skylights have no foam seals?

[WIHD]

Hello.

Looking at purchasing a home that has 2 pole buildings. Neither is insulated or heated, currently have minimal power, gravel floors, mostly for storage for outdoor equipment (though looking to change that upon purchase).
Midwest area where we have winters/snow, rain, etc.

Each building is roughly 30x40 feet, the roof is /\ shaped and the skylights run along the peak, the skylights look to be upside down "L" shaped to fit the peak.

Edit: Ridge Cap - see photos below and in further posts down the thread.

The home disclosures state "skylights on pole building have no foam seals"

I am trying to figure out what this means?

Can someone clarify what this means and why the owner mentioned it?

Thanks.

Edit to add: I'd like to put in concrete floors to work on cars/cycles and put in more outlets/power to plug in tools and install lights. At this point not going to insulate and heat the buildings, or if I did, it be in a localized work area, not both of the entire buildings.

Edit #2: This is not the exact one on the barn but this is what the skylights look like. Gives you an idea.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sounds like leaks to me...

Tommy

 

[WIHD]

Sounds like leaks to me...

Tommy

thanks, though see image on post #1.

skylight runs along the top peak of the roof (its /\ shaped), so water would run down the side and then need to go back upwards to leak into the pole barn?

or are these seals for this type of skylight just for bugs/critters etc

 

[manwithtools]

thanks, though see image on post #1.

skylight runs along the top peak of the roof (its /\ shaped), so water would run down the side and then need to go back upwards to leak into the pole barn?

or are these seals for this type of skylight just for bugs/critters etc

It's easy for wind driven rain to make the journey uphill on a metal roof, particularly low pitched roofs which are typical of most pole buildings. It needs some form of sealing to make it rain tight.

 

[larry_g]

I'd confirm that it is not a clear ridge vent. How far does the clear section extend down from the ridge?

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...rbonate-ridge-cap/1594406/p-1444424086117.htm

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

A vented ridge would not have foam there so it could breathe. Yes it could leak but as a cold storage pole barn I am guessing that was not seen as a big problem. Should you renovate the structure you may need to change how the roof is vented and seal areas to eliminate leaks.

 

[WIHD]

It's easy for wind driven rain to make the journey uphill on a metal roof, particularly low pitched roofs which are typical of most pole buildings. It needs some form of sealing to make it rain tight.

Am wondering what the cost of something like this would be. "Foam" would degrade over time so doesn't seem appropriate to use 'foam' (to me)

Some kind of silicon sealant seems more appropriate? but one still may want venting? (airflow)

Is this the type of item folks hire people to do? I am unsure what kind of weight the roof of a pole barn holds (if a person is crawling up it)

 

[WIHD]

A vented ridge would not have foam there so it could breathe. Yes it could leak but as a cold storage pole barn I am guessing that was not seen as a big problem. Should you renovate the structure you may need to change how the roof is vented and seal areas to eliminate leaks.

This makes sense to me. Thanks. I assume it was a venting thing w/ where the skylight is and its V shape (per pic in post #1). If it were a flat skylight replacing a metal rectangle of roof, that'd be a different story completely.

By 'renovate' you mean?? (if you could clarify)

I do want to drop in a concrete floor and put more power into the barn for lights, tools etc. Not planning to insulate and heat it (outside of possibly using a mobile propane heater to take off a chill). Still will be pretty rustic and that's ok. Def not a finished space and prob never will be.

Was wondering how this ties into putting in more electrical as one wouldn't want lights/electric etc getting wet etc if this isn't a vent issue but a leak issue.

Thanks. Plan to take more pics tomorrow and can post up here.

 

[WIHD]

I'd confirm that it is not a clear ridge vent. How far does the clear section extend down from the ridge?

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...rbonate-ridge-cap/1594406/p-1444424086117.htm

lg
no neat sig line

I have only been able to look at it a few times as I don't own the home (yet) and have put in an offer on it. I will see it again tomorrow morning but one of the roofs is pretty high and has 6-8" of snow on it so no way of getting up to see how far it extends down?

I assume its somehow bolted to the roof, so maybe can tell from the inside of the barn how far down it extends? which is one thing I was wondering too.

Unclear how to check this w/out climbing up on the roof once snow is gone?

Can take a few pics tomorrow and post as well.

 

[WIHD]

I do have a question in to the seller thru my Realtor to see what the seller meant by their comment. Just to get clarification.

Is there a way to tell what company manufactured the barn? I am unsure if builders put a stamp on it somewhere. That could help if I need to get parts etc. or get clarification on the build. This has to be 10+ years old, but pretty well cared for.

