He Used Pallet Racking To Frame A Building
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“I built a large storage shed using pallet racks for the framework after seeing a much smaller shed built the same way at a local hardware store,” says Michigan idea man Scott Karkau. “My father-in-law, who’d built a lot of things from scrap materials on his farm, didn’t think it would work, but he was really impressed when it was finished, even though it took nearly two years.”
The 80 by 100-ft. structure is 26-ft. tall with 18-ft. side walls. The main building is 50 by 100 ft. with a 30-ft. lean-to. A 50-ft. square loft forms a second story above two sections of the shop.
Karkau is a truck driver with very little framing or construction experience, but he says, “I’m full of ideas and a hoarder who scavenges all types of things, so gathering materials for my shed was a year-long adventure. I got 350 8-ft. and 12-ft. pallet rack cross members from an old warehouse for $400. As a bonus, the price included 100 sheets of 3/4 and 1/2-in. plywood, which I used for divider walls and adding a second floor to my building. I paid $3,000 for 25 used 50-ft. trusses and three 14-ft. by 14-ft. steel doors. Another $200 got me 120 used engineered trusses. Three sides of my barn are covered with insulated 2 1/2-in. thick siding that I got for $300.”
To round out his materials list Karkau purchased 30 new 18-ft. rack uprights, 27 engineered floor trusses, pole barn steel roofing and vinyl siding. The concrete flooring for half the shed and driveway approaches were his most expensive outlay at nearly $18,000.
Karkau used the pallet racks to frame the walls and provide support for the roof. The bases are bolted to 4-ft. deep concrete footings with uprights reinforced by cross members on the top, middle and bottom. He hired a crane and operator for five hours to set the trusses.”
With all materials and construction labor included, Karkau says his insulated 80-ft. by 100-ft. building cost him about $9 per sq. ft. to build. That’s less than half the $20 per sq. ft. a neighbor paid for his custom-built 50-ft. by 100-ft. shed with all new materials.
Karkau insulated ceilings in the loft, two shop areas and half of the main building with 285 sheets of 4-ft. by 8-ft. by 3-in. thick panels salvaged at no cost from a local Sam’s club. The building has 30 windows of various sizes and shapes that Karkau bought on clearance for about $1,600.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Scott Karkau, 374 Harper Road, Mason, Mich. 48854 (ph 517-881-4979; scottkarkau@gmail.com).
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He Used Pallet Racking To Frame A Building BUILDINGS New Techniques “I built a large storage shed using pallet racks for the framework after seeing a much smaller shed built the same way at a local hardware store ” says Michigan idea man Scott Karkau “My father-in-law who’d built a lot of things from scrap materials on his farm didn’t think it would work but he was really impressed when it was finished even though it took nearly two years ” The 80 by 100-ft structure is 26-ft tall with 18-ft side walls The main building is 50 by 100 ft with a 30-ft lean-to A 50-ft square loft forms a second story above two sections of the shop Karkau is a truck driver with very little framing or construction experience but he says “I’m full of ideas and a hoarder who scavenges all types of things so gathering materials for my shed was a year-long adventure I got 350 8-ft and 12-ft pallet rack cross members from an old warehouse for $400 As a bonus the price included 100 sheets of 3/4 and 1/2-in plywood which I used for divider walls and adding a second floor to my building I paid $3 000 for 25 used 50-ft trusses and three 14-ft by 14-ft steel doors Another $200 got me 120 used engineered trusses Three sides of my barn are covered with insulated 2 1/2-in thick siding that I got for $300 ” To round out his materials list Karkau purchased 30 new 18-ft rack uprights 27 engineered floor trusses pole barn steel roofing and vinyl siding The concrete flooring for half the shed and driveway approaches were his most expensive outlay at nearly $18 000 Karkau used the pallet racks to frame the walls and provide support for the roof The bases are bolted to 4-ft deep concrete footings with uprights reinforced by cross members on the top middle and bottom He hired a crane and operator for five hours to set the trusses ” With all materials and construction labor included Karkau says his insulated 80-ft by 100-ft building cost him about $9 per sq ft to build That’s less than half the $20 per sq ft a neighbor paid for his custom-built 50-ft by 100-ft shed with all new materials Karkau insulated ceilings in the loft two shop areas and half of the main building with 285 sheets of 4-ft by 8-ft by 3-in thick panels salvaged at no cost from a local Sam’s club The building has 30 windows of various sizes and shapes that Karkau bought on clearance for about $1 600 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Scott Karkau 374 Harper Road Mason Mich 48854 ph 517-881-4979; scottkarkau@gmail com
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