ICE FISHING HOUSE QUESTION

[BEADLOCK]

When using metal studs on a fish house, will their be moisture lines on the wall were the studs are. I was told when the house warms up, there is frost lines running down the wall.

[TooBusy]

I didn't use the regular metal studs, but I made my frame entirely out of one inch steel tubing. I was worried about this situation as well so I put 1/2 inch styrofome on the inside of my studs. It is then covered on the inside with "plastic cardboard" (called chloroplast). Last year I did not have any issues at all with moisture lines.

[hanson]

BEADLOCK-

You most likely will experience that. Metal is an awesome conducter. The metal stud will conduct the cold from outside your shack to the paneling. The coldest parts of the paneling (locations of studs) will frost up the fastest. Some kind of thermal break in the stud cavity would be required to keep that from happening.

[BEADLOCK]

what if a guy did spray foam on the studs before paneling?

[iffwalleyes]

"plastic cardboard" Ditto on this material. I have this over the aluminum studs on my and it is way better than the first time we paneled the house without it. You will need to put some kind of vapor barrier other wise you will be fighting frost. It will warp your paneling and make it look really ugly. I know from experience.

[hawkeye43]

I was told if you were going to spray foam to do the paneling and wiring on the inside first. It much easier to do the spray from the outside, less over-spray clean up and can be trim down from the outside. Still up in the air about using metal studs, may cut strips of wood to put on the studs on the inside and that would give me a place to still nail the paneling to.

[icealotta]

A vapor barrier is a must with any type of metal/aluminum framing. It will go a long ways in preventing frost lines and other nasty things being discussed here. It comes in many variations but will no doubt be one of the most important components to your house for sure. Metal attracts the moisture and wood absorbs it as it melts from the warmth of the house. A good quality barrier can often prevent the nightmares for sure.

[Big Dave2]

If you were to put tyvek house wrap on the outside before siding and a plastic vapor barrior on the inside before paneling do you think that would eliminate the frost problem?

[hanson]

Big Dave-

I wish I knew an answer to that question. It is a question I pondered pretty hard last fall while building my shack as well.

The one reason why I do not think you can eliminate condensation or frost on the inside walls of your ice house is the moisture content inside the house is always going to be high. There is just too much moisture inside in my opinion, from augering holes, tracking snow in, etc.

With my shack, I have pole barn steel siding on the outside, 2x2 wood stud walls w/ 1-1/2 pink rigid insulation, and 1/4" Luaun plywood inside. The house is 7x12 and I heat with an Empire Direct Vent Furnace. The only problem I had with frosting on the inside walls last winter was in the corners and near the floor. I'm confident the reason for this was poor air/heat circulation within the house. I've got a couple 12V fans that are going to be installed yet this fall. Hopefully that solves the problem.