Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Quonset Hut
Quonset huts are lightweight prefabricated structures made of corrugated steel – have been a staple in many communities across the United States since the early 1940s. If you grew up amongst a grove of Quonset hut homes or have seen them used for a variety of other uses, it’s only natural to join the movement and start looking for your own Quonset hut for sale. Over the past several decades, though, you may have also noticed prefabricated steel buildings sprouting up in greater numbers around your neighborhood.
Steel Building Key Features
- All I-beam construction
- 26 gauge sheeting
- Clear span up to 300'
- Requires concrete piers only
Quonset Hut Key Features
- All steel construction
- 22 gauge sheeting
- Limited widths available due to arch style
- Requires full concrete slab
Comparing Quonset Hut Prices
If you’re simply after the cheapest building, a small Quonset hut may satisfy your needs, but beware of hidden hidden costs. When you compare the cost of metal buildings against the typical Quonset hut price, remember that you will need to spray foam insulate on the interior of your Quonset hut, whereas a metal building can utilize any type of insulation.
Quonset Hut Price
24' x 24'
$7,000-$12,000
30' x 40'
$8,000-$14,000
40' x 60'
$9,000-$15,000
I-Beam Building Price
24' x 24'
$11,520-$17,856
30' x 40'
$24,000-$37,200
40' x 60'
$48,000-$74,400
Comparing Versatility
While both design types offer clear-span framing, Quonset huts and other steel arch buildings only offer clear spans up to 80 feet. Rigid frame structures can allow up to 300 feet of clear span space, offering a completely column-free interior. Additionally, if you plan to build a steel home and will need more than a single story, you’ll want to stray away from a Quonset hut. Due to the rounded construction style and dome-like roofs, Quonset huts are typically unable to support multiple stories, making them less versatile than ridge frame buildings.
Why You See So Many Quonset Huts
There’s no doubt that a Quonset hut design is the right choice for some projects, but is that really why you see an overwhelming number of these building in certain areas? We’ve found that Quonset hut farms are usually the result of a military investment and that the arch style building was seen as nothing more than an acceptable solution.
