More leaks in pole building!

[wantacoe]

This building has got to be the biggest pos ever! I have spent a year and a few thousand trying to get this pos sealed up before I put any insulation in. I thought i had it pretty good, knew there were still a few leaks. It has about 2/3" overhang and when it rains I get some water running down the walls. It is not coming from the roof. The other day we had a storm, 50 mph winds and about 10" snow. I went out there today and this is what I found. I had suspected the wind was pushing the rain up under the small overhang. I think this probably proves that is what is happening. The building is 50x80. The whole North side is like this, not a spec on the South side. Last year it was coming from the ridge vent. I installed new ridge vent with the flow vent to keep rain and snow out. That seemed to work good, didn't see any at top. I am planning on putting a ceiling in so I don't want to block the air flow in the overhang. I also don't want to cut a million pieces of flow vent to put in each ridge. Any other ideas? Thanks
Pic with snow running down the middle of building is from last year before new ridge vent and flow vent.

 

[readhead]

There should be an eave trim and closuer strips between the trim and the roof sheets. Somehow I think something is missing. Can you take a picture of the eave outside?

 

[wantacoe]

There should be an eave trim and closuer strips between the trim and the roof sheets. Somehow I think something is missing. Can you take a picture of the eave outside?

There are no closure strips. The building is old, none of the new closure strips fit. The steel is 32" wide. I can't get pics for a while. Last time I was on my extension ladder it dropped 2 rungs and dropped me too. Not a good thing for an old man. I think I used up all my luck on that one, only jacked up my shoulder a little. Still can't figure how it dropped off the rungs but am not using that ladder again!!

 

[MrSurly]

Sounds like something is missing. Take a look at this drawing.







If yours is assembled correctly, but is leaking with *wind-driven* snow and rain, you may need to additionally need to add the closure shown in red.

 

[LXCam]

Since you can't find a closure strip you could seal it with spray foam. Then after it's fully cured cut off the excess. It ain't pretty, but it's effective.

 

[MrSurly]

The *easiest* fix would be closed-cell foam, either from the pro guys or a bunch of Great Stuff cans. For that matter, have them spray the whole thing. Costly, yes, but you could kill all the birds.... with that one stone.

 

[wantacoe]

Sounds like something is missing. Take a look at this drawing.







If yours is assembled correctly, but is leaking with *wind-driven* snow and rain, you may need to additionally need to add the closure shown in red.

Hmm, I know there is no closure but by that diagram there is also no "single angle/eave trim" either. Just the side wall up against the bottom side of the roof.

 

[wantacoe]

The *easiest* fix would be closed-cell foam, either from the pro guys or a bunch of Great Stuff cans. For that matter, have them spray the whole thing. Costly, yes, but you could kill all the birds.... with that one stone.

That was what I was going to do but I am going to install a ceiling. I was told I needed that space for air movement in the attic. The stuff I used on the ridge vent was called "flow vent", it is supposed to let air in but keep rain, dirt and snow out.

 

[rburke65]

Is your text correct?....the roof over hangs 2/3" ....??? Less than three quarters of an inch?

 

[wantacoe]

Is your text correct?....the roof over hangs 2/3" ....??? Less than three quarters of an inch?

No, it is about 2 to 3".

 

[dlundblad]

Is your text correct?....the roof over hangs 2/3" ....??? Less than three quarters of an inch?

This is my thought as well. An overhang would really help.

 

[MrSurly]

Hmm, I know there is no closure but by that diagram there is also no "single angle/eave trim" either. Just the side wall up against the bottom side of the roof.

No trim and no closure strip. Hell, I'll bet it leaks plenty when the wind blows!

Closure strips wont help with out that trim piece. You've got a situation that just BEGs for foam. Even if it's just the eaves.

 

[LXCam]

That was what I was going to do but I am going to install a ceiling. I was told I needed that space for air movement in the attic. The stuff I used on the ridge vent was called "flow vent", it is supposed to let air in but keep rain, dirt and snow out.

