Quonset Update: Garage Door Install + Products for Sealing & Waterproofing

I am LONG overdue an update on my Quonset Hut build…but I’ve had many viewers of this video playlist series request I post an update since they’ve been following along while working on their own Quonset builds (behind me in the process).
I’m SO sorry it has taken me so long to post an update video. It’s been an extremely hectic couple of months and I’m so behind on finishing up this build!
I just wanted to pop in with some details of the garage overhead door installation in case it helps those preparing to do so. Also, even though I haven’t finished sealing and waterproofing my building, I at least wanted to share the products I’ve purchased and plan of action.
I’m hoping to get caught up a bit more on the farm as well as urgent client projects that I’ve been tending to…so that I can get back to this build. I’m going to REALLY try hard to get as much of this done before my electrician comes in to do the rough electrical work (scheduled for the last week of June). I’ll check in with more updates as soon as I have made more progress!
Many have also been asking about my project costs so far. I’ve been asked this in the past and I have an itemized list of costs to date on another video in this series. You can find that detailed cost list in the comment thread of the video in this series called “SteelMaster Quonset Huy: Sheathing Complete”.
This door ended up costing me $1,925 installed. It was actually less to start, but then I ended up upgrading to a auto-opener and that was worth the extra couple hundred dollars to me.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll keep you posted on more progress soon!

[@7yoyo7]

Great video! Finally someone addressing the leaking problem. Your videos and tips are appreciated! Thanks

[@hawkeyegrace]

I'm glad this was helpful for you! I had the same issue of finding info from others about these problems I was experiencing. For as many Quonset YT videos there are out there, I was wanting more info on real problems...so I'm hoping this series helps others as it has you. Thanks for sharing the feedback!

[@maniagokm3186]

Thanks for the updates. No roof leaks though. Thats a win!

[@hawkeyegrace]

Yes, you’re absolutely right!! Once you get everything tightened…that solves it! I have a separate video on the tightening of the bolts coming (out of order) just to give some insight into that process. I had a mini heart attack since after tightening all of the bolts on the arches, the first time it rained I had a small leak and I was baffled! But then when I got up top, I realized I somehow missed 2 bolts and once tightened it was fixed! 😅

[@davidfowler7558]

Great job on ur Quonset! Thanks so much! Endwall connect is superb, been tryin to decide myself on best method & this is the best I've seen! Building mine myself so much appreciated!

[@hawkeyegrace]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad it has been helpful! I honestly hoping to be finished with this build by now, but life intercedes with chaos! I have been battling a stomach parasite the past couple weeks and will be starting antibiotics TODAY! So hopefully, I'll be back up and to it soon so I can finish the build! I'll keep everyone posted with progress and updates. Good luck with your build!

[@davidfowler7558]

@@hawkeyegrace oh my, we're praying 🙏 for ur speedy recovery! Hate to bother w this Q, but the "flexible channel" used for the curvature & stud attachment, I can't find it on any search. Do u know the specific name of that part/type of track or know where to find? Thank so much for all u do!😊

[@hawkeyegrace]

@@davidfowler7558 No problem! I believe you’re referencing the slotted deflection tracks. I mention a little more about the specific components in the “Metal Framing Detail” video in this same playlist. That slotted deflection track is actually very rigid and I’m not quite sure how they bent it, but I do show some more detail into how they cut relief cuts to start getting the angle that they needed for the arch. If I remember correctly, one of the other commenters might have had some insight on how they bent it once the relief cuts were made.

[@davidfowler7558]

@@hawkeyegrace thank you, goin there now! Must have missed it

[@hawkeyegrace]

@@davidfowler7558 No problem at all! I hope it’s helpful! :)

[@hearcamir7810]

Great videos 👏👏👏👏👏‼️

[@hawkeyegrace]

Thank you!

[@williamdull3764]

I put duct tape around the bottom cracks and filled them with concrete no leaks and your building is much stronger. The plans call for grouting those holes

[@hawkeyegrace]

Super helpful tip! I will try that! Thank you!!

[@northeasterndirtandpropert7974]

The caulking should have been placed under the IBC connectors before they are lagged to the pad.These buildings are notorious for leakage at the base.Also,seam sealer is highly reccommended on the roof between arches.Im in the midst right now of a 30by 50 build.Shooting vids on my channel soon.Love the door,nice install.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Thanks for that info!! Yes I wish I would have known that prior to assembly. We had some bumps along the way with SteelMaster (they delivered a box of bolts and nuts which also had the sealant to someone else)…so we never got that. Thankfully we have not had any leakage at all on the arches with TONS of rain. I’m still working on fully caulking the base plates and what I’ve done thus far has helped tremendously with leakage.

[@ryanbrown982]

Agreed. The instructions for mine explicitly state to put the caulk under the IBC (though I have c channel rather than the IBC). Does the IBC need grout poured in it for strength? That might help a bit with water sealing as well.

[@Codeman785]

I put 2 rows of 3/16x5/8 butylene tape under the base connectors all the way around the entire shop and they still leak like a stuck pig. I've now caulked every seam on the base connectors and I'm waiting for it to cure and I will water test further

[@Codeman785]

Nice quonset hut. My kit is 30x50 and I'm trying to do the steel framing for my 2 doors right now. I have a 9x9 door on the front and a 12x12 door in the back facing the road. I've just went through and water tested all the arches, it is kind of annoying how much water leaks through the base connectors though. I put two rows of butyl sealant under the base connectors and they still leak. I plan on caulking them with silicon all over in every crevice to attempt waterproofing the base.

