Is the Popularity of Quonset Huts an Illusion?
Just because a product is popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right solution for you. Think about it: did you run out and buy a Toyota Prius after you started noticing more and more of them quietly roaming your city? Generally, consumers will buy the right car for their family or particular needs – a new building shouldn’t be any different. If you are seeing groves of metal Quonset huts in certain parts of the country, especially Alaska, you may be a casualty of the illusion of popularity.
Metal Quonset Hut Price Ranges
24' x 24'
$5,760-$7,900
30' x 30'
$12,000-$13,000
40' x 60'
$23,000-$24,000
Steel Building Kit Price Ranges
24' x 24'
$11,520-$17,856
30' x 30'
$18,000-$27,900
40' x 60'
$48,000-$74,400
Are You in the Market for a Building Kit?
If you’re in the market for a new metal building kit, though, it’s important to understand that the US government didn’t choose the Quonset hut for its structural integrity. Rather, as the Alaska Dispatch News article reports:
“Tents did not provide sufficient protection in Alaska against wind, snow, ice and cold; standard building materials, wood-frame structures on cement foundations, were cost prohibitive and difficult to transport. More than 30,000 Quonset huts were sent to and utilized in Alaska because they were an appropriate solution to a critical need.”
Essentially, the Quonset hut isn’t necessarily popular because thousands of individuals have decided it was the best solution for their project – it could be due more to convenience, comfort and price. That’s not to say that the Quonset hut doesn’t have it’s advantages, but it’s important to have comparisons of value, durability, versatility, and price before evaluating if a Quonset hut or a rigid-frame steel building is the right choice for your project.
