Storage ideas for spare sheet metal

[cjfling]

Built a pole barn and have some sheet metal left over. I'm looking for an idea on how to store around 15 sheets of galvalume R panel. Some of the sheets are up to 18 feet long. Plan to use on other small projects later and don't want to just lay the out in the weather. Ideally I'd like to stored in as small an area possible with the ability to pickup the who stack to move around with the 3 point lift of my tractor. Has anyone else dealt with this situation?

Thanks

 

[3BPercherons]

Built a pole barn and have some sheet metal left over. I'm looking for an idea on how to store around 15 sheets of galvalume R panel. Some of the sheets are up to 18 feet long. Plan to use on other small projects later and don't want to just lay the out in the weather. Ideally I'd like to stored in as small an area possible with the ability to pickup the who stack to move around with the 3 point lift of my tractor. Has anyone else dealt with this situation?

Thanks

I have plenty of room in my shop; you're welcome to store those 15 sheets here.

 

[jjmarotz]

Store it inside the barn standing it up on its side. DON'T lay it flat. Condensation will build up between the sheets and rust/corode/discolor.. the panels. It should really only take up a couple inches of space this way too.

 

[jimmysisson]

I wouldn't worry about lifting it all at once, which would mean what - you'd crate it or something? If you're going to use it for "small projects" you likely don't need it all at once. Store on edge, but protect the edge so it doesn't crumple. It's a drag when they get discolored in storage.
Jim

 

[SpudHauler]

I made these pipe racks for overhead storage. Work great for doors and light tubes. Might be an idea for siding. Mounted pipe to board then board to ceiling because 2x4 are only 1.5 wide and hard to get flange attached directly to it. Just scale it up for the extra load.

 

[cjfling]

Store it inside the barn standing it up on its side. DON'T lay it flat. Condensation will build up between the sheets and rust/corode/discolor.. the panels. It should really only take up a couple inches of space this way too.

When you say side, do you mean long side or short side. Short side would take up less floor space, but I was concerned that the amount of the wieght of 15 sheets would be a bad idea againist the wall. When I stand it on the long side, they kind of buckle against the wall and the you'll have the condensation problem. Plus all the wall space it will take up on the floor.

The reason I asked about a rack of some sort was also to be able to move the stack around with the TPL of my tractor.

Thanks

 

[cjfling]

I have plenty of room in my shop; you're welcome to store those 15 sheets here.

I bet you do. That just tells me you need more equipment/junk.

 

[cjfling]

I wouldn't worry about lifting it all at once, which would mean what - you'd crate it or something? If you're going to use it for "small projects" you likely don't need it all at once. Store on edge, but protect the edge so it doesn't crumple. It's a drag when they get discolored in storage.
Jim

Yes a crate of some sort was what I was thinking. Maybe two pallets put together with a frame of verticle slots on top to slide the sheets into. Storing the sheets on their long side with a few slot would allow condisation to drain away.

Thanks

 

[cjfling]

I made these pipe racks for overhead storage. Work great for doors and light tubes. Might be an idea for siding. Mounted pipe to board then board to ceiling because 2x4 are only 1.5 wide and hard to get flange attached directly to it. Just scale it up for the extra load.

Used that option myself for lighter things, but the weight of 15 sheets of 26 gauge from 8 to 18 feet long is a lot more than a screen door and light bulbs. The barn is made of 4x6 posts on 8 foot centers. Thinking the weight might be too much.

Thanks

 

[skipmarcy]

Store it inside the barn standing it up on its side. DON'T lay it flat. Condensation will build up between the sheets and rust/corode/discolor.. the panels. It should really only take up a couple inches of space this way too.

You know, I always thought this too and have read it and it was written on the wrapper on my metal when I bought it to build my house almost 5 years ago. I had about 25 sheets, 17' long plus some other good-sized pieces left over and for lack of anywhere to store them I put them on top of 4x4's on the ground in the woods out back and wrapped them in 2 cheap plastic tarps until I used about 1/2 of them last year to build my shed and the rest of them this summer to build an add-on to the shed. I just knew I was screwing-up when I put them there but didn't have another option. There was not one single water or mold stain or rust on any of that metal !! The only stains I had were a few on the top sheet from the mouse urine & turds where they had made a couple of nests under the tarps. And yes, there was a little water inbetween a few sheets from the disintegrating tarps letting some rain in but the metal was not stained or rusted. I had both forest green and ivory colors on 29 ga. galvalume, with white undersides. I couldn't believe how good of shape it was in when I un-tarped it after over 3 years of being tarped, laying just a few inches off the ground - very happy too !!! Quite a few dollars in that metal ...

 

[pat32rf]

Are you in a part of the country that has high humidity and temperature swings that will CAUSE condensation? We are, and yet our supplier stores theirs laying flat with minimal wrapping.
I store my used/leftovers flat on a skid with support under the ends so the snow load doesn't fold it. Your pieces are longer than mine but we have had long pieces delivered on a ten foot long skid with 4 feet hanging out each end.
I guess you could build a rack to hold it on edge that was only 3" wide so it wouldn't fold, then sling the whole rack onder a boom pole on your 3pth to move it around. You would only need an 8' long rack qnd let the ends hang out.
If you do store it flat outside just make sure that A: you don't leave it where you will drive over it when its covered with snow, and B; you lash them together so the wind won't pick them up one sheet at a time. They are deadly when airbourne....

 

[cjfling]

Store it inside the barn standing it up on its side. DON'T lay it flat. Condensation will build up between the sheets and rust/corode/discolor.. the panels. It should really only take up a couple inches of space this way too.

I ended up going with this method. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[JRP]

If you have a gap between the post and outer wall you could see about slipping some between post and wall, on edge. Perhaps a few at each purlin elevation. I have heard the R panels are easy for a crook to cut. Several lawyers might slow them.

 

[cjfling]

If you have a gap between the post and outer wall you could see about slipping some between post and wall, on edge. Perhaps a few at each purlin elevation. I have heard the R panels are easy for a crook to cut. Several lawyers might slow them.

I don't have a gap and plan to use the left over sheets on other projects. Also, there are easier ways to get into my barn than to cut into the wall, so I'm not worried about that.

Thanks for your comment.