Building Question: Mennonites

[Bro. Williams]

I don't sit around and try to come up with random questions... but, I have a new one regardless.

Has anyone has any experience with structures built by Mennonites?

I have got some quotes on some residential pole building structures and the best price by far has been from a mennonite building company.

Input would be great here. thanks.

[Phillip]

Our neighbour hired some Mennonites to built a fence for him, they did an excellent job.

[lorian]

Good reputation in our area (PA). Hard, fast workers. My husband worked for a mennonite owned construction company for 7 years. They taught him the most and treated him the best and the homes they built were highly regarded.

[SunRiverMan]

I used them to build my garage. They are fast and good builders. You need to think it out and tell them everything you want.

Example-I have a unattached garage, but I asked for the foundation to go all the way to the house. They built it, but the outside concrete and garage floor are the same height allowing water to come in. You want gutters then ask for gutters. Special door hardware, it may be better to buy it yourself and have it ready. Sidewalk, ask for it. Lighting, again maybe buy the fixtures ahead of time.

They are good people to work with. SRM

[Bro. Williams]

Sounds good thus far.

The guy said they could have a pole building structure up and finished out in a little over a month (800 sf, no basement). It sounded unbelievable, but maybe it is true.

It is hard to check on the validity and reputation of the company though. I don't think that they are tracked yet by the BBB.

[PhilJohnson]

There are plenty of Mennonites and Amish around here. Around here they have a reputation for being hard workers and fast. I have found the reason why they are cheaper than everyone else is usually they have their kids working for them for free, they are insured through their church so they don't have to deal with large premiums, don't pay social security on their workers (don't believe in S.S or organized insurance), and they cut corners on personal safety items but never on the actual structure they are building.

[deb]

Originally Posted by Bro. Williams

Sounds good thus far.

The guy said they could have a pole building structure up and finished out in a little over a month (800 sf, no basement). It sounded unbelievable, but maybe it is true.

It is hard to check on the validity and reputation of the company though. I don't think that they are tracked yet by the BBB.

I don't think they will ever get tracked by the BBB.

Ask them for references if you want to know more about the quality of their buildings and follow through.

I live next to an Amish community and their building projects can go very fast depending on how many men are working on it. You need to have everything planned out ahead of time because you may not have time to make changes.

deb
in wi

[tiogacounty]

Originally Posted by Bro. Williams

Sounds good thus far.

The guy said they could have a pole building structure up and finished out in a little over a month (800 sf, no basement). It sounded unbelievable, but maybe it is true.

It is hard to check on the validity and reputation of the company though. I don't think that they are tracked yet by the BBB.

I can't even begin to imagine what could take a month with regard to a very small pole building? Typically, once the material is dropped and the holes are bored, a crew from one of the regional builders in our area only needs a few days to finish a job this size. A neighbor built an 1100 ft building with a storage attic, a cupola and a few other details. The building was completely finished in two days. One of my subcontractors had a 50'X120' done in less than a week. As for quality, do not get caught up in any mythical craftsmanship fairy tales based on anybody's religion. I have seen some really impressive workmanship done by Amish and Mennonite contractors, I have also seen a few that were more than a little rough. Look at recently completed projects and get references from previous customers.

[Bro. Williams]

Originally Posted by tiogacounty

I can't even begin to imagine what could take a month with regard to a very small pole building? Typically, once the material is dropped and the holes are bored, a crew from one of the regional builders in our area only needs a few days to finish a job this size. A neighbor built an 1100 ft building with a storage attic, a cupola and a few other details. The building was completely finished in two days. One of my subcontractors had a 50'X120' done in less than a week. As for quality, do not get caught up in any mythical craftsmanship fairy tales based on anybody's religion. I have seen some really impressive workmanship done by Amish and Mennonite contractors, I have also seen a few that were more than a little rough. Look at recently completed projects and get references from previous customers.

I do apologize, I did leave out a couple of facts.

The land is raw. No septic, no water, no power, no driveway. There labor includes all of this (some contracted out) and included an entirely finished residential structure minus the dry wall whi we are finishing ourselves. This also included up to a week of inclement weather delays.

I will try to get some references and look at some projects. Thank you.

[CocalicoSprings]

I would be very careful. A Mennonite will use the least expensive materials they can get their hands on. Specify every single piece of material down to the nails, bolts etc.
My best friend is a Mennonite carpenter. He uses only the highest quality materials but goes overboard the other way and builds everything to last more than a hundred years.

[sheepish]

We have Mennonites to repair our 120 year old barn whenever it needs something done with high ladders or something we can't do on our own. They do an excellent job. Their materials are good. Each workman bills on his own, rates depending on skill and responsibility. They even include use of tools as well as time in their bills.

The boss of the job was delighted to have a barn with old mortise and tenon joints to show the young guys how it used to be done.

