Budget Menards Pole Barn Lessons Learned

Even with today's lumber prices, this pole barn was the most economical solution for my storage needs.

[@PlanetMojo]

We built our 36' x 48' building (will be a woodshop/garage) from a Menards design, but bought the trusses and metal from the Amish. Saved about a third on the tin, and about a fifth on the lumber. Got the windows, man doors, posts, and post brackets from Menards. Started this time last year, paused for the summer, and will be back at it soon. We are insulating the interion and putting in walls and a ceiling this time around. Closer to 50k here, but it will be heated space.

[@thomask4836]

You did a beautiful job! I need one of these and you're an inspiration! Minocqua WI here.

[@3krazy]

I did one about 15 years ago when I lived in Illinois. I used the clear ridge cap they have and during the day it was just like having the lights on. They are great kits!

[@SId-gb1qr]

where r u now?

[@drewklemens4771]

👍 Nice job. I've been looking for diy kits through a few different places and my dad keeps saying Menards is the best option. It's nice to see and hear how it all went together. Thanks!

[@dougbarr5703]

Built a 30 x 40 from menards a couple years ago. Would agree with much you said, i did add a couple windows and some clear panels on roof. Wish I had gone with the taller door like you did but love ours.

[@barnandhome]

As a professional barn builder - here's the real story on these.... Firstly, if all you need is a "storage box" to keep stuff dry, this will work. I applaud anyone ambitious enough to put up their own building! We actually help people build these kits all the time so we are familiar with how they come together and the materials used. (see videos on my site for reference) However: 1. Menards uses lower grade lumber than most lumber yards 2. Solid block posts, 4x4, 4x6, 6x6, etc used for posts may twist over time due to wood grain (laminated 3-ply column is better) 3. Menards metal is lower grade and the painting process is different than most metal professionals would install. 4. The engineering is lighter and they use less lumber for these kits. (They are still engineered to pass building codes, but it's not the same) 5. Sometimes the actual cost is not much cheaper than calling a professional and getting a "thicker" or more hardy-built building 6. The 11% rebate from Menards is a sales gimmick. You're paying full cost. 7. You're worth the extra few hundred dollars to upgrade the windows - most of these kits include really cheap single-pane windows 8. There are local lumberyards and pole barn suppliers that will ship you a better quality kit to build and include a full set of prints to use 9. A professional crew will build this in about 2 to 3 days - it will likely take you many weekends. 10. "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" - Benjamin Franklin

[@therealandrewlund]

1. I know Menards has a reputation for selling banana boards, but I was pleasantly surprised by the material I received (plus I had extra, in case anything was really bad). Maybe I got lucky 2. You can get laminated posts from Menards, I chose solid for cost 3. 28 gauge is 28 gauge, I don't know about the paint process but most of my metal was galvanized. Plus it's not Menards "brand", the metal comes from Midwest MFG which probably supplies steel to a lot of different builders/lumberyards 4. If you want a more over-engineered building from Menards, it is an option if you go for a residential post-frame instead of an agricultural building. 5. I did get quotes from a couple different companies. 6. The rebate is a bit of a gimmick, but using it for the overhead door worked well 7. Agree, but I don't have windows 8. For the same price? Not true for my location. 9. Took me about a week and a half of afternoons, and probably saved myself $5-7k 10. Agree

[@barnandhome]

@@therealandrewlund In the end you got exactly what you wanted, and that’s a nice storage building. And you have the good feeling of doing the work yourself. That’s really what matters.

[@user-io3hy4zb4s]

THAT is a classy answer. Great job!

[@antonhuman8446]

Very well executed!

[@Ukepa]

wow, that's going to be a real asset... and you're now a pole barn consultant (new side hustle)

[@therealandrewlund]

Right?? I need to build some more barns for video projects. Next up is the dream barndo!

[@ronaldlee2376]

Looks great, wish they had poly carbonate 40 years ago when my pole barn was built.

[@iwantosavemoney]

You did good my friend.

[@Logicbroker512]

Nice. I’m from U.P. And thinking of doing similar and I don’t want to have to worry about shoveling snow off it.

[@dsaitz]

Great build

[@fundsfordad]

Nice job 👍, I don’t mind the galvanized, it looks grey and the red adds a little color so looks good ! I see no headers so the truss sat directly on the 8’oc posts with perlins on edge that’s less trusses for sure , nice video

[@therealandrewlund]

It's a pretty efficient design for sure! Still strong, but the piles of material that were dropped off were surprisingly small.

[@quaternary611]

Well done!

[@seangrey3505]

Turn the tablesaw blade backwards to cut poly plastics and vynil sidings like butter without chips and cracks

[@Allman2013]

Looks great

[@theslavingroup58]

Great job!

