Condensation problem

[Highbeam]

My wife's been asking me that for years.....

Good point about the surface area. The broom finish adds a bunch more area from which the water in the slab can evaporate.

Water is good in concrete, as long as it's wet it is getting stronger. I've never had a problem with too much indoor sweat on a slab. Reducing the water introduced to the barn by vehicles should help. Ventilating the air to the outside should help move the wet air out.

 

[DirtRodder]

Just as a point of interest. The floor was all poured over a surface that was prepared the same, same concrete, pored the same day, in fact the two surface textures are in the same 40x44ft. building. There are no rooms or other dividers in the area that is concreted, two areas are smooth for the shop surfaces and the textured area runs down the center and is for pulling in vehicles for maintenance.
I guess it is what it is.

 

[RON W]

I have a30x40 metal barn and oilfield pipe and it sweats after a good frost and i built a house in it with wood framing and sheetrock and has central heat and air i didnt insulate the metal barn so what do i do to stop it from sweating please help thanks ron and on the roof of the barn house inside it is insulated and i guess the heat from the house makes it worst what can i do to fix this please help

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is a big problem in my area. That is why I built my barn with OSB sheathing covered with regular 3 tab shingles and vinyl siding.. What you will have to do now is spend some $$$$ and have 1" of blown foam insulation put on the underside of the roof. 2 or 3 guys on my road had the same issue as you. The insulation is like what you buy at the hardware and expands 3X.

Chris

 

[Steve C]

I have a metal clad pole building, rigid insulation in roof and walls, and a gravel floor. There is so much condensation in the building that you can see water drip from the roof.

What is the best way to eliminate or reducce the condensation?

Thanks,

Steve

you need to put a vapor barrier on the floor, it will eliminate 99% of the moisture. The ground is a never ending source of water vapor. You will never be able to dry it out without preventing the influx of water vapor.

 

[Diamondpilot]

you need to put a vapor barrier on the floor, it will eliminate 99% of the moisture. The ground is a never ending source of water vapor. You will never be able to dry it out without preventing the influx of water vapor.

This is true. I assumed it had a slab floor with plastic under it but that is not always the case.

Chris