How would you seal this?

[bullnerd]

I want to seal along the bottom of the inside of my pole building before insulating.

There are some small gaps between the sheetmetal and wood.

How would you guys do this?

I was thinking low expansion spray foam?I dont want to pop the siding out on the outside.

I want to seal up the building as much as possible ,18yrs of critters in my old shop is enough.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Spray foam the gaps (good) or pack them with mortar (better).

 

[p_mori7]

Caulking ?

 

[csp]

Most of the steel manufacturers make sealing strips to install in gaps like that.

 

[PAToyota]

Most of the steel manufacturers make sealing strips to install in gaps like that.

This. There is a metal closure strip and a foam piece that is supposed to go in at the bottom there. Apparently they didn't install these when they built it.

 

[bullnerd]

There is a peice of trim on the bottom outside that is blocking it off pretty good,its not totally open.I remember seeing a peice of that wavy foam but dont know where they put it.

Not sure if mortar would expand and contract enough with temps?

It may be too late for the factory sealing strip since the siding is on?

Spray foam or caulk are my options I guess.At least caulk wouldnt be any chance of bulging the siding.

I'll try a small section of each and test it out.

 

[SARG]

I tried the spray foam on my polebarn a few years ago to seal the same situation.

I managed to make quite a mess.

I'd look for another solution.

 

[bullnerd]

Thanks Sarge.Now that I think about it,getting that **** to go where you want it is not usually succesfull without a 'crack' to fill.

 

[kbkna]

I sealed mine using caulking on the outside.

 

[bullnerd]

I sealed mine using caulking on the outside.

I dont want to do that.Its really clean and sharp on the outside.I would really monkey it up trying to follow the siding.

 

[srmofo]

they do make low expansion foam ...which is supposed to me a little more forgiving around windows and doors.

just dont fill the gap up and you will be fine. Ive always had good luck filling less than half. Saves time on the clean up also. Trimming can be a PITA

 

[Nowater]

One could always put down a line of masking tape along the edge where one wants the spray form to stop. Apply the tape horizontally on the siding even with the top ot the 2 by 4. Apply the foam in multiple smaller layers, and stop when it is close. Embed copper mesh to keep out rodents. The foam won't stop right at the edge of the tape, but the foam could be trimmed to fit after it cures.

You are right, there is quite a chance to make a mess. I don't think one could seal it in just one pass. Good luck.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I had this same question a while back and did what srmofo suggested, I used a low expansion foam and it worked great. My shops been up a year and I was having problems with mice getting in and shredding anything made of paper for their nests and this summer I found a snake curled up under one of my garden tractor projects. After I spray foamed it I installed double bubble insulation (man I wish I had known about that and had it done when it was built) then trimmed out the inside with plywood on the walls and a pressure treated kick plate along the bottom. Havent had a mouse or snake since.

 

[Cougar]

When I get around to it.
I'm going to fill the gaps with steel wool.
That should keep the critters out.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Problem I have with spray foam isn't the mess, it cuts and scrapes off pretty easily. It, however, holds moister (expands in winter...) and it won't stop the critters, They chew right through it.

When I was sealed my shop I did the spray foam on one side because I had some left over and mortar on the opposite -also because it was left over/lying around. Well that first winter I had mice burrow through the foam in a couple spots. I've since packed mortar in all the joints and have no more issues...

 

[Cougar]

Problem I have with spray foam isn't the mess, it cuts and scrapes off pretty easily. It, however, holds moister (expands in winter...) and it won't stop the critters, They chew right through it.When I was sealed my shop I did the spray foam on one side because I had some left over and mortar on the opposite -also because it was left over/lying around. Well that first winter I had mice burrow through the foam in a couple spots. I've since packed mortar in all the joints and have no more issues...

Yup.
Foam will work for a while, until they chew throught it.
Never thought of using mortar.

 

[Train]

They now make a pest resistant foam that is supposed to be good for mice, insects, etc. I'm assuming is just tastes crappy.

 

[c39er]

I used both the correct matching foam seal strips and steel wool for sealing the bottom of the wall panels. After a few years and one mouse that finally got through the lower wall I located and installed the proper lower wall trim strips. Twenty two 10' lengths of it. They normally are installed first-then the wall panels. A perfect tight fit as long as the bottom of the panels are level and straight.
No worries about mice and critters now.

 

[Cougar]

I used both the correct matching foam seal strips and steel wool for sealing the bottom of the wall panels. After a few years and one mouse that finally got through the lower wall I located and installed the proper lower wall trim strips. Twenty two 10' lengths of it. They normally are installed first-then the wall panels. A perfect tight fit as long as the bottom of the panels are level and straight.
No worries about mice and critters now.

That's the best solution yet.

 

[bullnerd]

They now make a pest resistant foam that is supposed to be good for mice, insects, etc. I'm assuming is just tastes crappy.

Now that sounds like the ticket!I'll look for it.

Thanks for all the replies guys.Havn't had a chance to try anything yet.

I took a pic of the outside trim on my building.As you can see,its sealed (blocked really) pretty good.Its mostly spiders and crickets I'm trying to keep out.I'm going to install metal on the inside so mice should have a hard time finding an opening.

 

[c39er]

I don't think there is a way to keep spiders out and very small critters out. Your wall build looks very good!

 

[PAToyota]

It will take a bit of effort, but since you do have the metal closure trim piece I'd back out the screws at the bottom of each panel and put the foam closure strips in like they should be. The metal piece will keep the mice from getting in and the foam will seal up the rest of it.

