SUGARHOUSE WOOD SHED

[MASSEY JACK]

In a booklet I got from Bascom's about "Sugarhouse Design" that is written by the University of VT it states on the plans for the 16 x 24 sugarhouse that concrete floor is "not recommended" for the wood shed. Does anyone know why???????

[cheesegenie]

Only a guess, but cost?

[maple flats]

I can only think of the concrete drawing moisture from the ground. I use my sugarhouse for about 1/2 of my wood storage and will be adding a concrete floor this year. In the future I plan to add an open sided extension to the sugarhouse with gravel floor for wood but that is a couple of years off.

[Fred Henderson]

My guess would be moisture. I got a leanto off one side of mine for wood and a dirt floor. I put cedar slabs on for a stockade like look and the wood dries very well. Smells kind of sour out there right now beacuse of all the Hickory I just put into it.

[Parker]

I would guess it would be cause of moisture,,I know my sugarhouse floor will get very damp during the summer if the weather is just right,,I would guess that if you put some pallets down and stacked your wood on top of that it would take care of the problem,,,I would like to pour concrete for my sugar house woodshed BUT it is 20'x40',,,,and that is a lot on $$$ I would rather spend on tubing at this point,,,

[Toblerone]

I don't understand. How can a concrete floor produce more moisture than a bare dirt floor? My guess would be cost. There is no need for concrete under stacks of wood.

[mountainvan]

concrete should not draw moisture from the ground, but it does from the air if the conditions are right. I f you have a cool concrete slab and hot humid air, water will condense on the concrete and this could cause the wood to have a higher moisture content. This happens here in the mountains alot on hot humid days rocks in the forest "sweat" sometimes making it hard to get around without slipping.

[maple flats]

SoCondensation may be the biggest part but why do codes call for plastic vapor barrier under concrete if moisture is not drawn or wicked from the ground? Can it just be for Radon leaching?

[mountainvan]

sorry, forgot to add if concrete is poured/installed correctly, ie plastic, perimeter drains, thoroseal, etc.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have several inches of gravel in my wood storage area and in my opinion, gravel would be better than anything else. The 24x48 section of my building which is the sugarhouse is all concrete, about 6" thick.