What does "Structure Dried In" mean?

"Dried in" means the building is weather-tight — foundation poured, post-frame shell up, roof on, siding installed, and windows and exterior doors hung. From that point your trades can work inside out of the weather. Sherman delivers the home dried in; you handle everything from there.

What exactly does Sherman build, and what do I run as GC?

Sherman builds the dirt work, foundation, engineered post-frame structure, roof, exterior siding, windows, and exterior doors. We also lay in the utility rough-ins (PVC sleeves and conduit) through the slab. From handoff forward, you run the rest as your own general contractor: mechanicals (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), insulation, drywall, paint, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, and FF&E. You pick the subs, set the schedule, and control the budget on the interior.

How is this different from the Craftsman Series?

Craftsman Series goes one step further — Sherman carries the build through the mechanical rough-ins (electrical, plumbing, and HVAC) before handing off. Structure Dried In stops earlier, at the weather-tight shell. Pick Structure Dried In if you want to source and run your own mechanical trades; pick Craftsman if you want Sherman to handle the rough-ins and you take it from there.

Who is Structure Dried In right for?

It is built for owner-builders who already have the time, contacts, and appetite to run their own project after the shell is up. Trades-people, working contractors, ranchers, and experienced DIYers all use this path. You get Sherman’s 50 years of post-frame structural expertise on the parts that absolutely have to be done right — foundation, framing, envelope — and full control after that.

How long does Sherman’s portion take?

Sherman’s scope — site prep through dried-in shell — typically moves faster than a full home build because we are not waiting on interior trades, finishes, or selections. Most shells go up in a matter of weeks of active build time once the foundation is set. Your overall move-in timeline then depends entirely on how fast you and your trades complete the interior after handoff.

What does a Structure Dried In project cost?

Every project is scoped individually because site work, structure size, and design vary widely. There is no per-square-foot Sherman price for a dried-in shell — soil, slope, utility runs, and how much exterior detail you want all swing the number. We quote based on a real site walk and stamped drawings, with a $2,500 drafting fee on the front end.

Can I finance a dried-in build?

Yes, but financing a partially completed home works differently than a turnkey build. Lenders typically evaluate the shell and your finishing plan together, so it helps to bring a clear scope of what your trades will do after handoff. Sherman can walk through the conversation and point you to financing resources used by other owner-builders in our service area.

Will the home meet code if Sherman is not finishing it?

Yes. The structure, foundation, and envelope are built to code under Sherman’s licensed contractor work (MN License #BC004619). The interior work you and your trades complete is then inspected on its own schedule by your local building department. Code compliance from final inspection to certificate of occupancy is the GC’s responsibility — you, in this case — but you are starting from a code-built shell.

Where does Sherman build Structure Dried In homes?

Sherman Buildings serves Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin from our headquarters in Mora, MN. That includes the Twin Cities metro and east-central Minnesota, the Brainerd Lakes and Duluth regions, and the Wisconsin St. Croix Valley and Northwoods — Polk, Burnett, Barron, St. Croix, and surrounding counties. If you are searching for a shell-only or dried-in builder near you in this region, reach out and we will confirm coverage for your build site.

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Weather-tight Sherman Buildings post-frame barndominium shell on a Minnesota build site at golden hour

Be your own GC

Structure Dried In

We frame it up. You take it home. Sherman delivers a weather-tight shell on a solid foundation — you run the rest.

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50 years building in the Upper Midwest (since 1976)
4.6★ across 209 Google reviews
Licensed MN contractor #BC004619
Serving MN & NW Wisconsin

The Fastest Path Into a Sherman-Built Home

Structure Dried In is Sherman’s most hands-off path for us — and most hands-on for you. We deliver the parts of the build that absolutely have to be done right: dirt work, concrete, the engineered post-frame structure, and the weather-tight envelope — roof, siding, windows, and exterior doors. From there, the build is yours to run.

It is the right path for owners with the time, the contacts, and the appetite to GC their own project. You bring your own mechanical, drywall, flooring, and finish trades. You set the schedule. You control the interior budget. Sherman gives you a code-built shell on a solid foundation, and the keys to the project after that.

Not sure if this is the right path? Compare it to the other ways to build with Sherman — Modular, Craftsman Series, and Turnkey Custom — and pick the one that matches your budget, timeline, and how much of the build you want to run yourself.

What Sherman Builds vs. What You Run

A clear handoff: Sherman delivers the dirt-to-dried-in scope. Everything inside the envelope is yours to GC.

Sherman builds

Dirt to dried-in

Site walk, permitting & stamped drawings
Dirt work, grading & site prep
Concrete footings, foundation & slab
Utility rough-ins through the slab (PVC, conduit)
Engineered post-frame structure & roof
Exterior siding, windows & doors

You GC

Inside the envelope

Mechanical rough-ins (electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
Insulation & drywall
Flooring
Interior trim, paint & cabinetry
Lighting, fixtures & FF&E
Final inspections & certificate of occupancy

Want Sherman to carry the build further before handing off? The Craftsman Series adds the mechanical rough-ins to Sherman’s scope before handoff.

How a Structure Dried In Build Works

Five phases. Sherman runs them. Then it’s yours.

Site Walk & Quote

We visit your property, talk through goals and budget, and quote based on real site conditions — soil, slope, access, and utility runs. No guesses, no per-square-foot averages.

Structural Drafting

Our team produces stamped drawings for the post-frame structure, foundation, and rough-in layout. $2,500 drafting fee, applied once and used through the build.

Site Prep & Foundation

Sherman handles dirt work, grading, concrete footings, and slab so the structure sets on a solid, code-compliant base. Utility rough-ins (PVC, conduit) come up through the slab where your trades will need them.

