Insulation for shop ceiling

[tman1020]

Don't want to hijack thread or step on any toes so if I am just give say so but I was going to show my progress. I have almost all walls and doors done. I went to order the steel for the ceiling and decided to hold off. I think I will just install some R19 fiberglass for now and see if I'm happy with that. I think the steel would be awesome but I might be fine with just the insulation especially if I can find some with a white vapor barrier.

 

[tman1020]

Another pic. I'm covering with 7/16 osb and its working out nicely.

 

[ovrszd]

I think the steel would be awesome but I might be fine with just the insulation especially if I can find some with a white vapor barrier.

When we built my shop we wrapped it with fiberglass insulation backed with the white vinyl vapor barrier. I've since added liner panel to the ceiling and to the walls 7' up. I work with metal a lot. The white vapor barrier attracts smoke and dust. It's also very vulnerable to puncture. Although you can buy some time by leaving it exposed, I think you'll want to cover it eventually.

Looks like you are gaining on your wall project nicely!!!

 

[gsganzer]

Another pic. I'm covering with 7/16 osb and its working out nicely.

View attachment 449306

Is that styrofoam insulation? Do you do any welding/cutting in your shop and if so, are you worried about a spark skittering across the floor and starting a fire? Even with it covered with OSB, you'd still have a heck of a fire hazard, wouldn't you?

I've never used styrofoam for anything, so I'm just asking. I always assumed it ignites pretty easy and once it catches it's poisonous smoke and gets out of control fast. Does the blue or pink rigid also have a fire risk or is it different?

Everytime I've seen rigid used, it seems like there's still a lot of gaps where panels butt up to things allowing a fair bit of air leakage. The batts or blankets seems to seal odd geometry better, but I can understand uses for either.


Curious to know.

 

[Code54]

Don't want to hijack thread or step on any toes so if I am just give say so but I was going to show my progress. I have almost all walls and doors done. I went to order the steel for the ceiling and decided to hold off. I think I will just install some R19 fiberglass for now and see if I'm happy with that. I think the steel would be awesome but I might be fine with just the insulation especially if I can find some with a white vapor barrier.

View attachment 449305

As the OP - no worries - its all about insulating shops - keep it coming and thanks for the info and photos

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just finshed insulating a room for tight, heated storage after 20 years or so. That is the floor which is on the second floor of the barn. Asked for "Roxul" and got some similar Johns Mansville product. Utter, freaking garbage! Just falls apart! In fact one bag was opened and taped shut, with one bat mangled and un-useable. Probably someone bought it, said "what is this crap" and returned it. Then they sold it to the next sucker!

Anyway, the jobs mostly complete and the hydro meter hopefully won't be spinning as fast this winter!

 

[tman1020]

Thanks code54 will do. As far as fire risk with foam I suppose it is a concern. I do weld and burn in there from time to time. I have been using this method since 1995 in my other garage and never had a problem and there has been sparks all over it. I think being covered is key. Standard insulated garage doors use this same foam and also the door insulation kits and they are left exposed. I will do some testing with some of the scrap pieces and report back. This method is not as efficient as R 11 or R13 3 1/2" fiberglass but this gives me about R 7-8 and and a great thermal Barrier & avoids studding it out.

 

[STx]

30 x 40 seems huge for a workshop. Do you really use it all for workshop?

LOL, I rent a 40 x 80 and don't have enough room. I'll be building a 30 x 30 soon and don't know how I'm going to make it work but, it's what I can afford so I'll have to figure it out...

 

[newbury]

30 x 40 seems huge for a workshop. Do you really use it all for workshop?

Might need a clarification of "work shop". I call mine a shop. But I also park in it. 42x50 and needs to be bigger.

LOL, I rent a 40 x 80 and don't have enough room. I'll be building a 30 x 30 soon and don't know how I'm going to make it work but, it's what I can afford so I'll have to figure it out...

Five years ago I HAD a 15x15 "workshop" (225 sq ft), now I have about 5,500 sq ft,

still not enough. Need to put up a pole shed for attachments.

 

[tman1020]

Had to do some welding and cutting yesterday so I used a piece of the scrap Styrofoam that I'm using to insulate the walls as a backdrop. I purposefully tried to shoot as many sparks as possible all over it and it didn't phase it a bit. I'm not saying it would a great backstop I'm just saying that if a few sparks happen to hit it shouldn't be an issue. When I finish I will take a bunch of the scraps out to the fire pile and test it's flammability a bit more. I'm sure once it goes it's going to be like napalm.