Why are Anderson County farms replacing pole barns with steel?
A wooden pole barn in the Upstate fights termites, wet clay at the post line and a roof that needs regular attention. A METCO steel barn puts galvanized 14-gauge framing on the pad instead of treated posts in the ground, and covers it with 29-gauge panels roll-formed from raw coil at METCO's plant in Farmville, NC. Clear-span widths from 12 feet to 60 feet mean a 40-foot hay barn has no interior posts to work a tractor or a round-bale spear around, and leg heights of 9 to 12 feet leave room to stack bales high or park a combine header. Open-sided equipment covers, fully enclosed barns and barns with one or two open lean-to sides are all built from the same components. METCO delivers and installs the building so the barn is up within days of arriving and there is no separate contractor to schedule around haying season.
Where is the METCO lot in Williamston, and what's on it?
The METCO Metal Building Supply lot in Williamston is at 980 Beaverdam Rd, Williamston, SC 29697, off US 29 on the north side of Anderson County. Call (864) 840-9033; hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Pelzer is a few minutes north, Belton a few minutes south on SC 20, Honea Path is farther on past Belton, and Anderson is a short run southwest on US 29. Bring the dimensions of what you are storing, or a rough layout from the 3D designer at /builder/, and the lot can size the width, leg height and open or closed sides before you order. The lot quotes from current steel pricing, usually within 24 hours, and will tell you before purchase whether your parcel needs certified engineered wind and snow load drawings. METCO's other Upstate lots, including Anderson, Pelzer and Easley, are listed at /locations/.
What does a metal barn or garage in Williamston cost, and what moves the number?
METCO does not print a price list, because a barn's cost depends on how it is built. Size and leg height lead; a 30 by 40 enclosed barn and a 40 by 60 open equipment cover are priced differently even though both are clear-span. Standard 14-gauge framing versus optional 12-gauge, certified engineered drawings if your county requires them, and the count of roll-up doors, walk doors and open sides all change the quote. Site prep, a gravel pad or concrete slab and any grading are separate, and any wiring or water you run to the barn is done by your own trades. Tell the Williamston lot what you are storing, or design the barn at /builder/, and a quote from current steel pricing usually comes back within 24 hours. METCO delivers and installs free within 100 miles of the Williamston lot, and qualifying buildings can be bought rent-to-own with no credit check.
How should a barn site be prepared on Upstate red clay?
Pastures around Williamston, Pelzer and Belton sit on red Piedmont clay, and a barn site needs two things from it: a level, compacted pad and grading that carries roof runoff away from the building. Clay holds water in a wet winter and cracks open in a dry August, so a pad that is not compacted will settle unevenly and a slab poured without drainage will keep water against the base of the walls. Many barn buyers use a compacted gravel pad, which drains well and costs less than concrete; garages, shops and any barn with a finished floor usually go on a slab poured to the building footprint. The METCO crew installs anchors matched to whichever base you prepare. Whether Anderson County requires a permit or engineered drawings for an agricultural building varies by size and use, so ask the lot about your parcel before scheduling the pad.