Shell Construction

Our crews frame the engineered post-frame structure, install the roof, siding, windows, and exterior doors — weather-tight and ready for your trades. Materials supplied from our own lumber yard.

Dried-In Handoff

You take it from here — your subs, your schedule, your finishes. The fastest path into a Sherman-built home for the customer who wants the reins.

What “Dried In” Actually Looks Like

From the slab to the weather-tight envelope, here is what Sherman hands off on the day your trades show up to start the interior.

Freshly poured concrete foundation with utility rough-ins and anchor bolts ready for post-frame construction on a Sherman Buildings site

Foundation & rough-ins

Dirt work, grading, concrete footings and slab, with utility sleeves through the slab where your trades will need them.

Close-up of engineered post-frame columns and clear-span roof trusses on a Sherman Buildings Structure Dried In project

Engineered post-frame structure

Laminated columns, clear-span trusses, and engineered roof framing. The same structural method Sherman has built across the Upper Midwest since 1976.

Interior of a weather-tight Sherman Buildings post-frame shell with windows installed and concrete slab, ready for owner trades

Ready for your trades

Roof on, siding installed, windows and exterior doors hung. Weather-tight, code-built, and ready for the interior build you’ll GC from here.

Renderings shown for illustration. Real project conditions vary by site, size, and design.

Not sure Structure Dried In is your path?

Sherman offers four ways to build a home — Structure Dried In, Modular, Craftsman Series, and Turnkey Custom. Compare them side by side to find the one that matches your budget, timeline, and how hands-on you want to be.

Compare All 4 Paths See Craftsman Series

Where We Build Structure Dried In Homes

Sherman Buildings has built post-frame structures across the Upper Midwest since 1976 from our headquarters in Mora, Minnesota. Wherever you are in our service area, we bring the same structural and envelope quality to your Structure Dried In build.

Minnesota

Built from our Mora, MN headquarters since 1976.

Twin Cities metro & east-central Minnesota
Kanabec, Pine, Isanti & Chisago Counties
Mille Lacs, Sherburne & Benton Counties
Aitkin, Crow Wing & the Brainerd Lakes area
St. Louis County & the greater Duluth region

Northwest Wisconsin

Serving the St. Croix Valley and the Northwoods.

Polk, Burnett & Barron Counties
St. Croix & Pierce Counties
Washburn, Sawyer & Rusk Counties
The Hayward & Spooner lakes region

Searching for a shell-only or dried-in builder near you in Minnesota or northwest Wisconsin? Reach out and we will confirm coverage for your build site.

Structure Dried In FAQ

: "Dried in" means the building is weather-tight — foundation poured, post-frame shell up, roof on, siding installed, and windows and exterior doors hung. From that point your trades can work inside out of the weather. Sherman delivers the home dried in; you handle everything from there.
: Sherman builds the dirt work, foundation, engineered post-frame structure, roof, exterior siding, windows, and exterior doors. We also lay in the utility rough-ins (PVC sleeves and conduit) through the slab. From handoff forward, you run the rest as your own general contractor: mechanicals (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), insulation, drywall, paint, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, and FF&E. You pick the subs, set the schedule, and control the budget on the interior.
: Craftsman Series goes one step further — Sherman carries the build through the mechanical rough-ins (electrical, plumbing, and HVAC) before handing off. Structure Dried In stops earlier, at the weather-tight shell. Pick Structure Dried In if you want to source and run your own mechanical trades; pick Craftsman if you want Sherman to handle the rough-ins and you take it from there.
: It is built for owner-builders who already have the time, contacts, and appetite to run their own project after the shell is up. Trades-people, working contractors, ranchers, and experienced DIYers all use this path. You get Sherman’s 50 years of post-frame structural expertise on the parts that absolutely have to be done right — foundation, framing, envelope — and full control after that.
: Sherman’s scope — site prep through dried-in shell — typically moves faster than a full home build because we are not waiting on interior trades, finishes, or selections. Most shells go up in a matter of weeks of active build time once the foundation is set. Your overall move-in timeline then depends entirely on how fast you and your trades complete the interior after handoff.
: Every project is scoped individually because site work, structure size, and design vary widely. There is no per-square-foot Sherman price for a dried-in shell — soil, slope, utility runs, and how much exterior detail you want all swing the number. We quote based on a real site walk and stamped drawings, with a $2,500 drafting fee on the front end.
: Yes, but financing a partially completed home works differently than a turnkey build. Lenders typically evaluate the shell and your finishing plan together, so it helps to bring a clear scope of what your trades will do after handoff. Sherman can walk through the conversation and point you to financing resources used by other owner-builders in our service area.
: Yes. The structure, foundation, and envelope are built to code under Sherman’s licensed contractor work (MN License #BC004619). The interior work you and your trades complete is then inspected on its own schedule by your local building department. Code compliance from final inspection to certificate of occupancy is the GC’s responsibility — you, in this case — but you are starting from a code-built shell.
: Sherman Buildings serves Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin from our headquarters in Mora, MN. That includes the Twin Cities metro and east-central Minnesota, the Brainerd Lakes and Duluth regions, and the Wisconsin St. Croix Valley and Northwoods — Polk, Burnett, Barron, St. Croix, and surrounding counties. If you are searching for a shell-only or dried-in builder near you in this region, reach out and we will confirm coverage for your build site.

Sherman Frames It Up. You Take It Home.

A weather-tight post-frame shell on a solid foundation, code-built and ready for your trades. Start with a free, no-obligation conversation about your land and your build.

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