[AT] Machinery storage update - LONG

[Greg Hass]

  A couple of months ago, I posed the question to the list of how to store 
some of my machinery, mainly my combines.  I received several useful 
replies, for which I thank the members of this list who took the time to 
share their opinions and experiences.  The first thing I considered was 
tarping the equipment which I quickly decided was not the answer in my case 
due to the size and amount of equipment and the fact that we are in a high 
wind area.

I then turned my attention to a more permanent solution.  The first thing I 
did (as someone on the list suggested) was to contact Morton buildings. The 
salesman took me to a place about 5 miles from me where they had just 
completed a new building and in our discussion he told me that the smallest 
building they offered in a 14 foot height (which I need for the combines) 
was 40 ft. x 60 ft., which was bigger than I had planned on.  He also said 
they had a sale on their new line of "Country Craft" buildings which are 
about 20% cheaper and built a little lighter than their other 
buildings.  We were about a far north as they could build this line due to 
snow load.  When I asked the price, it was $19, 401...at which time I had 
to excuse myself for a quick trip to the necessary.

On to Plan B........    We then contacted to local contractors of good 
reputation to price a building 32 ft. x 48 ft. x 14 ft. tall that woul have 
2 ends and one side, with the east side being completely open.  (As some 
may remember from my first post, I am now storing one combine in a shed 
just like that at what was my dad's place.  However, since he died, my 
younger brother inherited that farm and he is sytematically booting my 
equipment out in favor of storing his own equipment, much of which is 
unaffected by the weather.  I have already had 2 combines out in the 
weather form over a year and they were not taking it very well.)  About 2 
weeks later I received the bids from the private contractors and again had 
to head for the necessary.  As it turned out, both contractors were within 
$18 of each other in price at $13, 482 +/- .  I then sat down at the 
calculator and figured that the open front building was gong to cost me 
$1.25/sq. ft. MORE than the Morton building, although total cost would be 
less due to smaller size.  And that was with NO doors and only 1 long wall 
and 2 short ends.  I then started thinking that, although the Morton 
building was bigger than what I had planned, for $6000 I would gain 1000 
sq. ft. plus the building would have 4 walls with a 20 ft. sliding door and 
a walk-in door.
After talking with our friendly banker and with several friends, the 
decision of which building to build became a no-brainer.

The Morton building was delivered this afternoon and I was told they are 
scheduled to start Monday morning.  The building should be completed by 
mid-day Wednesday of next week.  The only unexpected thing was that even 
though we live on top of a gravel hill, we determined that the far end of 
the building was 11 inches lower than front end, I had to have 150 yards of 
fill hauled in and level it.
(Tractor reference:  I used my IH Cub with mid-mount blade to level the 
fill and shape the grade.)

Will post later after it's done and let you know how things turned out.

Greg Hass
Michigan's Thumb