Even if you keep the spiders and bugs from getting in there, they'll come in other ways. Sort of the nature of pole barns.

 

[kyles974]

My local hardware store carried this (see link)
I was a little worried, because I'd never seen it before.....

I will NEVER use anything else again.....I used it on the same thing...gaps in meatal building

(I've used the "stuff" for windows and have blown out windows with it...I think the stuff is all name after using this below)

http://www.touch-n-foam.com/nowarp.php

 

[FITO]

I used the low expansion spray foam and just did the big voids.

 

[383]

Loosen the bottom row of screws and slide this (http://www.lowes.com/pd_229968-28906-6999230000_0__?productId=3054159) behind the siding from the inside. You can get it with or without adhesive, installing is after the siding is installed would be easier without the adhesive. It's called inside closure strip, outside closure fits on the outside of the metal, like between the roof metal and the ridge cap.

 

[BADSIX]

go to your local home and garden store and get some ORTHO HOME DEFENSE MAX. it comes in 1.3 or 2 gal. jugs with the pump gun. i got the 1.3 for just under 10.00 at home depot. this stuff works great on spiders and other bugs. i spray around my footings, windows ,gutters and anywere the nasty critters are about every 4-5 months. now no spiders or webs hanging around

 

[bullnerd]

Dang ! I didnt even know Lowes carried metal siding products!

Thanks for all the tips and links guys!

I didnt think anyone was going to reply.

 

[383]

Dang ! I didnt even know Lowes carried metal siding products!

I build post frame buildings for a living, and I didn't know Lowes carried it. I was just looking for a picture of inside closure to post and Lowe's came up. I don't know if they stock it, or if it's available in all stores.

 

[vpogv]

go to your local home and garden store and get some ORTHO HOME DEFENSE MAX. it comes in 1.3 or 2 gal. jugs with the pump gun. i got the 1.3 for just under 10.00 at home depot. this stuff works great on spiders and other bugs. i spray around my footings, windows ,gutters and anywere the nasty critters are about every 4-5 months. now no spiders or webs hanging around

This is exactly what I would do in addition to the foam strips. I spray the outside and inside of my shed each spring and don't have a have yet to see a single spider.

 

[bullnerd]

go to your local home and garden store and get some ORTHO HOME DEFENSE MAX. it comes in 1.3 or 2 gal. jugs with the pump gun. i got the 1.3 for just under 10.00 at home depot. this stuff works great on spiders and other bugs. i spray around my footings, windows ,gutters and anywere the nasty critters are about every 4-5 months. now no spiders or webs hanging around

I didnt see this at first,you posted the same time I did.

But yeah,I will definately being doing this.Just told my wife keep the dog away from my shop ,going to be hosing it down with insectisides!

Not really but she hates the stuff and keeps walking our dog out by my building to do his busyness!

Dont think I'll be adding the foam strips though.The panels were all screwed on with the same gun on the same torque setting.If I start messing with it I'm sure it will look like a wavy peice of **** when I'm done.

Thanks again for all the tips guys.

 

[383]

Dont think I'll be adding the foam strips though.The panels were all screwed on with the same gun on the same torque setting.If I start messing with it I'm sure it will look like a wavy peice of **** when I'm done.

Thanks again for all the tips guys.

It's really not that hard, you would be fine with a variable speed cordless drill. It may take a couple of screws to get a feel for it, but it's not that bad.

 

[Steroblan]

I wouldn't use steel wool since it will rust quickly and spread to the wall. Using any type of filler at or below grade will cause trapped moisture and rust again.
What you have looks effective at keeping rats and mice out and most insects. Use a commercial insecticide with a good residual available at keystonepestsolutions.com. I don't have a problem in my pole building. Maintain outdoor bait stations to eliminate rodent populations. Any determined pests will enter through the rollup door cracks anyway.

 

[bullnerd]

"Using any type of filler at or below grade will cause trapped moisture and rust again. "

Thats a good point!

Thanks for the link.

 

[egdede]

I tried the spray foam on my polebarn a few years ago to seal the same situation.

I managed to make quite a mess.

I'd look for another solution.

The latex based foam is water clean up. Spray it, wipe the excess with a damp rag. You can fill gaps of this size, and finish them smooth with the damp rag.

 

[RobSmith]

There's a particular 2-pack foam that you can buy, that you mix up yourself and pour it into the cavity and it reacts and expands to fit the gap. We can get it in Australia so I'm sure you can get in the USA. I don't know the particular brand name but I could bet it's available from 3M. This stuff is low impact and doesn't apply force on any 'forms'. It's water proof and tool friendly. There's different grades too . Some make up the foam like in camera boxes and others go stiffer like dashboard padding. do some searching on google for foam products.

 

[Highbeam]

I assume you just can't stop the critters from coming into a pole barn. The corners are also entry points and not very easy to access from the inside. People get mice inside their cars and we know cars are sealer better than any pole barn.

 

[D. Patina]

Loosen the bottom row of screws and slide this (http://www.lowes.com/pd_229968-28906-6999230000_0__?productId=3054159) behind the siding from the inside. You can get it with or without adhesive, installing is after the siding is installed would be easier without the adhesive. It's called inside closure strip, outside closure fits on the outside of the metal, like between the roof metal and the ridge cap.

Had to bump this thread from the dead. Just what I was looking for. GJ once again saves the day.