How to seal Colorbond shed?

[julian1]

I have recently built a Colorbond shed and looking for some advice on sealing the shed to make it weatherproof etc. 

When I built the shed I installed sarking on the walls and anticon blanket on the roof. 
I will be installing insulation in the walls and then sheeting the inside with Gyprock, both walls and ceiling, and plan on also sealing the concrete to manage any moisture coming up through the concrete (although I believe the concreter may have put builders plastic underneath). 
I also have an electrician coming to rough in the electrical before I put the internal panels up, this includes putting in a fan. 

I also plan on putting in a whirlybird and vent which will go through the internal lining to help with circulation. 
My question is even though I have installed sarking whether I should still be sealing around the bottom edges of the shed to prevent moisture and dust coming up through the gap? The walls and sarking extend roughly 40mm down the slab. Is it ok to put something like an expanding foam or silicone between the slab and sarking? Or should I be leaving the gap to allow for circulation in the walls? I have looked at a number of the previous posts on lining and insulation sheds but haven’t seen a specific answer around sealing between the sarking and slab?

 

 

 

[EricL]

Hello @julian1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your shed's insulation.

I was under the same impression that the sarking should be left unsealed for air circulation. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Nailbag, @Dave-1 and @AlanM52 for their recommendations. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[AlanM52]

Hi @julian1,

The sarking should be left unsealed because all Colorbond garages and sheds need to breathe.

At the top where the roofing sits on the side and at the bottom between the side and the concrete drip edge.

I have not attempted to insulate my workshop, a standard Colorbond garage with roller door offset to the right allowing for storage and benchtop machines along the left, two skylights and two windows at the back - side entry on the right.

On a hot day I open everything up and turn on the big floor standing fan (the ceiling fan makes things worse) and if it it's still too hot I down tools and go inside.

Cheers

[Nailbag]

Hi @julian1 

Due to lack of specific knowledge in this area, I would suggest taking on further advice perhaps from a shed manufacture based on that provided by @AlanM52 and @EricL . There maybe other venting solutions/requirements other than installing a whirlybird etc that take @AlanM52 important comments around allowing heat to escape and airflow.

Nailbag. 

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @julian1 

I am in the same boat as @Nailbag , I dont have a lot of knowledge on metal sheds and sealing them up. I do know that ventilation is part of teh process fo insultion. 

A lot of members have taled about condensation forming on the inside surface of the metal sheds and various ways to handle it. Sealing the ability for condenstaion to dissapate may caus eissues further along.

In answer to your question, I would leave the base with the ability to breath as a first step.

Dave

[julian1]

Thanks @AlanM52 I’ll leave it unsealed 

[julian1]

Thanks @Nailbag I might reach out to the shed manufacturer for their advice too 

[julian1]

Thanks @Dave-1 I’ll make sure to allow it to breathe

[julian1]

Thanks @EricL