best materials to insulate metal pole building

woprairie · Jul 7, 2012

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and have a question that I hope somebody can answer. We have a multi-use metal roof and sided pole building that had the roof insulated with a thin rigid foam type board when it was built but seems to be degrading. The sidewalls were not insulated at all and we would like to insulate most of the barn to help keep it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without condensation. It is absolutely brutal in summer and we keep a couple of horses on the north end and our tractor, horse trailer, etc. on the other side. Does any body have a suggestion for a rodent proof, fire retardant insulation that may be applied after market?

Thanks!

Mud Mechanik · Jul 7, 2012

Foam it Green Spray Foam Insulation Kits
I did not use these folks but I got the same product, has worked great for me.

Cat_Driver · Jul 7, 2012

Foam may be the best but the price was out of my range for a building.

I have a 100' x 125' metal building with ambient temps hitting 120 degrees plus and I used traditional insulation and it's fine. Doe sit get warm during the summer - sure, but a simple fan, swamp cooler makes it comfortable. Our temps get in the teens during the winter, and a smallish heater makes it comfortable.

I was looking into that insulation made from old jeans for my garage at the house.

Bonded Logic - Manufacturer of Environmentally Friendly Insulation and Padding Products

Denim to Insulation

woprairie · Jul 7, 2012

Thanks,

Will be looking into it. Illinois is currently experiencing a heat wave; multiple days of over 100 degrees(103 today) which is highly unusual for our area but we can have bitter cold winters as well so lots of temperature variance. The spray on foam sounds nice if not too expensive for our large building.

Mud Mechanik · Jul 8, 2012

The spray on foam that I used was around $1500 to spray a 30 X 50 shop, I thought that was pretty steep but do not regret it at all. My only suggestion would be to run some extra conduit for any wiring or plumbing that you think you may need in the future, I did not do that and now I have some that is covered by the foam and some that is exposed, not really a big deal but it would look a little neater if it was covered.

rswyan · Jul 8, 2012

For the walls - if you are planning on putting up an interior wall covering such as drywall, OSB, or plywood - wet sprayed cellulose:

NuWool: Premium Cellulose Insulation

Our cost to do a 42' x 72' barn (with three 12' x 10' overhead doors and two man doors) was around $1500 IIRC. That was about 6 years ago .... they had it done in about a half a day and it provides about an R-27 wall. Good sound deadening properties.

If you are planning on putting in a ceiling, then I would go with regular blown-in cellulose in the crawl space on top of the ceiling.

leveled · Jul 8, 2012

I studded the walls then insulated with r-19 unfaced fiberglass then covered the walls with poly then osb. The ceiling i lined with metal then used about 12 inches of green fiber with baffles. It is very warm in the winter and cool in the summer unless I open the doors.

kyles974 · Jul 25, 2012

I own a metal building and did.intensive amount of research. Spray foam is the best. I went with a radiant varied because PC my budget. Let me say, I will never go without a radiant barrier again. Although I used do live in Michigan......now Florida, I say the same for.up north. It was amazing the amount of radiant heat it keeps.out. For up north I would use the barrier with isolation

Agent Blue · Jul 26, 2012

6 &12" insulation unfaced, 4 mil plastic, steel white sheeting ceiling and side walls. Bright, cool, in summer and easy to heat. Didn't keep track of the cost. Just needed it done. This is a 40x72 wood frame building, 12' side walls with a second story attic truss system. It was easy to use insulation rolls.

mx842 · Jul 27, 2012

rswyan said:
For the walls - if you are planning on putting up an interior wall covering such as drywall, OSB, or plywood - wet sprayed cellulose:

NuWool: Premium Cellulose Insulation

Our cost to do a 42' x 72' barn (with three 12' x 10' overhead doors and two man doors) was around $1500 IIRC. That was about 6 years ago .... they had it done in about a half a day and it provides about an R-27 wall. Good sound deadening properties.

If you are planning on putting in a ceiling, then I would go with regular blown-in cellulose in the crawl space on top of the ceiling.

Did you spray it yourself or did you get a contractor to do it? Looking at the site they don't seem to be too homeowner installer friendly.