, a 5” concrete slab, and they included Solex LT insulation on the bid as well.
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