Advise Needed For Closing Off Ceiling

[jimbo0076]

Looking for some advise on best way to go about sealing the "open" ceiling in my shop due to moisture(condensation) near the peak of the roof. Its a 24'x42x9' pole barn that started life as a half built horse barn. I done a bunch of work as money and time allowed and even got HVAC installed(traded some mechanic work for a used unit installed). The ceiling is open as can be seen in the pictures below and insulated with R19 all the way to the ridge cap. I've been leaving the temp set at 82 degrees during these hot 100+ Bama days and if I don't keep a ceiling blowing pointed into the attic to keep the air flowing than the insulation will begin to sweat quite a lot. My thoughts are to seal off from the cross beams(2"x6"s) that run left to right with OSB and to pull the insulation currently stapled up to the ridge cap down and allow it to lay on the new OSB that would be hung. That way there would be a hot space between the ridge of the roof and the new OSB. The ridge cap is open on each end to allow air flow that I THINK would be sufficient. I've grown up building whatever we needed or DIYing it but I'm not 100% certain if I'm thinking along the right lines.

If y'all agreed that this is the right way than I also planned on buying a pair of inline exhaust fans to install and run them to the soffit of the gable end with some grates so that any welding fumes and/or cigar smoke while hanging could easily be sucked up and blown out.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Zeke]

Let me ask this, why doesn't the HVAC you have dehumidify? Or, can you put a dehumidifier in there?

I think your plan has merit, but before tackling all that work, I'd see if I could control the humidity.

 

[jimbo0076]

It does dehumidify(its a 220v split unit) and I even have a a fairly big 110v plug in dehumidifier that is preset and runs off and on. But at the peak of the roof it still sweats on hot days. I believe the reason is because the peak or ridge is open on each end to allow air flow. I tried plugging the ridge on each end to see if it helped but it honestly made it worse.

The roof is stick built with 2x6s then decked with OSB then metal directly on that. Seems that the air is just more stagnant the higher up and the cool from the indoor temps causes the issue... but *shrugs shoulders*

 

[Zeke]

You could add in the missing every other collar ties and cover that part of the ceiling, dropping the insulation while venting the above space. You could then finish the room by covering the vaulted part at each side. Is this what you had in mind keeping the max height at the center?

The insulation is not installed optimally. There are voids but I'm not sure why you're getting condensation at the ridge. Condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes in contact with a cool surface. Why would the kraft facing of your insulation be cool at the ridge and not at the walls?

 

[NUTTSGT]

If it's going to be vented, then it needs to be sealed off from the outside air, typical older attic. This creates a "separate" attic space.

Some places south heat/cool attic space there by making it part of the conditioned space. The attic needs to be sealed off from the outside air.

Unless the place is conditioned 24/7, you will have humidity issues. If you leave the O/H doors open, it's all for nothing.