Applying water seal to barn...

[SuckerForHorses]

We need to apply Thompson Water seal to my barn before winter. We have use of a sprayer to make the job easier.

However, the loft is already full of hay. Gotta make hay when the sun shines!

My parents are concerned that the fumes will travel up under the open eaves and make the hay smell.

Our plan was to use a brush to apply the water seal at the very top of the walls (under the eaves) and go about 3’ down, and then use the sprayer for application below that. The sprayer has an adjustable width for application and is pretty controllable in terms of where its applied.

Thoughts?

I’m thinking as long as the stuff isn’t sprayed up under the eaves it should be fine. I can’t imagine “fumes” causing any issue with the hay as long as we are careful to keep the spray itself from going up under the eaves.

[gumtree]

The water based Thomson has little to no “out gassing” smell while drying when I have used it.

But I haven’t used in the way you are. If it is not a humid day it should dry very quickly with little worries.

But I am guessing on this. I have not found bales to act like a “sponge” like some people seem to think. Once dried down their moisture levels don’t change much. Regardless of ambient humidity.

At least that’s been my experience in my neck of the woods.

[Tom_King]

I dont’ know what kind of sprayer you are using. I use a pump sprayer like you spray insecticide and herbicides with. It’s just wax dissolved in mineral spirits. The mineral spirits do evaporate, but I’ve never noticed the smell getting into anything else.

[Kodiak]

I’d think you’d actually have to get the water sealer on the hay for there to be a problem. For example, I can’t spray paint on my barn after the hay is put up because there are gaps between the boards and I’d end up with painted hay.

If you’re really worried, run a fan inside the barn until the smell dissipates.

[Simkie]

I just did Thompson’s Water Seal this weekend on the kickboards in the run in off my barn and didn’t think it smelled much at all. It also dried waaaay faster than I expected with the 90% humidity.

It goes on super easy and fast with a roller, if you’d like to do that near the eves and spray everything else.

[SuckerForHorses]

Excellent info! I think we will just apply under eaves with brush or roller and spray the rest