Hi, I used to come here for answers to my questions about building my own garage but I ended up buying a property that had 4 buildings on it already.
One of them them is a Quonset hut, It has been built in the early 1970s. Its dimensions are 35' x 70', on a stepped slab that is 1 ft thick , I know, concrete was cheap back then, and fairly uneven seemingly lol.
The building is in great shape my issue is the fact that it sweats like crazy. I have moved equipment like lathe, milling , press etc... but I am reluctant moving my welders and other sensitive electrical tools due to that humidity that lingers in there.
The previous owners had the Quonset hut spray foamed on the outside ( open cell), the job was done a long time ago since chunk are missing here and there. Maybe birds are eating it too ...lol
There are 3 ceiling fans , and a small 12" exhaust fan on the back wall, that closes off when not in use. 1 service door and a 12ft garage door at the front. The heating system is two Schwanke LP gas radian tubes.
The fact that the building is sprayed outside makes its nice and inside , but the metal sweats , especially in winter if I turn the heat on the dripping from the ceiling starts almost immediately.
I dont heat the hut in the winter normally , just the in washroom to prevent the pipes from freezing, its more used as storage this year because of covid the business is slow.
The slab is obviously uninsulated, mayber the roof is leaking or its just condensation, but damn , I dont want to put 100k of equipment in there and get it all surface rusted ...it already started on the bridgeport.
I thought about respraying the exterior with closed cell this time just to water seal the building and add some insulation. but I doubt it will solve my sweat issue.
I dont spend that much time in it in the winter so I would like to avoid heading it 9 months a year, but if keeping it above dew point solves my issue...
The are already white spot (mold) on everything rubber in the shop, like my dirt bike seats , sled, etc.... Im reluctant bringing the rest of my tools in there until I fix the issue.
Sorry for the long post , what would you guys suggest?
Peter
One of them them is a Quonset hut, It has been built in the early 1970s. Its dimensions are 35' x 70', on a stepped slab that is 1 ft thick , I know, concrete was cheap back then, and fairly uneven seemingly lol.
The building is in great shape my issue is the fact that it sweats like crazy. I have moved equipment like lathe, milling , press etc... but I am reluctant moving my welders and other sensitive electrical tools due to that humidity that lingers in there.
The previous owners had the Quonset hut spray foamed on the outside ( open cell), the job was done a long time ago since chunk are missing here and there. Maybe birds are eating it too ...lol
There are 3 ceiling fans , and a small 12" exhaust fan on the back wall, that closes off when not in use. 1 service door and a 12ft garage door at the front. The heating system is two Schwanke LP gas radian tubes.
The fact that the building is sprayed outside makes its nice and inside , but the metal sweats , especially in winter if I turn the heat on the dripping from the ceiling starts almost immediately.
I dont heat the hut in the winter normally , just the in washroom to prevent the pipes from freezing, its more used as storage this year because of covid the business is slow.
The slab is obviously uninsulated, mayber the roof is leaking or its just condensation, but damn , I dont want to put 100k of equipment in there and get it all surface rusted ...it already started on the bridgeport.
I thought about respraying the exterior with closed cell this time just to water seal the building and add some insulation. but I doubt it will solve my sweat issue.
I dont spend that much time in it in the winter so I would like to avoid heading it 9 months a year, but if keeping it above dew point solves my issue...
The are already white spot (mold) on everything rubber in the shop, like my dirt bike seats , sled, etc.... Im reluctant bringing the rest of my tools in there until I fix the issue.
Sorry for the long post , what would you guys suggest?
Peter