Thanks for all replies.

 

[LB-1911]

I do have a question in to the seller thru my Realtor to see what the seller meant by their comment. Just to get clarification.

Is there a way to tell what company manufactured the barn? I am unsure if builders put a stamp on it somewhere. That could help if I need to get parts etc. or get clarification on the build. This has to be 10+ years old, but pretty well cared for.

Thanks for all replies.

I'm of the belief that what is being referred to as "skylights" is in fact clear center ridge cap.

Scroll down to the 5th post @ Pole barn lite panels

 

[WIHD]

I'm of the belief that what is being referred to as "skylights" is in fact clear center ridge cap.

Scroll down to the 5th post @ Pole barn lite panels

Thanks! I think you nailed it!

Why would someone build a pole barn and NOT install the foam seals under these? They look relatively cheap?

I did find a pic online of the home, here are the barns below.

What is the best way to remedy this? can I buy aftermarket 'foam' strips and install from the inside to fix somehow? or would the ridge cap need to come off, foam strips installed on the roof, and THEN the ridge cap reinstalled?

(How heavy a man can walk on a roof like this?)

Wondering what the best route is here. I see foam strips at Lowes and Home Depot etc. Wondering if there's a standard size/fit for this style of roof in the pic.
Thanks again.

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Am guessing the seller means whats shown in this super short video. Hoping to take a peek at this tomorrow when I'm onsite.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Most likely the foam strips they mention are the ones made to fit under the metal roof to seal out the air/wind/rain. Sounds like they are dirt floor pole barns meant to keep tractors out of the sun and somewhat dry, not a sealed up garage. So in a high wind rain storm a few water drops won’t hurt anthing.

While not unusual for a ‘shelter’ style true pole barn, it’s kindof a case of the seller shooting themsleves in the foot on the discolosure. Did they have to mention it? No. But now that they have, trying to keep people from getting their hopes up of a completely weatherproof barn, your asking questions instead from them trying to be honest.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t....

 

[WIHD]

Most likely the foam strips they mention are the ones made to fit under the metal roof to seal out the air/wind/rain. Sounds like they are dirt floor pole barns meant to keep tractors out of the sun and somewhat dry, not a sealed up garage. So in a high wind rain storm a few water drops won’t hurt anthing.

While not unusual for a ‘shelter’ style true pole barn, it’s kindof a case of the seller shooting themsleves in the foot on the discolosure. Did they have to mention it? No. But now that they have, trying to keep people from getting their hopes up of a completely weatherproof barn, your asking questions instead from them trying to be honest.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t....

The disclosure states specifically "skylights". Will take a deeper peek tomorrow when I am onsite.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Unless the house has skylights somewhere, it could just be a wording issue that they’re calling the clear ridge cap on the barn skylights

And since I didn’t see it answered yet, yes you can walk on a metal roof. I’m 250 and do it weekly. . Although you want it to be dry, any type of moisture and it’s super slick. You would need foam seals that match your roof style, and need to take the cap off to install them and they’re usually double stick tape on the bottom to hold in place, and the roof material slightly presses down from the top

 

[like2wheel]

The disclosure states specifically "skylights". Will take a deeper peek tomorrow when I am onsite.

Sounds like they owe you a couple skylights, cuz it's the ridge cap that needs the foam seals.
Besides wind driven rain, it keeps things from nesting up there.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I see the edits. A ridge vent in a snow climate should have some sort of open cell foam or mechanical means of eliminating snow incursion.

Tommy

 

[Gladiator]

All sky lights are bad. They are too thin and do not hold up to the weather. Just get metal replacement ridge cap.

 

[WIHD]

Some pics, there's snow on top so not a lot of light coming thru. This is only one of the barns, the other is pretty high, no way to get up there w/out a bigger ladder (was only at the house for an hour yesterday, bought a laddder to look).
These barns look mostly used for cold storage (outdoor equip) but I'd like to drop in concrete and put in more power/lights etc.

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Looks like someone tried to stuff in some foam in this pic, though there wasn't any damp anywhere I was feeling around:

 

[WIHD]

Unless the house has skylights somewhere, it could just be a wording issue that they’re calling the clear ridge cap on the barn skylights

Thanks. will watch the slip.

From post #1-The home disclosures state "skylights on pole building have no foam seal

talking pole barns not the house. Thanks.

All sky lights are bad. They are too thin and do not hold up to the weather. Just get metal replacement ridge cap.

That was a question, finding one that fits the barn slope/peak. I'd have to believe this isn't a difficult task? Looks like kinda a generic Menards barn.