[@bdugle1]

Nice job!

[@johnkozero6842]

Nice job 👍👍👍👍👍💯

[@41DeereLA]

Great job, and the trim detail looks excellent. I’m just starting with a Menards 36x54 on a pre-pored slab. You’re right they’re not instructions, one area Menards could do a much better job on but all in all I think, so far I’ve got a pretty good building for the price I paid. Southern WI.

[@therealandrewlund]

Thanks! Yeah, it's hard to beat Menards prices. And if you want to do a little more shopping around, you can always scratch items off the "kit" material list and buy them elsewhere. Good luck w/ your build!

[@MrSrtman18]

What approx did you pay for yours john? How bout yours andy?

[@41DeereLA]

@@MrSrtman18 $21,000 before 11% rebate. 2" soffit all around no wall tin - it's a pavilion style.

[@SId-gb1qr]

@@therealandrewlund where r u from?

[@PlanetMojo]

SW Wisconsin here. I built a 36 x 48 last year. It's a nice building, but 36' x 54' would have been nicer 😉

[@johnhoyle6390]

Helpful video on Menard's Pole Barn "Kit" build 24' x 32' single door 9' high interior ceiling. Custom 8' door install due to limitations in Menard's online design app.

[@timeless6964]

Looks Good!!.....You Got a Lot, for Your Money!!!

[@jakeschisler7525]

We had bought a Menards building that was 30x54 and hired a contractor to erect it. Also had concrete poured. Now this was back in 95 somewhere about. They delivered everything in the dark so that we couldn't see the items but our contractor was there. As it turned out they shorted us. One of the trusses was broke and they were told to switch them out. The contractor did a really nice job and before it was started he wanted the old roof off the old building that was there. We don't live there anymore we moved south from Illinois and now are in Missouri and this property has two buildings. One is 40x65 which is my man cave.

[@therealandrewlund]

It's difficult/impossible for a first-timer to really inventory everything when it all shows up packaged together. Luckily I've heard Menards is pretty accommodating if they screw up. I also had a small pile of wood left over instead of needing to use every last piece, which was nice.

[@scottrayhons2537]

When I bought 20 ft 2x4's from Menards, it took 2 people to lay them down straight and try to hold them from bending while the other guy screwed them down. I ended up buying straight 2x4's from Klemme Lumber for a dollar more. Thanx Kenny W.

[@arthurr8670]

This is common of any place. Lumber yards take more pride in their products, but it's also all they sell.

[@scottrayhons2537]

@@arthurr8670 I bought good lumber from Kenny Weiland at Klemme Lumber in Klemme Iowa. Menards put him out of business selling their crap lumber for less.

[@arthurr8670]

@@scottrayhons2537 Unfortunately the general consumer cares about cheap without looking at quality. It's hard to compete with cheap when you're smaller and these places have multiple large locations, which let's them have buying power to make things even cheaper for them.

[@pizzapuffankles]

Good job

[@rnvrnv354]

Would like to have seen more of those massive snow roof trusses!

[@therealandrewlund]

Yeah, they actually caused a bit of a hiccup for me because they were taller at the eves than the plans stated. It was throwing all my measurements off until I realized they didn't adjust the plans accordingly!

[@garenpletzer1532]

I was quoted 135k from another company for materials and menards was 70k for materials. Same design.

[@awac4577]

Nice looking barn. I never thought about the galvanized siding but I think this looks sharp Is that a galvanized roof as well or maybe white painted? Good job!

[@therealandrewlund]

Thanks! I agree it looks sharp, and almost better in person lol. The red has darkened slightly. Yes, the roof is also galvanized.

[@daveweir1721]

I live in northern NY (snow country). Here you need a membrane under the roof sheeting. If you don't it will rain inside from condensation. Guess it depends on what you want to use the building for. I had to install one for a woodworking shop. At some time you may want to glue foam insulation sheets to the underside of the roof. It gets very hot when the sun shines. Otherwise, nice building.

[@therealandrewlund]

I was considering the membrane, but a lot of people don't go to the trouble around here. I haven't had much condensation at all yet, and a little won't hurt anything.

[@PartTimeYooper]

Looks like you did a commendable job for your 1st pole barn build. That garage door won't fit with an opener, which is why they say it doesn't fit. That header over door also isn't code, but it's a pole barn and the end trusses should be capable of supporting that small amount of weight. If not, replace with LVL in 30 years.

[@therealandrewlund]

The header is according to the plans provided. You're right; no load on the end!

