Being short of storage space I sketched a garage/out-building on a piece of paper and gave it to "Mark" an Amish fellow for a quote. (I already had the slab put in.) It came in about what I guessed so I told him go ahead. No money up front, he said "you can just pay when we're done".

It was a pretty simple build, 36' x 26' x 10 high, using 2 x 6's on 24" center and trusses on 4' center, with purlins added to attach the metal to. 5'overhangs F&R with 1' on the sides. Everything covered in metal with thin reflective foam underneath to stop condensation along with the worst of the cold and heat. I had already run a wire out and up through the slab for lights and a few receptacles but it'll be unheated.

Lumber had already been delivered Friday. They showed up early Monday, Mark along with his crew of 4 other Amish, plus a driver (they don't drive other than buggies). The driver did help some, mostly carrying and picking up. They all smoked but there were no "smoke breaks" and no cell phone use, other than Mark when he had to order metal etc. It was a pleasure just watching them put this up. Mark didn't need to give many orders because everyone pretty much knew what to do. They finished Wednesday afternoon so 3 days. I thought I'd share some pics of them putting it up.

LOL my detailed drawing. I did change the windows to 3' x 3'.



Day 1




Mark in the green shirt.


End of day 1.




End of day 2. (I was gone much of that day)




Day 3

Man, I like that a lot!

I wish I had space on my lot for an out building like that.

A friend's dad contracted a group of Amish to build his garage up in Michigan a number of years ago. He bought an old Suburban so he could pick them up and take them home each day, then sold it again when the job was done. Two-car, with a loft on top -- they did a beautiful job, and did it quickly.

Looks great, hey is that Amish guy putting up siding using an electric drill, is that approved or is because it's a battery drill it's ok?

Should have made it bigger Looks good.

Yep, them guys know how to build, and build quick.

I had an Amish/Mennonite outfit do my 30x40 pole barn with 12' lean-tos on either side and 14' ceiling. They had the whole thing done in three days plus a fourth day to pour the floor inside.

Your's looks nice, but you should've made it bigger.

ETA: My crew was one guy with his two sons. The three of them did the whole thing. They were good!

Thanks vthoky!
Presently I have a lot of stuff crammed together in a garage, under carports, and my MC trailer sitting outside. There are a few other items in an old semi trailer that was on the property when I bought it and that old trailer is falling apart.

It's interesting what the different Amish clans subscribe to. These guys have no electricity in their homes and can't own power tools so they rent them.

I know, I know, shoulda made it bigger. But this'll have to do and it's the last structure I'm putting up.

The two color set-up is nice looking

I like it a lot!

Really great to see quality workmanship.

Beautiful!

I hear ya on the "last building" thing. Pretty sure I'm there as well.

Am looking to upgrade some contents tho. More on that in a couple of days I hope.

Thanks guys! TBH I struggled with this, second guessing myself in the planning stage, everything including where to place it, size, windows, overhangs, and colors. Seems like as I'm older it's harder to make quick decisions.

Very nice. Did you order the trusses, or did they build them on site?

Thanks Artie. They had the trusses premade and delivered. And they manhandled them up w/o a lift.

Very nice, what did they charge?

That is very well done and I am sure it is put together better than anyone else could do.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Very nice, what did they charge?

Not cheap. I had the concrete done. The building itself, labor and all materials to Mark was $32,800.

I also paid for a machine to pull out the stumps and build up the pad.

Very coo’

That’s a great looking building, looks just right on that location. I live in a tourist area.. lots of condos, new construction vacation homes etc and around here everyone has gone to using the Amish almost exclusively for framing. I work construction, sight development etc so I see them a lot. Some groups are very very good, some are so so, they all are fast but at least around here, on the bigger jobs, it looks like a tornado went thru when they are done. They leave every drop where it lays etc. I think that probably tends to go with them contractions out to other contractors for the framing, they get paid to frame, not pick shit up. You got a great crew , I think if I were to have them do a building for me I’d do as you did and go directly thru one of them. My M-I-L had her roof done this past summer by the Amish and her results were the same as yours, clean, excellent quality and “ pay me when we are done” . Of course she contracted right thru him directly. Again, that’s a beautiful building.

Thank you, Oaklane.

I will say they were pretty tidy and they picked up everything, LOL even all their cigarette butts. I told them not to bother sweeping it out because leaves are going to blow in but he insisted.
I brought to Mark's attention that one of the green corner trims was a little off shade and could he do something about it because unfortunately it was on the side facing the house not the trees. They all looked and agreed so while Mark called the metal supplier one of his workers quickly removed it and swapped it to a corner on the tree side so I wouldn't have to look at it until the replacement comes.

It looks like a quality building. That slab must be a foot thick. And 2 X 6 construction is a strong building. What are the objects atop the finished roof?