Metal shed, and condensation... Ideas?

[patandchickens]

Yes, unfortunately that's what metal buildings do in climates where the outside air gets cold. Ventilation helps but is not necessarily the sole cure.

Easiest thing is what azelgin suggested -- glue rigid foam sheets to the inside of the ceiling. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT GLUE, some will dissolve the foamboard! I'd go 1" but if you are in a warm climate 1/2" may be enough. I'd also consider springing for actual rigid foamboard insulation sheets (usually pink or blue or pale green) rather than just regular styrofoam (white stuff like litttle balls mushed together) because the styrofoam will deteriorate with time and getting bumped, and start shedding little white balls all over.

You can use a spraycan of expando-foam to fill in any small gaps.

I'd really, really, REALLY recommend putting in more ventilation TOO, though. Make flaps/sliders/whatever to cover it, so you can close down however much you think is necessary, but that way you have it available. If this shed is like 8x8 (?) and well-populated by chickens, I would shoot for something on the order of 6-8 square feet of ventilation space, MINIMUM. You will need it in the summer anyways

GOod luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[chickenbottom]

ya

 

[TexasVet]

I took tip snips and cut some vents at the top, near the roof, of my metal building (also from Lowes).

You have to remove a few screws so you can tilt the side panel (wall) out, then make two 4- to 6-inch straight cuts about 4 inches apart. Then you can push the middle piece (the flap) toward the inside.

This allows airflow during the hot summer months, and you can push it back up and into place during the winter to keep out the colder winds.

I haven't had much luck with insulating the roof. It's really hard to get stuff to stick to the ceiling over the long term in hot Texas summers.

Kathy in Texas

 

[TexasVet]

Sorry, I'm slipping in my old age... I meant TIN snips, not tip slips.

Kathy in Texas

 

[Jay13]

Right now, its a 10x14 ft building with only 20 chickens in residence ... We actually have 3 of these sheds back to back to back with open walls between we just have the back wall of the chicken one as a half wall and chicken wire to keep the chickens in. I think I will try the foam sheets, we have some blue foam stuff left over from some work we did in the attic, it should go on easy enough :::crosses her fingers::::

Thanks for all the suggestions, I guess we might have to get creative to hold them up, screwing through a board into the metal or some such...

Jay