Versatube metal garage kits

Gonna follow. I been looking into carport garages for my tractor. They are just to cheap. I think like $3000 they will come install a 12x21 with a garage door and a single door. Going like 18x21 is only a few hundred bucks more.

Yeah I'm thinking 24 x 24 x 12 with 9x9 door. They claim to figure in snow load just not sure if they have any idea how much snow we get up here

I haven’t see that particular garage, but I know a few people who bought tent garages, and when the tarps tore they just installed metal roofing over the frame. They are about 10 years old now and still going.

Rogero246 said:

Yeah I'm thinking 24 x 24 x 12 with 9x9 door. They claim to figure in snow load just not sure if they have any idea how much snow we get up here

Click to expand...

That was my first thought - snow load. There is a reason you don’t see carports around here....

If you are going in that direction you should do your own snow load calculation and be sure they can meet it.

Rogero246 said:

Yeah I'm thinking 24 x 24 x 12 with 9x9 door. They claim to figure in snow load just not sure if they have any idea how much snow we get up here

Click to expand...

i have a few that came with some land i bought....roof only types....they have held up well did lose one that wasnt tied down good to wind several years back..

you should have a stated design code snow load for your area and they should design to it and provide engineered sealed proof of such (most cities will require the sealed letter or drawings stating such) .....i am aware they do produce structures that are not engineered sealed to a specific code so if your concerned or your jurisdiction requires it i am pretty sure its a addtional fee for the building to be sealed

as well as snow ...i would make sure i was fully informed about wind loads (lateral and uplift) and how it will be attached to the ground to resist those loads

Rogero246 said:

Has anyone here had any experience with Versatube garage kits. Looking like a metal 2 car garage is all I'll be able to put up for my SCUT in the forseeable future and was wondering about this Manufacturer's product and customer service. Product wise most concerned about snow load. Any opinions welcome

Click to expand...

Customer service is definitely lacking. The don’t deliver what they promise and dismiss the customers legit concerns. Will hang up the customer too. Would not recommend this company.

If they came and installed one for me for that price I wouldn't care if they never spoke to me.

The guy that puts those buildings up around here is a Mexican guy. He's in the process of building a 2 million dollar mansion right now.

I bought a 24 X 24 X 12 kit from Menards and put it up myself about 15 years ago.

I erected it on a pad of crusher run fill about 24” thick. I used 4X6 treated timbers as a sill all around and I used 4 8 foot long 3/4” rebar in each timber that I welded washers to one end as “ground nails” driven into the ground through holes in the timbers then bolted the building to the sills.

I used it for livestock housing for 10 years, then spread gravel inside and am using it to house my 2 cylinders and my 290 planters.

It suffered some minor damage during the derecho when some trees fell on it, but no issues otherwise

Long and short the building material and structural member designs are done well. As I said, I erected it myself, so got no experience with installers.

workinonit said:

The guy that puts those buildings up around here is a Mexican guy. He's in the process of building a 2 million dollar mansion right now.

Click to expand...

Good for him! Capitalism is BOSS 👍

workinonit said:

If they came and installed one for me for that price I wouldn't care if they never spoke to me.

Click to expand...

not an intelligent thing to do like buying china. They throw it up then you have problems and the company is no place to be found. Then you have to tear it down and rebuild it properly. No, better to pay more and get it done by a company that stands behind their work and what they sell like Sthil, JD and many others..

I don't have a VersaTube building, but I have looked at them. Their generic building are built to a low spec. You can go to their website and do a custom building, where you enter your zip code for your local wind and snow loads. Then, you can go in and manually specify your own wind and snow loads that are higher (if desired). This will change the post spacing and truss designs for higher loads. The increased cost is not much, and I would certainly upgrade for the price if I was doing it. This is actually something I am considering for a small storage barn.

Maybe I’m wrong but it seems like you could do a stronger and cheaper carport (obviously not a “garage”) out of 2x4’s and plywood. After my carport collapse this past winter, I’m also interested in some options and experiences.

Rogero246 said:

Has anyone here had any experience with Versatube garage kits. Looking like a metal 2 car garage is all I'll be able to put up for my SCUT in the forseeable future and was wondering about this Manufacturer's product and customer service. Product wise most concerned about snow load. Any opinions welcome

Click to expand...

call your local building department and ask those questions they will get that info for your area; snow and wind load. The inspector will ask for a print from the company when you apply for your permit... Maybe even stamped by the engineer who designed it for your area, ask that question.. I would want it anyway if I was you to make sure it will last for the money you will pay for it..