Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I just put up a 30x40 pole building and put the truck and boat in. I have the engine hatch up on the boat and noticed this morning that the motors are covered in condensation. We just had a 30 degree jump in temps here and humid. I'm in the process of insulating the ceiling with foam board and then foam boarding the sides.

My question: Does anyone else experience this problem? Will insulating the structure help reduce the issue?

Until I get things insulated, I opened the windows a bit to get some air flow to help keep the inside equal to the outside temps, hoping this will reduce any further problems of temperature differential in the mean time......

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Had the same weather here in Upstate NY yesterday...went out in the garage to put some things away for the winter and noticed the same thing on my cars. Concrete floor was sweating as well. Think it's just the temp change.

Dave

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

the warm humidity laden air condences on the cold surfaces in your garage until they warm up.......I served my apprenticship working in cold storage facilities........thats normal.

Did you post pics of the garage???.....after pulling up and moving to a house with a suitable lot the plan is to start mine in the spring.......you must be stoked!!!.....doug

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I put up a "portable garage" (just a big azz tent) this summer and the salesman stressed putting plastic down on the ground to reduce moisture buildup. That has worked like a charm! On days like your talking about I can practically see puddles under the plastic, but inside the tent is quite dry.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Unless you keep the surface temps above the dew point this will happen.
Insulation could make it worse, once everything gets cold, it will stay cold longer. Heating to above dew point is the best way to keep this from happening. I just turned up the heat 5* yesterday to avoid condensation, when the weather turns cold and dry the heat goes back down.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

This is normal. In spring it will be worse.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

my empty beer cans were wet from all the dew in my house garage. Circulation and some heat will clear up. If hatches are closed they should be dry inside.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I make my living designing and erecting metal buildings so I do know a little about this subject. These issues apply to any structure, not just metal buildings. As previously stated by P M Trigger, moist air against a cool surface will create condensation. You need to have a good vapor barrier envelope around the entire building to minimize the humid air entering the building....easier said than done. This starts with a good layer of plastic under the concrete slab and a layer of aggregate to prevent water build up. All roof to wall connections and any other gaps must be sealed tight. This is usually where metal buildings get a lot of air intrusion. Use weather stripping on all doors and windows. Close all of the doors, cover the windows and turn the lights out and go inside on a sunny day to find the sunlight leaks. The insulation itself on the roof and wall panels will usually not keep the humid air out...it just prevents it from coming into contact with the cold panels and makes the building quiet in a rain storm...but you must use an insulation with a good and continuous vapor barrier or the insulation will become wet over time. Thats only a concern when using fiberglass insulation. Our commercial grade metal buildings are usually much more vapor tight than your standard pole barn. Seal up what you can, install the insulation and if you can swing it, a good thru wall A/C unit will certainly help.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

If you have a furnace/heater in building run it on these days where humidity is high and a low pressure front moves in other wise you will get the sweating/cylinders rusting,cast iron sweating,concrete damp etc,I experience it myself in my 40 x 100 barn,its sometimes impossible (as in my case) to make it air tight enough to prevent it. As a minimum measure spray everything with wd-40 that you can and fog your motor when prepping for storage. Ive seen ring and pinions in rear axles and gears inside transmissions that were pitted/rusted in collector cars that sit alot in these conditions,Smitty

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I keep the temp in my building steady at 50* and also run a dehumidifier year round. Cost a little bit to do, but it's cheaper than having all your tools, collector vehicles, and engine parts rusty. Makes a BIG difference.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Put in some ceiling fans and let them run at low speed all the time. Just the air movement helps too. I just fininshed a 32x72 and NIPSCO just installed the GAS today...7 weeks after ordering it. Set the furnace to 52 like Red Dog says :D