[@hawkeyegrace]

That sounds like an awesome set-up! I originally had a garage door on each side as well! Initially I thought I'd want to drive straight through...but in the end, I wanted more wall space and decided just to keep the one overhead door in the front. I hear you on the water issues! I love the look of the quonset, but the water leak issue definitely makes me question whether I'd go with it again in the future. I also haven't finished sealing mine, but thankfully just using it for some storage right now while still under construction and have everything up on pallets. Will definitely give an update once I have everything finished. All is being held up by me electrician right now so it feels like a really expensive storage unit at the moment. However, hoping to have some serious progress over the winter.

[@The_Brew_Dog]

My building plans called for sealing the underneath of the IBC to the concrete before anchoring. It also calls for me to pour grout at every single arch at the base which I think is overkill, my base plates are different then yours and much taller. For you though since sealing under your ibc is not an option at this point you may consider grouting after grading the landscaping on the outside if your caulking doesn’t quite cut it.

[@hawkeyegrace]

Wow, thank you SO much for that tip! I think that I may have to do that. I still get a tiny bit of water even with the caulking. It’s not significant, but annoying. I was going to hit it with another layer of caulk, but I may try your tip instead!

[@The_Brew_Dog]

@@hawkeyegrace yes ma’am. I’d take a pic of the plans and send it if I could, since I can’t I can just dictate the instructions and you can decipher them the best you can. Here they are, good luck! “ when the entire structure has been assembled and all the accessories have been installed the troughs must be filled with nonpours concrete grout. Grout for this purpose is a sandwater and cement mixture. In order for the grout to be non porous it must not have any gravel added to the mix. commercial nonpours grout maybe used or you can mix your own, the typical grout is a 50-50 mix of Sand and Portland. The ends of the panels both inside and out should be coated with the thin layer of lacquer or polyurethane this is suggested as Galvalume steel is sensitive concrete during the curing period. Grout mixture should not contain any calcium chloride. The outside of the trough is grouted with a slight slope away from the steel. The inside of the trough is grouted with a slight slope 2 inches above the centerline of the second set of bolts, inside grouting should be higher than the outside grouting. The solid endwall trough is also grouted both inside and out. By sloping the grout away from the steel no water will sit on the foundation, but will run off easily use a 20% slope outside the building in a 25% slope inside.

[@hawkeyegrace]

@@The_Brew_Dog that’s truly amazing!! Thank you again for the help!

[@The_Brew_Dog]

@@hawkeyegrace “amazing” is more then my 3 minutes expended is worth but you are welcome all the same, hope it helps.

[@maloyaircraft1174]

Grading the land around your slab that the Quonset hut is sitting on is causing this. Water needs to run downhill. Other option is running gutters below the slab to move the water away from the building.

[@davidpink4807]

Did the caulking work? I just finished putting up a 22x40 and despite following install instructions it still leaks under the base connectors. Just curious if you ever found a fix?

[@hawkeyegrace]

Partially. I used Titebond caulking for metal and it reduced the leaking significantly, but didn’t 100% eliminate it. I do plan on hitting it again with another thick layer both inside and outside to see if that fully takes care of it, but the leaking is minimal enough for now that I haven’t had time to go back and hit it again yet.

[@snow31murse]

@@hawkeyegrace I did not like the 7K price for a 30 X48' Steelmaster baseplate. I am making my own and will upload a video of that. The cost is 2K with my wire feed welder and all parts powder coated. I poured the cement with the Keyway and will grout the building in place. The questions about cement and rebar deserves some comment. It is June 2023, there was 38 yards of cement @ $225/ yard $8,550 plus $1585 for 168 bars of 1/2 rebar plus the many anchors, 1k for form word 180 yards sand, 30 yeards pea stone and railroad stone... another $3K. . I also placed 4" sand sock tile with pea stone to provide appropriate drainage as the ground is heavy clay. There is nothing inexpensive about a Steel Master Building. I am betting the final cost will be 3X the cost of the building. I am keeping an accurate record of what the costs are. If I knew then what I now know there is NO WAY I would have bought one.

[@hawkeyegrace]

@@snow31murse I agree that there were SO many other costs aside the building and slab itself that have driven the cost of this build so high. I bought mine in 2020, and I can only imagine how much higher the cost is now! There are definitely a lot more options on getting a building this size up for a lot less expensive. That’s part of the reason why I started this video series…since there are so many people building quonsets, but from what I could tell at the time, not a great amount of detail and resources detailing the good/bad/ugly about the whole process. One of my other videos has a detailed accounting of everything I’ve spent to date on the comments, but again…needs to be adjusted for todays rates. I haven’t got to the point where I regret the build because I’m happy with the overall turnout, but I’ve certainly reached the point that I wouldn’t build a quonset again for the next one. I do love the unique shape and aesthetic and get a lot of compliments since it’s in a highly visible, high traffic location. I will definitely go with something different for my next build though.