Insulating leaky pole barn

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I have a pole building which wasn't the best constructed when built and now has more than a few roof leaks from nail holes becoming enlarged, etc. I want to insulate the place, or at least a part of it to use as a heated shop. I'll probably use spray foam insulation. One thing I'm going to hate to give up is the daylight from the translucent panels in the roof and on the gable ends, but I guess that's part of the tradeoff. I was wondering if using the spray foam insulation would also effectively address the problem with water leaks at the same time. Would it be enough of a water barrier?

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 06, 2002

Answers

Nope, it leaks. Try using pole barn screws, intead of sheeting nails when applying roofing, they hold 10 times better. Silicone Caaulk ought to do the trick on fixing the punctures.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrss@aol.com), January 06, 2002.

Or go get a big box of faucet washers to use under the screws.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 06, 2002.

Will silicone caulk hold up over time?

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 06, 2002.

You need to screw down your roof again, if it has wore out holes around the current nails, nothing else is going to make a long-term repair. Buy roof screws, take a few days, and screw it all down proper.

Then use silicone on the oversized leaky holes. It is rated for 20 to 50 years. _If_ you get the tin screwed down nice & firm, the silicon will last a decade or two. That is long term. If you just leave the tin flop around loose around the current holes, nothing will last very long.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.


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