[@kerrykerry5778]

@@therealandrewlund Common misconception on yooper's part. I have even had that battle with building inspectors that wanted to see beefy headers in non load bearing gable end walls of a house, where insulation is needed, not structure. Engineers and code writers refer to the wall under a gable end truss as a "curtain wall" It is not structural, and absent the need for lateral load bracing, or sheathing, it doesn't even need to be there. doors, windows and openings in this wall actually do not need headers in curtain walls, and sharp building inspectors and code officials will understand why.

[@christopherhaak9824]

A garage door opener does not add any height to the up garage door. If the door and hardware for it fits, an opener can be added. There are front wall mounted options now that fit in zero height space.

[@dmwi1549]

Nice!

[@gary24752]

How are the trusses attached to the columns? Are the columns sitting on concrete donuts? Very nice build. Nice to see that you have braced the structure. So many builders totally ignore that.

[@therealandrewlund]

Yeah, I was surprised by how much bracing the plans called for. Even if it's overkill, it's nice to ratchet-strap everything perfectly square before bracing it. The trusses are barn-spiked to the posts, which sit on 14'' concrete pucks. They also give you treated scabs to attach to the bottoms of the posts and provide a little uplift resistance.

[@user-fy6rr6sz2n]

When cutting polycarbonate on a table saw, reverse the blade.

[@kevinsmeltzer8053]

Great video. I'm about to tackle one myself. How many hours did you have in it? Did you nail purlins on top of the trusses or use hangers? If on top, how did you secure the purlins? I was thinking of using hangers, but it will be much more labor intensive.

[@therealandrewlund]

It took about a week and a half of afternoons. The purlins are nailed on top, on edge, with a bunch of overlap on the splices. They give you 6'' barn spikes to nail them down with. Real PITA to remove if you put one in the wrong spot!

[@kevinsmeltzer8053]

@@therealandrewlund thanks so much for the reply. Ah, so 2x4 purlins. I figured they'd give 2x6 ones. Great looking barn and thanks again for sharing your build.

[@jerryw4458]

Those type of springs on the garage door are dangerous enough, but the way you have yours installed is like playing Russian Roulette every time you raise and close the door. You can already see those eye bolts pulling out. You need to get that corrected ASAP.

[@therealandrewlund]

I doubt they could pull out.. they go all the way through the 2x4 and are bolted on the other side.

[@dbdouglas]

They do make safety cables that string through the center of the springs & provide anchoring if the springs break, which they definitely do over time!!

[@allenhall3459]

What are the sections of clear siding?

[@shaunybonny688]

I wonder if I can order something like this from Menards if I live in Nevada?

[@johnhines4081]

Soooo.... what was the total finished cost compared to like what the posted price on the menards website was?

[@kickit59]

Andrew that is an outstanding job on your pole barn! Are you going to do a concrete floor? If so how much would that add to the cost? Thanks!

[@therealandrewlund]

Thanks man! I had a slab in the back of my mind, but I'll probably only add it if I run power to the shed and want to do some work in there. I'd probably use 8 or 9 yards, and the cost around here with the extra stuff would be at least 2k with me doing the work.

[@5fiftyshack-272]

Looks great! Was there a reason you didn't put in a left hand swing door?

[@therealandrewlund]

Hey, you noticed the one "mistake" I made in the planning process haha. That was the default option, and for some reason I thought it would swing the other way. I'm kinda bummed about it.

[@mickelsonfamilyhomestead]

Looks like a nice pole shed! We just got ours delivered to our house about two weeks ago just got done auguring holes we also did a shed from Menards 36x56 also where are you located?

[@therealandrewlund]

MI's Upper Peninsula. Good luck on your build!

[@mike69443]

Mind me asking what it ended up being delivered ?! Thanks

[@mickelsonfamilyhomestead]

@@mike69443 what do you mean? The price of delivery or?

[@Liledgy100]

Great video and build. Do u wish you went higher? I hear it’s cheap to go up. What size are your posts?

[@therealandrewlund]

4x6 posts.. I'm happy with the height, because it fits the property well. Looks like I could've gone from 9' to 10' for about $300, and that might be worth it in a lot of cases.

[@bmrbob]

Cool vid. What size is it? Was it your first pole barn build? I too have a menards "kit", waiting to be put up. Just got done with the pad/post holes. Where do you live? I'm in MN, hoping 5 1/2ft is enough for posts..

[@therealandrewlund]

Upper Peninsula of MI. Pretty much my first barn build, tho I've done a few other post structures. I'd think 5 1/2' is plenty. How big?

[@bmrbob]

@@therealandrewlund Same here. Always diy when building, but first pole barn too. 26x36x10 is what I had settled on. Tried to do it budget conscience as well. Any concerns with frost heave? Wet ground/water table? I'm a couple hrs NW of Dultuh, so get pretty brutal weather.

[@therealandrewlund]

@@bmrbob Yeah, you've probably got colder winters than I do. I do have nasty expansive clay, and no problems last winter.

