Need Insulation Advice For New Shop

[crbr]

It seems that spray foam has the most votes! This will cost 6 to 7 times what the rollout fiberglass insulation, 5x more than polystyrene with foil back, and 2x more than RMax insulation board with foil back. I actually have a friend here that does spray foam for a living and I know he would do a good job. It is just that when I am getting a loan to build this shop is it wisdom to spend that much extra on insulation? It just might be.

For me, the iso spray has been the best investment component of my structures. The return on the investment is fairly soon (variables depending) but it's well worth the money. I have even had the inside of all of my roof decks sprayed. Well worth it.

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[Luremaker]

Eight years ago I would have loved to insulate my shop (40x60x14) with spray foam but at the time could not justify the cost ( I was working on a very tight budget). Instead I used Roxul insulation with a 6mil vapor barrier.. Mice don't like it and it does not absorb water. The people at Taunton Press say it is better than fiberglass.

While doing a little reno work in the garage at my last home, which was insulated with fiberglass, I found quite a few mice nests and mice highways throughout the insulation. If using fiberglass you must be sure all your walls are mice proof. You don't want those critters moving in.

If I were doing it again I would have added an additional layer of polyiso or polystyrene insulation under the steel.

Home

 

[forgeblast]

What about a diy kit? I had a kit and it was very easy to use. Just plastic everything and have ladders ready to move to keep the product moving.

 

[monteu]

I'll have to check into that. I have not heard of that before.

 

[crbr]

Thanks for the pictures

 

[Mounted Madness]

What about a diy kit? I had a kit and it was very easy to use. Just plastic everything and have ladders ready to move to keep the product moving.

There was a thread a little while ago on this actual topic - diy spray foam. As I recall, there were a number of negative comments on diy, and this from individuals that had actually tried it. Might be worthwhile to look at.

Had my shop spray foamed about a month ago. Amazing stuff and it really does insulate far better then fiberglass. I'd recommend it, though it is expensive...:thumbsup:

 

[PILOON]

With insulation I always think of payback.
Either pay a lot to heat which costs more year to year or do a good job insulating now.
I always suggest the best insulation available as you buy it with today's dollars while heating bills are with future inflating dollars.
Look at oil, when was the last time it dropped in price? or electricity?

 

[forgeblast]

Hehe, I am not sure if I started that thread, but I have used a kit to spray my sill plate and part of my attic. It was really easy to do as long as you made sure the temp strips on the part a and b were in the correct zone.
The spraying I was doing was cramped and overhead, if I had to only do walls, I would do it again no problem. Just compare the price though, it may not be much more to have someone else do it, since they are buying in bulk.
I used Foam it Green Spray Foam Insulation Kits

 

[Rhuntley]

Eight years ago I would have loved to insulate my shop (40x60x14) with spray foam but at the time could not justify the cost ( I was working on a very tight budget). Instead I used Roxul insulation with a 6mil vapor barrier.. Mice don't like it and it does not absorb water. The people at Taunton Press say it is better than fiberglass.

While doing a little reno work in the garage at my last home, which was insulated with fiberglass, I found quite a few mice nests and mice highways throughout the insulation. If using fiberglass you must be sure all your walls are mice proof. You don't want those critters moving in.

If I were doing it again I would have added an additional layer of polyiso or polystyrene insulation under the steel.

Home

Is your shop metal on the outside? Wondering if you have plastic between insulation and metal to the outside? I was looking at the roxul but not sure if I need to put a vapor barrier on the outside and the inside.

 

[varmint]

As a retired architect, I have some experience with vapor retarders, ventilation and insulation. Just enough to get myself in trouble, most likely. The opinions expressed on this thread seem about right to me... when I put up a 24 x 32 Morton building, I thought I was going overboard with R-19 wall and R-30+ ceiling fiberglass batt insulation (there's 2" of Styrofoam blue board under the slab all around the perimeter). I built a second inside wall out of 2 x 4s for drywalling and to give me a way to install basic batt insul. That was about 12 years ago. If I was doing it today, I'd find a way to pay for spray foam! Even keeping the building at 60 degrees now costs more than I'm happy spending, and I would posit that energy costs are going to change- upward. Add the fact that as you get older, the cold is perhaps less enjoyable, so you'll want it warmer. When I will be working several days at a stretch in my shop, I invest in heat, all the way to 65 or so. I wish I had radiant floor heat- those comments are right on!

Another big heat-loser are overhead doors- even the insulated ones are maybe R-7 or so... not very good. Windows, too, will let heat escape, but who wants to work without some sunshine? I almost forgot: your building has to have ventilation between the insulation and the exterior metal skin- because moisture will find its way towards the cooler side, unless you have a spray foam barrier.