The ridge cap is the vent, you don't need anymore then that. At a minimum have the eve connection shot even if it's from a couple cases of spray foam in the hand of a juvenile delinquent

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The ridge cap is the vent, you don't need anymore then that. At a minimum have the eve connection shot even if it's from a couple cases of spray foam in the hand of a juvenile delinquent

Ridge vent is almost worthless without vents at the eaves to let air in.
Sounds like wantacoe is trying to seal and insulate a building that was never intended to be sealed or insulated.

 

[wantacoe]

Ridge vent is almost worthless without vents at the eaves to let air in.
Sounds like wantacoe is trying to seal and insulate a building that was never intended to be sealed or insulated.

Yep, no intake means no exhaust.
And yes, it was never intended to be sealed or insulated. It is an old building, probably from the 60's. Farmer just parked his machinery in it, only has 2 outlets and 3 light bulbs in the whole place.

 

[rburke65]

Maybe add some overhang to the roof. Sounds like it was just built to "shelter" equipment.

 

[wantacoe]

Maybe add some overhang to the roof. Sounds like it was just built to "shelter" equipment.

Yes, that is what it was built for. The amazing thing is that the whole thing is cement!

I am thinking i might put an extra piece of aluminum or steel at the eaves (the red mark in the pic) and then stuff the breathable material in the ridges.

 

[Bretny]

2 or 3in over hangs have no place any where it snows or rains. They should be more like 2 or 3 feet.
You will need to seal up all the gaps at the ridge, the eves and the bottom of the walls. 50mph and any snow/rain will find its way in every crack or gap.

I believe they make foam closure strips for metal roofing like that. Its prob not cheap or easy to install but by the looks of it you have a very cheaply built building.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Yes, that is what it was built for. The amazing thing is that the whole thing is cement!

I am thinking i might put an extra piece of aluminum or steel at the eaves (the red mark in the pic) and then stuff the breathable material in the ridges.

The "single angle eave trim" would do a lot to block wind and snow that blows up the side of the building.
I wonder if you could possibly put facia and a closure strip to block wind blowing straight in?

 

[bullnerd]

How long are you planning to stay in this building?

Would be worth it to fix it now before you finish the inside then it will get real expensive.

Build the proper overhang and add a piece of roof tin to cover it. Nice thing about the screwed down tin is you can unscrew it.

 

[maxpat82]

I would try to close the eave with soffit material.
that would be a PITA though to cut/fit every section.

50mph wind and snow....snow IS gonna get everywhere very easy.

the soffit material would block the wind but let it breath for the attic ventilation.

 

[Radix2]

I think you are overestimating the value of having a soffit vent. I would just foam the eaves and call it good.

You don't have a wood sheathed and shingled roof you are trying to ventilate. You have a ridge vent to let moisture out, you have a leaky building that will give some flow from other places.

It is more important to keep the weather out in your case then it is to let air in IMO.

 

[86turbodsl]

If you're spray foaming anyway, just do the entire roof deck from underneath. Then you won't need the vents at all.

 

[wantacoe]

2 or 3in over hangs have no place any where it snows or rains. They should be more like 2 or 3 feet.
You will need to seal up all the gaps at the ridge, the eves and the bottom of the walls. 50mph and any snow/rain will find its way in every crack or gap.

I believe they make foam closure strips for metal roofing like that. Its prob not cheap or easy to install but by the looks of it you have a very cheaply built building.

I have never seen a pole building with a 2 or 3' overhang.

 

[wantacoe]

Only had the cheap camera in my phone but I took a pic of the eave today.

 

[bullnerd]

I think I see Bigfoot!

 

[prd2hnt]

What about foam to seal the eves, and a vent in each gable end for air intake?

 

[wantacoe]

What about foam to seal the eves, and a vent in each gable end for air intake?

Yes, I thought about that, may be the easiest way to go.