[@lear64]

Are you able to post your material list - or list of the specs you put into their design system

[@therealandrewlund]

Try this design ID and let me know if it works: 316851090274

[@brucebonkowski9568]

Nice job Andrew what are the dimensions I thinking of one in a subdivision as there is no.garagebecause they probably have height width and dept I live in michigan and partially disabled but in landscaping business and now gravel millet driveways and wood toys for Marines and salvation army kids

[@therealandrewlund]

24'x32'x9'. Good luck!

[@jensenoutdoors9804]

I am in the process of getting a pole garage 32'x24' from Menards, I won't be ordering it for a couple of months. I have the materials list and there is one item on there a 12" treated anchor block that I have no idea what it is, did you have those? Also how helpful were those mini prints I didn't think of asking for those when I was there? Thank You for any info you can provide!

[@therealandrewlund]

I think the mini print comes with the material delivery; you definitely want it. The anchor blocks are just little 2x6 scabs you nail to the bottom of the post sides in order to provide some uplift resistance.

[@jensenoutdoors9804]

@@therealandrewlund Thanks Andrew for the info, greatly appreciated!

[@Moist_yet_Crispy]

Cost?

[@jeremyhuggins8796]

How long were the posts? Do they offer 6X6's?

[@therealandrewlund]

They gave me 14 footers for this shed. I do think 6x6's were an option, but I'm not positive.

[@thomastanner336]

You get what you pay for. Cheaper isn't better. I'm not sure how I'm going to go but I'm not sold on this company.

[@rozzbourn3653]

menards?

[@ataylor2965]

What would have to be done to get a single 11 foot door?

[@ShainAndrews]

Generally wall height needs to be about 2' taller than the door. Door manufactures call out the overhead needed so that is where you start.

[@jack0903]

Put it up yourself save money.

[@vothuongsanhtu8324]

Metal increase CRAZY PRICE

[@georgejones404]

How long did it take?

[@therealandrewlund]

About 2 weeks of 1/2 days with occasional help from another guy, but I do have a bit of construction experience.

[@Goaskdrbobcom]

Menards metal corrods. Just put up a roof and 3 days all bends of raised areas are corroding. Paint failure and zinc failure. Looks like a date in court...buyer beware

[@brandon8958]

Could you please tell me if thats the bright red from menards? OR RED?

[@therealandrewlund]

I'm not able to check for sure right now, but I'm almost positive it was just red. It looks a bit brighter in the thumbnail than in person.

[@brandon8958]

If you could find out for me that would be great I’m about ready to order my sheet metal for my 9,000 building

[@therealandrewlund]

@@brandon8958 It's Red. Good luck!

[@brandon8958]

Thank you

[@jerryf609]

What eave height is your barn?

[@therealandrewlund]

9'

[@rigrin4]

Trusses probably weren't designed to carry the extra storage you made on the bottom chords

[@therealandrewlund]

It's just a couple light and bulky things, like kayaks and a vehicle cargo carrier.

[@rigrin4]

@@therealandrewlund true however if you look at your engineering, the loading of The bc is probably 1lb psf. Just thought I'd mention it that's all

[@simonequattlebaum898]

Can anybody tell me what the birds at 2:08 are called?

[@therealandrewlund]

Guineas! They're loud, but entertaining.. they lay eggs, eat a lot of bugs and taste pretty good.

[@simonequattlebaum898]

@@therealandrewlund Thank you! How cool😀

[@genefogarty5395]

What was the total if you don't mind me asking?

[@therealandrewlund]

Total for the menards bill was around $8500

[@genefogarty5395]

@@therealandrewlund Sounds like a damn good deal!

[@genefogarty5395]

@@therealandrewlund Are you in the NE and is the roof snowload rated? Sorry about all the questions but I'm honestly thinking about buying one and don't want any buyer's remorse.

[@therealandrewlund]

@@genefogarty5395 Upper Peninsula of MI. Yes, they automatically engineered the trusses based on my zip code.

[@genefogarty5395]

@@therealandrewlund Thanks so much and best of luck, you got a new sub here!

[@jeffbecraft7174]

How much

[@billwebb5648]

At 13.00 a foot it was 9,984.00

[@jefferykeeper9034]

And the volume turned all the way up and didn't hear a single word.

[@MrSrtman18]

Wanna sell that bobcat

[@debbiearnold6460]

Go with Pioneer if you want a company that takes no responsibility for your property. Our Building had to be redone 3 times before passing inspections. Inspections the owner has to pay for - also be prepared to pay in full before it is even started to be built. Be prepared for delays and nothing but aggravation. Poor customer service. I do not recommend this company

[@kfx7004]

Why do people make videos with music in the background while talking? It's so annoying!