Metal building condensation (help please)!

[Bama67]

Go to Building Science Corporation and look around a bit. You may find a case study that is similar enough to yours to help.

My guess is that short of sealed insulation, you will probably need to go with serious fans, like you are suggesting.

Thanks for that link, there is tons of great info in it.

 

[Bama67]

Is this a metal bldg characteristic more so than wood? I have a wood barn (plywood walls) with a metal roof, & I think the metal roof does get wet sometimes, but not so much that everything else is wet, too. I wonder if maybe the wood is just enough better of an insulator than metal walls?

I would be very disappointed if my bldg was doing what yours is :thumbdown:

Yeah, it sucks. I used to work on diesel trucks in an huge old metal building that had NO insulation, and I don't ever remember ever having any condensation.

And if I have to ventilate it so much as to make the temp the same as outside, I don't know why I even bothered with insulation. I could have saved that several thousand dollars Frustrated.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is this a metal bldg characteristic more so than wood? I have a wood barn (plywood walls) with a metal roof, & I think the metal roof does get wet sometimes, but not so much that everything else is wet, too. I wonder if maybe the wood is just enough better of an insulator than metal walls?

I would be very disappointed if my bldg was doing what yours is :thumbdown:

Because metal transfers temperatures so well, it's more common and obvious with metal buildings.

It does happen in every wood house attic, but it's on such a smaller scale that with proper venting, nobody ever notices it. When I get into an attic that has it's vents sealed off with insulation, or a bad addition, I've seen water damage from condensation.

Think of a cold soda can on a hot day to a cold drink full of ice in a styrofoam cup. Sometimes the styrofoam cup will sweat or get wet on the outside, but that's pretty rare.

Eddie

 

[horsinaround]

You will need insulation and a souce of heat to reduce the problem.
Without the source of heat it will continue to happen.

Think about it... A glass of cold water sweats in the house all the time. So, you have to keep the tools/gunsafe/equipment warmer than the air.

You get condensation when it is cold one night and warms up quick. The metal tools that hold the cold sweat, just like the glass...

So, you have to insulate, heat, and that keeps the tools that used to sweat warm.

 

[beppington]

Do you have insulation up against the bottom of the metal roofing? Or anywhere in the attic/ ceiling? Or do you look straight up at metal roofing?

If not, how about adding that? Maybe spray foam could be sprayed directly to the metal.

 

[ch47dpilot]

BAMA67 2 things here is a site for a foam insulation contractor in Dothan: Spray Foam Energy Calculator - Dothan Foam Insulation their estimator says $18,000 but that's a 2400 sq ft house with 16ft walls so a shed maybe less. Second: who made your building and what was the cost with concrete? I plan to build something similar in Ozark next summer. I'm looking at Rhino Buildings but would like to see who you went with. Also who did the slab for you. Any other local advice would help. OH and if you fix the condensation issue please let me know so I don't reinvent the wheel with mine

 

[Cat_Driver]

Are you 100% sure it's condensation? I mean that much condensation is like turning your metal building into a moon shine still.
Have you been in the building when it's raining, and what's happening.
I'm interested in the roof panel seams and how that was accomplished.

 

[Oldtink]

You don't by chance have a ventless gas heater in there do you?

 

[AGGIE00]

BAMA67 2 things here is a site for a foam insulation contractor in Dothan: Spray Foam Energy Calculator - Dothan Foam Insulation their estimator says $18,000 but that's a 2400 sq ft house with 16ft walls so a shed maybe less. Second: who made your building and what was the cost with concrete? I plan to build something similar in Ozark next summer. I'm looking at Rhino Buildings but would like to see who you went with. Also who did the slab for you. Any other local advice would help. OH and if you fix the condensation issue please let me know so I don't reinvent the wheel with mine

Your pricing numbers are way off and would scare the heck out of anyone. I'd drive across the country to get $7.50/sf and still make over 100%. A 2400sf house would run around $8,000.00 and a shop is cheaper. For this application anyone should expect to pay $1.00/ sprayed sf. That is one inch of closed cell foam and the perfect amount for a non-heated space. If it were heated you would add one inch and about $0.80/sprayed sf.

 

[Bigkrank]

Hello all,

A couple months ago I finally built (or had built) my dream shop

I have built three steel sided buildings with and without insulation. My friend built two. FWIW the first year there seemed to be moisture inside then after that no problem. Not sure we had anything of the scale you are describing. Anyhow maybe it will lighten up.