Pole barn ridge vent.

[Molerj]

I have a 2 story 30x40 pole barn. I insulated the walls with foam board and covered it with osb. I have steps going upstairs that I made a door to close that is on the floor. I just push it up and latch it and do the opposite when I want to keep the heat in the bottom floor. Originally had shingle roof but replaced with standing seam. Recently retired and plan on spending more time in the building and more time upstairs for wood projects. Upstairs has a dormer with a garage door that goes outside. Anyhow, the ridge vent let’s all the heat out through the roof. Just wondering if I can block that off? No shingles to worry about. Plenty of air flow in the summer when I have garage doors downstairs open and garage door upstairs open.

 

[EddieWalker]

Is air able to get in from the bottom part of the roof?

If you seal off all air from getting under your roof, you can seal off your ridge vent. If not, you will create a condensation nightmare.

How is the roof insulated?

 

[Molerj]

Is air able to get in from the bottom part of the roof?

If you seal off all air from getting under your roof, you can seal off your ridge vent. If not, you will create a condensation nightmare.

How is the roof insulated?

hi Eddie, I sealed off the roof vents last year. The roof is not insulated. I use the rafters for storage.

 

[MNBobcat]

You said the ridge vent let's all the heat out which infers you're heating the space. So no you can't block off the roof ventilation or you'll have a condensation nightmare (and likely mold) as Eddie said.

The fix is to not use the rafters for storage and instead install a ceiling to hold your heat in. Then make sure the roof is vented and the soffits are vented to allow the air flow.

 

[EddieWalker]

hi Eddie, I sealed off the roof vents last year. The roof is not insulated. I use the rafters for storage.

If no air can get into the building, then you have to keep the temperature inside the building above the dew point so you don't have condensation forming on the underside of your ceiling. The air the flows under the roof from the soffits, and exits at the ridge, are what keeps the underside of the roof dry. Condensation is forming, but the moving air is removing it. Ideally, you want the air inside the building to hold a lot less moisture then the air outside the building. HVAC units do this inside houses.

In order to keep the inside of the building warmer then the outside of the building, you will probably have to insulate. Otherwise, it will take a lot of energy to do this mechanically.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Agree with the others, either have air flow or insulate and have some type of moisture control. Just keeping doors open won't cut it.

 

[Molerj]

You said the ridge vent let's all the heat out which infers you're heating the space. So no you can't block off the roof ventilation or you'll have a condensation nightmare (and likely mold) as Eddie said.

The fix is to not use the rafters for storage and instead install a ceiling to hold your heat in. Then make sure the roof is vented and the soffits are vented to allow the air flow.

Thanks for the replies fellows. Maybe I didn’t explain well enough but I have no intention of heating this area other than when I’m working in there. And, at that 50-55 degrees is tops. I have a torpedo heater that I use if just there for a bit. If I plan on working 5-6 hrs then torpedo for quick warm up and oil furnace to sustain. That was done downstairs and never had any issues with condensation down there.

 

[user.69169]

Rafters or trusses?

Der some tricks can be done to keep roof ventilated wid small fan/blower and stillkeep heat or cool in building.
Make sort of fake attic few inches down from roof.
Cheapest is if you can score ceiling tile comin out commercial building.

 

[polarred21]

Very nice building. Would love to have something like that.