What’s the Easiest Way to Protect My New Metal Building?

It seems like everybody has one great foe in their life they must eventually overcome. Peyton Manning (among others) must battle Tom Brady (again, among others) every year for the MVP award. Dusty Rhodes battled Ric Flair for the world wrestling championship countless times. The great foe for a new metal building might not be a future hall of fame athlete, but it is something formidable: moisture. However, if you adequately prepare with a project manager in the building process, you’ll be able to protect your new metal building and extend its life.

The appearance of moisture can come from a poorly maintained roof, cracks in the foundation, or from condensation. Water drops formed on a ceiling are a probable sign of condensation in your new metal building. Condensation forms when there is more moisture in the air than the air can hold and can cause damage to your insulation and other parts of your building. A properly insulated building will typically fight against condensation by preventing airflow between your building and the outside world, thus regulating temperature. Insulation can be damaged by moisture and may need to be replaced periodically. HVAC systems can be installed in your steel building and are able to automatically regulate temperature. An HVAC system can help fight against condensation as well as save you money when it comes to energy conservation too.

Let’s say dealing with a moisture problem just plain scares you. If the threat of moisture and its consequences forces you to look at other building materials, you’re already going down the wrong path. No matter what type of building material you decide to use for your next building project, you’re going to have to deal with precipitation and all different forms of moisture.

Should the threat of moisture force you to build a wooden pole barn, understand moisture can cause wood to rot or warp. Rot occurs when moist conditions provide a breeding ground for fungus and cause the timber to decay. Moist conditions could also cause the wood to twist, and move out of its footings. Naturally this decay or twist in your wood will weaken your structure and could cause you to spend money on multiple replacement parts in the future. While steel is susceptible to moisture, there are preventative measures to protect it. The most important fact of the matter – you’ll never have to worry about steel rotting or warping due to moisture.

Condensation can hurt your building, but there are things you can do to prevent it. For example, you should ensure there is proper ventilation and circulation in your building. Ceiling vents will allow the moist air to leave your building and adding fans could easily allow moisture to evaporate and not hang around. A strategically placed air tight lighting fixture will not leak warm air into your building and could help prevent condensation. Be sure to include a vapor barrier with your insulation to further protect against moisture.

Rust is also caused by moisture and can appear on both the outside of your building or on the inside. If rust appears on the outside of your building, it could lower your property value if you wanted to sell your building in the future. The appearance of rust obviously isn’t aesthetically pleasing, and it’s an ugly truth in our society that we judge by appearance. Rust on the inside of your building can be even worse than outside rust. The inside rust can lower the structural integrity of your building and, in turn, shorten your building’s life. You can fight rust and maybe even prevent it with the proper decisions in the design process. Decisions like incorporating galvanized secondary framing and ordering through a steel building provider that provides structural, paint, roof and wall panel warranties will protect your building from rust. Ask your steel building provider about the proper coatings to prevent rust and extend the life of the structure.

Moisture can be the enemy for a new steel building, but if you do your research and plan properly, you can defeat that foe and be the hero your steel building deserves.

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