Looks like they used pole barn screws on the siding, so should be able to remove screws in ridgecap w/ a drill and appropriate sized socket? then install new ridge caps with foam.

I see the edits. A ridge vent in a snow climate should have some sort of open cell foam or mechanical means of eliminating snow incursion.

Tommy

yea, I'd have to guess this was used mostly for outdoor equipment (mowers, tractor) so maybe wasn't an issue to them? but the foam is relatively cheap so wondering why they just didn't opt for it when building. Kinda a head scratcher?

Sounds like they owe you a couple skylights, cuz it's the ridge cap that needs the foam seals.
Besides wind driven rain, it keeps things from nesting up there.

yea replacing them sounds like a sound idea. Thanks.

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Thanks for replies. As its winter here (snow on top) and as I don't own the home yet, I can't spend more time analyzing them by getting up on the roof etc. Some pics above.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

They didn’t use them because for their use of of strictly covered storage they didn’t need them. Just because you need them doesn’t mean they were wrong or cheap to not install them. It would have been a waste of $400 to them because they would get no be benefit.

Where do you stop for what they should have planned for and spent extra money on for no return? They COULD have ran conduit, they COULD have ran power, they COULD have ran water. But they didn’t because they built a barn to suit their needs. The fact that their needs are different then you’re does not mean they did something wrong

Without them it’s essentially a ridge vent that would help keep the building a little cooler in the summer also

 

[WIHD]

They didn’t use them because for their use of of strictly covered storage they didn’t need them. Just because you need them doesn’t mean they were wrong or cheap to not install them. It would have been a waste of $400 to them because they would get no be benefit.

Where do you stop for what they should have planned for and spent extra money on for no return? They COULD have ran conduit, they COULD have ran power, they COULD have ran water. But they didn’t because they built a barn to suit their needs. The fact that their needs are different then you’re does not mean they did something wrong

Without them it’s essentially a ridge vent that would help keep the building a little cooler in the summer also

There IS conduit and power to the barns, they PAID MONEY to do that.

As you've never been on the property you really have no idea what they've been using them for, you're making an assumption about 'their needs' as well as mine.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

There IS conduit and power to the barns, they PAID MONEY to do that.

As you've never been on the property you really have no idea what they've been using them for, you're making an assumption about 'their needs' as well as mine.

Well you said they look mostly used for cold storage in one of your last posts....

And from the description you’ve given they’re a bare bones pole barn with a few lights and plugs. Sure there’s a few things YOU would have to do to make it suit YOUR needs as apparently these foam seals are a big deal to you.

But again, you didn’t build the barn and you don’t own the property. Don’t act like the current owners are cheapasses and shorted you because they built a barn to suit their needs.

 

[SALIV8]

I see foam seals in the pics??

Are these foam seals the wrong type?

 

[WIHD]

I see foam seals in the pics??

Are these foam seals the wrong type?

from post above w/ the photo:

"Looks like someone tried to stuff in some foam in this pic, though there wasn't any damp anywhere I was feeling around:"

that was an attempt by someone to stick pieces of foam in afterwards.

 

[WIHD]

ran across this thread: https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2012/05/ridge-caps/

which led me to this product. Anyone ever use this? looks like this would expand to fill the gaps and I wouldn't have to pull the ridge caps to install. Could put in gaps between the ribs, then let it expand etc...

https://www.roofthings.com/expanding-foam-metal-roof-sealant.html
Available compressed thicknesses:
3/32″ (10mm) up to 2″ (50mm)
Equivalent expanded thickness:
3/8″ (10mm) up to 4″ (100mm)

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Here's the actual company, can buy these cheaper at different sites (than Amazon for example)

https://www.emseal.com/specialty-gaskets-tapes/product/ast-hi-acrylic-mst-metal-roof-metal-building-sealant/

These are also referenced on Hansens site.

https://www.amazon.com/Emseal-AST-Acrylic-Sealant-Tape/dp/B00H1CEGDW

 

[WIHD]

Followup....ran across my own old post years later so thought I'd post a followup.

I pulled the original translucent ridgecap as it was old/crispy/failing and replaced with 10 foot sections of standard 29gauge steel ridge cap.

I put VersaVent on the underside of each 10 foot section for wind/rain/bugs, it did a spectacular job and was ridiculously easy to apply. Would use it again.

https://www.atlasfasteners.com/product/versavent-ridge-vent/

AST tape in prior post....not the solution. I bought some for a diff project and it was heavy foamish, not for a ridge vent. Also the adhesive was poor on the backside unlike the VersaVent. Thanks