Insulating a metal building...options?

[Tractor Seabee]

the biggest problem with metal buildings is condensation on the metal. With animals in the building you are generating a lot of moisture to condense on the skin. Any insulation the absorbs moisture will get extremely wet. Not unusual for fiberglass bats on roofs to get so heavy with water tit all winds up on the floor. It is a real problem here in the Puget Sound region due to the high ambient humidity. A tight vapor barrier is mandatory on the inside surface of any insulation. Any air leaks and the skin will condense that water out of the moist inside air. Urethane, foamed in place provides both the R value and the vapor barrier but as you have found it is expensive. There is no cheap good solution.

Ron

 

[jeff9366]

I've read that spray foam gives off toxic fumes in enclosed areas and needs to be sealed or well ventilated. Maybe the new stuff is better than the old. I like fiberglass bats and a second interior wall. Figure out you vapor barrier situation to avoid condensation inside the wall area.

Water based foam insulation does not give off toxic fumes. It goes on fast.

Oil based foam insulation may give off toxic fumes during installation. It generate considerable heat as it cures, so sometimes it has to be applied in layers. When cured/dry it adds substantial amounts of structural rigidity to the building.

 

[MotorSeven]

How tall was this portion of your Quonset Hut? Is a cube heater different than a space heater that has coils that heat up with electricity?

It's 15' high if I remember correctly. Post #44 shows the finished insulation in the apartment side. I painted it white with regular latex paint since the original sprayed on color of the insulation was a seafoam green: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/97429-truth-about-arched-steel-buildings-3.html

Cube heater...mine is a Pelonis, but they are all pretty much the same, 1500 watt:
Pelonis Classic Ceramic Heater | Overstock.com

 

[RxRatedZ71]

I installed 6' fiberglass batting when I built my barn. In hind sight I wish I would have used the spray foam. Even if I would have had to wait a year to budget it. Use that year's heating budget towards next year's spray foam. While I haven't had any condensation problems inside, I think the foam would have performed better. Now under my porch roof, the condensation is heavy enough to have saturated a couple of bags of concrete enough to cure...