Drying shed will become a real Kiln with an L53

[doc henderson]

and since it is off the ground,  consider a ramp up to the floor level instead of steps.  i think that is easier to navigate with heavy lumber in tow.

[firefighter ontheside]

I'm definitely doing that Doc.  It's only about 14" off the ground on one end and the land goes up a little as it goes away from the shed, so a ramp could make it to where I really don't have to go up to get in.  I'll put some stairs on the other end, just so I can get in from that end when I need to. I'm considering chambering this thing off a bit to have one end be more of the drying end and the rest be storage.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

When we have a cold winter morning, oftentimes we see frost on the roof, as the roof cools at night when looking at the nighttime sky.  So, the roof is a few degrees cooler than the walls...we might see frost on a roof but not on the walls.  But the heat loss from a 45 degree drop, inside to out compared to a 40 drop does mean a little more heat loss in the roof, but is it worth the extra cost of thicker insulation.  When it might pay is when you are short of energy at times, so saving one percent in a kiln will be a big help.  That is, you can double insulate the roof, but the losses from the four walls, and door, are must more area and so lose a lot of energy.  

We can make a good case for increasing the insulation in an electric kiln (DH) to 8".  It is worth the investment both in peak energy demand and kWh usage, both which determine you electric bill payment.

Make a man door wide enough to get a reasonable size carrier or even a wheel chair in and out.

The OSHA standard for kilns required two exits for tHe enclosed space.  I am not sure if this requirement is still active, but it is a good idea.

[thecfarm]

I myself would go with a four foot door, if I was carrying lumber through it.
But I never carried lumber through a 3 foot door either. You might be able to do it now easily, but add 10 years to your life and things are different. 

[farmfromkansas]

My shop has a 32" walk in door, and in winter, I carry lumber like books to take it in that door.  
Does not require a lot of room if you hold the board against your body.  Also have insulated overhead doors for wide heavy stuff.  If you plan to load your drying shed one board at a time, think a 3' door will be fine.  Much easier to set it in on a pallet with forks though.  Wet lumber is very heavy. When I get my kiln doors hung, will be able to comment on wide heavy doors for a kiln.  Hope to get some done today.

[doc henderson]

my shop has a 3 foot man door, but a left turn 4 feet inside to the wood shop can be a pain.  I have 6 foot wide French doors that open and go straight into the center of my wood shop.  my container opens up along the 20 foot side.  good if you have stuff palletized as mentioned.

[Don P]

Or an end door that can take pallet width and kiln cart for roll in. Hand carry a stick at a time gets old fast.

[firefighter ontheside]

I hear you all on the access and trouble of carrying boards in one at a time, but now that is the only option.  In the future I hope to build a whole new facility, including shop, mill shed, and drying area.  Right now I don't have access to electricity where I would build that.  I think I will plan for a 4' door I will make for loading and unloading and install a 36" door for everyday access.  I plan to sell some lumber out of there too.

[firefighter ontheside]

I picked up insulation and plywood for the floor today, but it's a rain out.  I did rip some 2x4s I'm gonna use to help insulate the floor.  I need to put cleats in the joist spaces to hold plywood.  Tomorrow will be a nice day, if a little squishy.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

With doors, we are concerned about air leaks.  Old fire hose is tough and stands up well.

[firefighter ontheside]

Old firehose, wherever would I get any of that?

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

Fire department replaces their hoses now and then.

[firefighter ontheside]

I was just kidding, Gene.  I'm a firefighter and we throw it away all the time.  I also bring some home sometimes for the kids to play with.  I've got some on the kids treehouse to pad the corners.

[firefighter ontheside]

Well, I have an insulated floor now.  Man was it muddy out there.


 

[firefighter ontheside]

Progress was slow this week.  Other things to do, but I did get some walls built.  I wanted to get it under roof yesterday, but rain had other plans for me.  Hopefully a roof next time.  I decided to only have one door.  A second door just takes up wall space and it was gonna be too many steps to get down on that end anyway.  I framed for a 4' opening.  Haven't decided what to do yet.  I may put up a regular 36" door and have a smaller French door I can open if I need a wider opening sometimes.

 

[firefighter ontheside]

I finished the rafters, roof sheeting and felt today.  It will still get some blown in rain, but at least it's under roof.  Tomorrow, depending on rain and other factors, I should get the metal on the roof and osb on one side.

 

[farmfromkansas]

I have built a door using a sheet of 3/4" plywood, and then putting a strip of wood or smartboard trim around the face of the ply, then putting soffit panel between the trim.  Could just cover the whole front of the ply with the soffit panel, then run smart trim around the perimeter. I use the hinges flat ways rather than on edge like a door made to put on your house.  Outswing would be good as well, but you need to use a piece of chain or strap to block the door from wind. Have a storage building combination dog house like that, let the door hang down below the edge of the floor to keep it from leaking. Just put weather strip between the floor and the door.

[firefighter ontheside]

I was thinking of something like that.  I was planning to use plywood with foam insulation sandwiched inside and vinyl siding on the outside.  Wind today almost took my tar paper off, so I quickly put tin on the roof tonight.  I need to pick up 10 sheets of osb tomorrow to close it in.  Then I can run some electric before I insulate and put up osb on inside.

[firefighter ontheside]

Almost all plywood is on the outside.  I managed to keep the plywood on the trailer this morning.  Yay me.  I did one wall of vinyl siding, because I was tired of working with plywood.  I have a lot of vinyl, but not all matching colors, so I will do the best I can to make it look good.  I bought all this vinyl in an auction over a year ago with the intention of using on a kiln.  May not work on it tomorrow, because I need to mill some walnut.


 

[firefighter ontheside]

Progress has been a little slow the last week due to the nose injury and overtime at work, but I've gotten a little done the last few days.  Hope to get the siding done tomorrow.


 

[firefighter ontheside]

Thinking about the floor in there.  Toying with the idea of linoleum or rubberized roofing.  

[firefighter ontheside]

Completely finished up siding today.  Then I built a door.  It is 1/2 ply on each side with a frame made from cypress.  Sandwiched inside is a piece of 2" closed cell foam.  It's pretty heavy, but four 3.5" hinges handled it ok.  I think I will clad the outside with aluminum and then do like someone here did and creat a rubber seal around the hinge side.  Door is 45" wide.


 

[doc henderson]

I have drying shed envy!  looking great!   8)

[doc henderson]

it is always hard to know how to finish under a shed door.  we build a 4 x 8 chicken coop, and that area always was prone to swelling and rot.  might put an l flashing over it for now.

[firefighter ontheside]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to make some sort of threshold to try and keep water out.  I might even put a flashing on the bottom outside of the door to keep water from blowing in.  I have a big roll of aluminum trim coil and a siding break.  I should be able to do something.