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Guys, I am looking for a metal building/barn in the very near future. 30 x 50 or bigger. Where do I start? The building will be going up in the Richmond VA area.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Sydwayz.... check with a bunch of different pole barn builders in your area and get an education on materials used, how they set the posts and options available. You'll find that each does things differently and prices can vary greatly!!! I spoke with an excavator first to discuss site prep as you'll want property level, top soil removed, backfill if needed, etc. Then building goes up and then blue 2b stone and concrete goes in after building is up. I added options like ridge vent, windows, over hangs, extra garage doors. I tried to make mine look more like a garage than a pole barn. You can also get shingled roof and regular siding as well. They can also put up foam board under the metal on the roof and so on. Put your ideas down on paper and draw up some designs that you think will fit your needs. Drains in floor for washing boat and truck. Click here for pics I posted of the one I just put up... http://www.speedwake.com/upload/show...threadid=30998

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Question: Water spigot freezing in winter???

I'm going to trench 3' down to run water, phone and electric from house to garage. Now, for the most part, the garage is going to be unheated. I want to run a single faucet in the garage, how do I deal with this regarding freezing of water line in the garage. Just like they have the 1' frost free spigots for a home, do they have something like that that goes down 3'? Or do I have to have a valve in the house to drain the line come winter time??

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Here's mine. 30x50 with 15" sheds on each side. Best thing I ever did. Had Drywater PoleBarns (Oklahoma) build it. Came in under 14k. Slab was 4k.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Sydwayz,
Just finished mine. I started with a footer, small knee wall and a slab on top of that. Had a vapor barrier put down before the concrete was pored. Also insulated and installed metal on the entire inside. Made a 5x8 shower/bathroom. Decided to install the electrical in surface mount 3/4" coduit after the building was done. Glad I did it that way. I went through two builders. First one decided he didn't want to finish it. Go for a reputable local contractor.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

couldnt access your pics from the "other" site :(

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

The barn would have to be completely sealed up and climate controlled like a house to stop it. It's normal.

One winter I worked for a local theme park that has a multi-level parking garage. We had a week of unusually cold temps. Then it suddenly warmed up and got humid. All five levels of the garage were sweating for days. I never saw concrete sweat like that.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Oh and East Coast......can you include your sexy wife in the garage pics????? :eek:

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

dehumidifier will work.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

You need a yard hydrant,most plumbing supply house can get them roughly $125.00.They come in different lenghts for diff frost depths.They are used for outside locations in horse corals and parking areas and can be locked and are self draining no freeze.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Plumb crack..... sounds like what I was looking for!!!! Thanks!

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

here

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

What does the backflow protection mean?? Thanks guys, this is exactly what I was looking for.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Backflow protection means it can't flow back towards the well ....prevents contaniments from getting into well .... Check Valve .....m

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Buy a couple of inexpensive dehumidifiers and drop in the bilge and cabin areas. They cost around $55-65 & pull very little current. They also help in keeping things from freezing as they generate a small amount of heat.

http://www.davisnet.com/marine/produ...ne.asp?grp=mo1

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I'm in the middle of insulating the pole barn, put 1.5" foamboard across the ceiling and starting on the walls. Haven't taped off the seems on the ceiling yet. As I was working out there this weekend, I could hear condensation drops hitting the new foam board I just put up. Thinking it's just that I'm running a little bit of heat and it's getting up to the attic causing the condensation to build up and RAIN.... Anyone else encounter this? I'm hoping once I tape it off, it will cure my problem....???? And I'm sure once I get the concrete in, that will help a lot with the dampness in the garage...

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

Now you need a vapor barrier, tape seams and caulk where you can't tape.
If you are running an unvented heater (hi hat, or torpedo) this will put water vapor(one of the products of combustion) into the air as well, which will make the condensation even worse.
Be sure to put plastic under concrete too.

Re: Pole buildings and condensation problem!!!
 

I hope to have all the foam board in place by the end of this weekend, got the shiney duct tape ready to go. Think I'm going to lay the plastic down to help keep the moisture down.... even though I'm not going to concrete until spring... dammed 10 degrees out there this morning!!! What ever happened to Global Warming... winters keep getting worse around here!!! Wonder how the canadians deal with winter!!!!!!