[Shagbarkmtcatle]

Originally Posted by CocalicoSprings

I would be very careful. A Mennonite will use the least expensive materials they can get their hands on. Specify every single piece of material down to the nails, bolts etc.
My best friend is a Mennonite carpenter. He uses only the highest quality materials but goes overboard the other way and builds everything to last more than a hundred years.

Isn't that a little predjudiced? That's like me saying a Methodist will use the least expensive materials he can get his hands on.

I am Mennonite. I am a person. Treat this company like you would any other. Some are good and some are not so good. Yes, they are supposed to be honest because God is watching.

We have a plumbing company. We go for quality, and we back up what we do. Just like other plumbing companies be they owned by Catholics, Muslims, Baptists etc.

Why do people always have to use the word Mennonite or Amish? We are just people who are trying to follow God. Just like others that are Catholic or Baptist.


I think this whole question is over the top. How do you judge one company by the work of another? Just because they are of the same denomination or race or ethnic background?

[Stephen in SOKY]

Here in KY, in my personal experience, there are both good and bad builders of all religious persuasions. Just because they're Mennonite means nothing. Rather than the BBB, stop at places near your new property that have structures of the type you want & politely ask about builders reputation & owner satisfaction. The Mennonites/Amish play heavily on the name of their religion, often to the detriment of those who buy into the hype. There are great Mennonite contractors. Being Mennonite/Amish does not make one a great contractor. They love english money!

[cindy-e]

I don't know where you are, but I used to have business dealings with the mennonites in SO. KY near Franklin in Scottsville *all* the time before I moved. They are old order. If you are talking about that community, I would let them build it without hesitation. And yes, they do use recycled building materials, but that is not a bad thing! I have always found them to be extremely honest, and easy to work with. I actually miss being able to do business with them because they saved me so much money! But I am several thousand miles away now. :-(

Cindyc.

[Rita]

My son-in-law used Amish when he was building his house and the only drawback was he had to go collect them in the a.m. and take them back p.m. as it was too far to go by horse and buggy. Also they didn't have their own power tools and used his. One particular couple called on him several times to get his wife to hospital or doctor due to pregnancy problems.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by Shagbarkmtcatle

Isn't that a little predjudiced? That's like me saying a Methodist will use the least expensive materials he can get his hands on.

I am Mennonite. I am a person. Treat this company like you would any other. Some are good and some are not so good. Yes, they are supposed to be honest because God is watching.

We have a plumbing company. We go for quality, and we back up what we do. Just like other plumbing companies be they owned by Catholics, Muslims, Baptists etc.

Why do people always have to use the word Mennonite or Amish? We are just people who are trying to follow God. Just like others that are Catholic or Baptist.


I think this whole question is over the top. How do you judge one company by the work of another? Just because they are of the same denomination or race or ethnic background?

I agree with what you say but. I see a lot of advertising done using Mennonite or Amish as the qualifier for quality and honesty. Look for the thread about the Amish electric heater.

[Stephen in SOKY]

Originally Posted by Beeman

I agree with what you say but. I see a lot of advertising done using Mennonite or Amish as the qualifier for quality and honesty. Look for the thread about the Amish electric heater.

Exactly what I was trying to say. And that's from personal experience.

[Shagbarkmtcatle]

FRom my understanding, the Amish build the cabinets not the inner parts. Are they maybe being used for their name? A lot of "wordly" people do that. I once came upon a lady, not Amish or Menno or any other kind of plain person, selling Amish eggs. How can eggs be Amish? Can a chicken join an Amish church?

I would agree, that some, but very few, cash in on the name Amish or Mennonite. It's usually a person from outside of the church using the name. My business' name comes from the Valley in which the business is located. My ministers' mini barn business uses his last name before the word mini barn. No one in our church has the word Mennonite in our business names. But a neighbor man, not in our church, sells Amish storage sheds. We don't even have any Amish around here.

We strive to use honest practices in our business dealings. But we are after all just human too and we fail.
By the way, we can use the BBB, if we want to. We prefer to use word of mouth among our customer's though. It's kept us in business for over 20 years.

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by Shagbarkmtcatle

...We are just people who are trying to follow God. Just like others that are Catholic or Baptist...

From what I see around me and what I have learned not many try as hard as your people. Just my humble opinion.

[Shagbarkmtcatle]

Originally Posted by woodsman

From what I see around me and what I have learned not many try as hard as your people. Just my humble opinion.

That is very kind of you to say, but I have met along life's way, other people in othe denominations, that have taught me a thing or two about my spiritual life. I thank God for them

Lucky you to live in Belize. My oldest dd was there 3 years ago, for a 6 week mission trip. She loved it. She was at the Beachy Amish mission and visited the deaf institute. The pics are beautiful.