Farm-Tek building question (long)

[Olivia67]

I've been trying to contact someone there in customer service for days now but the line is always busy. Then I thought I'd better go here and find out from the actual customers what they thought of their building. We are thinking of putting up one of their Moo-Tel's but we have strong winds up here. Sometimes up to 70 mph. When I read their warrenty it said that it doesn't cover damage due to weather, inproper installation, ect. My question is this, what the heck does it cover? Has anyone had a problem with one of their buildings and did they resolve it or brush you off? What kinds of problems do these buildings even have and exactly what kind of weather does it tolerate? We live in northern Illinois so we have almost artic winters and hot summers and everything in between. We want to put our hay in the building plus be able to put a few pens for the sheep and goats when they are either sick or having babies. Also what kind of floor does everyone use with these things? Sorry, lots of questions....

Olivia67

[caberjim]

We don't have a Moo-tel, but we do have the 24x26 garage/barn. We've had it up for about 3 years and it has been solid. It's bolted into concrete and does not budge. Snow slides right off it. We don't get 70 mph winds, but it has lasted well thru 45-50 mph wind gusts For the price, it was a great investment. We also had a very light single car type made by another company that was given to us for free. Much thinner piping, different design, pipes didn't screw together, couldn't bolt it down. It was tied down tight, but only lasted about 3 weeks before it was completely twisted and crushed by 30 mph winds.

If the prevailing winds are hitting the sides, I think you're in good shape as long as they are solidly secured to the ground.

[jukebox]

Buildings have served us well and construction is good.
Have been in 50-60 mph winds. (Ground attach. shown.)
(piece of channel welded to looooong metal rod)
Will sweat under certain conditions.

Company and I had words on the 1-800 number they had put on bldg.
(I have since removed it.)

How are you going to remove it from 18 wheeler when it arrives?
It comes in 2 boxes, top in one and metal in the other. Very heavy

Would not be afraid to live in one of these things if it meant a roof over my head.

[watcher]

I don't know about the Moo-tel's but I can tell you about our experience with thier canvas 'buildings'. We have an 18' X 36' "party canopy" with ends and sides which makes it into a building, couldn't find that much storage space for the price anywhere else. We've had for 3+ years been using it as a permanent building, which it is not meant to be (its meant to be put up, used then taken down). About a year ago one of the kids left one end open and a storm came through. The wind got under it broke some of the anchor ropes and it lifted up and got caught in a tree. The only damage was some bent poles and joints and a tear or two in the canvas. I contacted Farm-Tek (online chat I think) and they found my order, told me what parts I needed and how much it would cost. I called back in a couple of days and ordered the parts. Its back up and doing fine.

We like it so much we are now looking at buying a couple of their garage buildings and put them on poured concrete floors.

[Olivia67]

Hmm, you've given me something to think about. I was worried that they wouldn't follow up with any help but it seems like they do. I think the warrenty is a bunch of crapola though, they could say that it was assembled wrong or the weather did it so we will be on our own if we buy it. My better half says the round ones will hold up better than then one that I like with a pointed top. I don't like the look of either but we're broke and we have to store hay and can't afford a "real" pole building by any means. 2,000 dollars is a lot of money to us even with the government hush money coming in, I don't want to make a mistake by getting one and regreting it later. We can't afford to pour cement under it either, we'll have to use some kind of rock or pea gravel for the vapor barrier. We can get that locally and they will deliver it to us so we don't have to break our truck by trying to haul it ourselves. FarmTek does have a floor system that we can consider also. Plus there is the "how do we get it off the truck" problem that was mentioned above. Maybe I'll just drive out there and see the buildings for myself, its about 150 miles one way and maybe if I see it in person it will help me to make up my mind. Thank you everyone so much for your suggestions and input.

Olivia67

[kermeg]

I am having one of their cold frames delivered on Mon. we have 50 plus winds will be able to tell you some thing in a month or so. I have ordered a bunch of stuff for our local RCD also and Heather 800-476-9715 Ext. 106 is very helpful

[watcher]

If you are worried here's what I did after my little problem. First I put an auger type anchor at each post (inside the fabric) then I ran a couple of ropes over the top and tied them to some large trees. Probably over kill but if the wind is strong enough to pick it up I'll have much more to worry about than the tent.