Need Advice on Stack and Evaporator Placement in a 12X16 Shack

[bigschuss]

Hello ladies and gents,

Putting the finishing touches on my new sugar house....it's a 12x16, with an 8' cupola located smack dab in the middle of the ridge, leaving 4' to both gable ends. I'd like to position my 2x4 evaporator pushed towards the far gable-end wall, but in the middle of the building width-wise, under the ridge. See pics below.

Because of the way I built the building, I cannot put a stack through the ridge. I will have to off-set it. Knowing nothing about stacks, my question is this...in order to off-set the stack to one side of the ridge, will I have to move my evaporator to one side so that's it directly under the exit point? Or can I put a few elbows in the stack so that the evaporator still remains in the middle of the floor plan, but the stack exits to one side of the ridge?

Lastly, I don't see many sugar houses with stacks that exit the wall, and then rise vertically on the outside of the building??? I'm guessing there is a darn good reason for this? It sure would solve my problem if there wasn't an issue.

Thanks in advance,
Blair

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/bigschuss/Sugar%20Shack/P7250002.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/bigschuss/Sugar%20Shack/P7250003.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/bigschuss/Sugar%20Shack/P7250004.jpg

[RC Maple]

I had the same questions you have last year when I built my shack. When I asked that question about postioning the stack the opinion was that I should slide the evaporator just off to the side a little to run the stack staight up just to the side of the ridge. Don't worry about being off center a little - the steam will find its way out. That is the way I did mine - an opening for my double walled stack between the 24" spaced rafters just to the side of the ridge. There is a picture of it in the "test boil" picture on my photobucket link. The steam did find its way out just fine. If you search on here long enough you should find plenty of pictures of stack exits and good ideas. good luck - looks like a nice building!

[bigschuss]

I had the same questions you have last year when I built my shack. When I asked that question about postioning the stack the opinion was that I should slide the evaporator just off to the side a little to run the stack staight up just to the side of the ridge. Don't worry about being off center a little - the steam will find its way out. That is the way I did mine - an opening for my double walled stack between the 24" spaced rafters just to the side of the ridge. There is a picture of it in the "test boil" picture on my photobucket link. The steam did find its way out just fine. If you search on here long enough you should find plenty of pictures of stack exits and good ideas. good luck - looks like a nice building!


Thanks RC. I appreciate the input. I wasn't worried about the steam. I just like the evaporator in the center of the building...gives clearance on both sides for walking around, shelving, cabinets, etc. But I was afraid that I'd have to off-set it to one side. Sounds like this is the case.

[Dennis H.]

There is no reason why you can't have offsets and bends in the stack. But getting those stack fittings to make the offset may get pricey.
You would want to try and keep it as straigh as possible and with as shallow of angles as you can get. Stay away from 90's. Get at least 45's and you may need to get custom angles made up to get the job done.

You want to end up with a stack that will provide the least amount of resistance to the flue gases as possible.

[jrmaple]

Something else you might want to keep in mind is that the metal roof might starting raining on you, http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?17339-Metal-roof-raining-on-you
It might not because of the angle that you have on your roof.

JR

[OldManMaple]

And why can't you go through the ridge with a peak roof jack?

[bigschuss]

And why can't you go through the ridge with a peak roof jack?

Thanks Dennis and jrmaple.

Oldmanmaple....hmmnn? I don't know? I'm not really sure I understand how a roof jack works. Those 2x6's near the ridge shown in the pic are nailers for the metal roof. I don't see how I can cut through them to allow a stack to penetrate the ridge?

[wiam]

You could just eliminate those 2x6's and the roof jack should reach to the next one down. If not have one custom made.

[heus]

I agree with the last couple of posters. You can cut out those 2x6's at the ridge and go straight through the middle.

[bigschuss]

I agree with the last couple of posters. You can cut out those 2x6's at the ridge and go straight through the middle.

O.K.....thanks for the input guys. I need to do some research about how a roof jack works. I just don't see how I can remove or cut through those 2x6's? Besides nailers for the metal roof, they are also nailers for the ridge cap. Without those 2x6's, I have nothing to screw the ridge cap to.

Does anybody have some pics they can share of their roof jack in action?

Thanks,
Blair

[upsmapleman]

If you go just off center you can get a side mount roof jack. Slide the top edge under the ridge cap and you have eliminated a lot of your water problems. You will need one made for the pitch of your roof. You have a nice building, so spend some more money and put a nice roof jack on. You will never be sorry.

Dale

[maple flats]

You can go either way. To keep the great look you have I think straight up will look better. Just cut the 2x6 purlins (the 2x6 nailers as you call them), frame the opening (headers). My sugarhouse while by no means the showplace your is, has the same basic roof design. My stack goes right thru it, I just spaced the needed truss wider and cut the purlins to get the space needed. It looks like your rafters must be spaced at 4" O.C. so I'd suggest adding a rafter to frame the opening, the 2x6 below it will be good, or slide a short 2x6 in if needed. Even though this would have been easier during construction, it is still possible to do it. How far from the peak is your second purlin down? It looks like maybe 3'. If it is, just have the roof jack made to fill the whole space. You have a beautiful sugarhouse there and there is no need to lose that to put in your stack/roof jack.

[Dennis H.]

If your worried about supporting the roofing once you cut out the 2x6's and get a few steel studs and frame in some support around the roof jack.

[StayinLowTech]

I have a 12x16 shack with a 2x6 evaporator and I placed the evaporator over to one side - I think it gives more room on the remaining side to have a finisher and work counter plus room for people to move around. Putting the evaporator dead center in the shack leaves both sides too narrow. The steam will find the cupola - no problem there.

[bigschuss]

I have a 12x16 shack with a 2x6 evaporator and I placed the evaporator over to one side - I think it gives more room on the remaining side to have a finisher and work counter plus room for people to move around. Putting the evaporator dead center in the shack leaves both sides too narrow. The steam will find the cupola - no problem there.

This is good input. Maybe I need to rethink the placement of the evaporator in the shack. I was thinking I'd have enough on both sides, but it sounds like having it off-set is the way to go.

Thanks.

[wiam]

The roof jack will cover were your ridge cap is now. I would put up pictures but mine is not centered. :(