Opinion please: Insulate Metal Building in South Texas or not?

[TRR]

I'm not really clear on your doors. when you say 14' do you mean tall or wide? It sounds like you plan the left hand bay (not a pull thru) as your RV bay. If you have a trailer type RV a pull thru is a lot more convienient than having to back into the bay. Also keep in mind that some RVs are over 12' tall (I think, but do not know, that the max allowed height is 14' due to road bridges.)

 

[heitjer]

I'm not really clear on your doors. when you say 14' do you mean tall or wide?

left door is 10 feet wide and 14 feet tall, middle bay has two 10 feet wide and 10 feet high doors.

 

[Alan L.]

My metal building has the white vinyl backed fiber glass insulation on roof and walls. Probably 3" thick. I think it helps a ton, the building is never quite as hot as outside, whereas other shops I know of the building gets hotter than outside. Helps in the winter too. Even in 15 degree weather I have never seen it get below 40 inside the building.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would check the price of spray on insulation and see what I could get for $7800 vs the quoted bat type. Either way, insulation is the way to go. I insulated my shop with 6" batt walls and ceiling and it really keeps it warm in winter and much cooler in summer. I put on an additional shed for my boat and didnt insulate it and now I wish I had. It is hotter than blazes in there when it is cool in the main shop. Now I will have to spray foam it. I havent gotten an estimate on the cost to do that yet but it is high on my priority list of things to do.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Insulate to keep from being baked. If not already planned, maybe you can make a quick mod to include a few skylight panels so its not a black hole when lights are off.
larry

 

[RJD2516]

Oh yes on the sky lights. They do get dirty over time. But I never turn on the lights during the day. I have 4 12foot sky lights. Very good investment.

 

[texasjohn]

i have one skylight on each side every 20 feet..... super bright inside during day...a MUST have for me...yes, perhaps a problem in a big hail storm, but then that's a problem any way

Over 80 days last year over 100 degrees... swamp cooler big help...agree, gulf coast humidity less effective, but still good to have a big breeze

 

[LBrown59]

No Brainer..........Insulate.

I have a 40x40x17. Two 14' roll-ups (not insulated). Had it built last year.

I put 6 inch on the top (my roof is the galvanized), and 3 inch on the walls. Makes a HUGE difference. My weather is similar to yours. Gets as hot as 110F here. We had 31 days in a row over 100F last year. You can't even touch the walls on the outside of the building they get so hot. But inside will be 25 to 30 degrees cooler. Now by 5pm it will get pretty warm inside. Mainly because the doors aren't insulated. But it is at least manageable inside. In the mornings, it will make your nipples hard it gets so cold.

The roof dormers were a good idea as well. I did two, 14 footers. And I roll up both doors about 2 feet, and run a fan in each door, one blowing in, one blowing out. Makes a great breeze inside.

I am wondering, why would you do any 10 foot doors? Why not go 14? extra cost is minimal, and the doors will be more useful, especially if you sell your place sometime in the future.

Also, I watched them put up the insulation. Quite a job. I am glad someone else did that job.

Insulation for A C is a must.

 

[kc5dlo]

I have a similar style building, only on a smaller scale. It is 30x50 and 14 feet tall. I used spray on foam insulation. With doors open on each end of the building, it is quite comfortable to work in, even in the heat of summer. One thing I would consider is going 12 wide on the door you plan to back a trailer into. 10 foot would be tight especially if there is not a long strait approach to the door. I have 2 small skylight panels and they provide plenty of daytime lighting.

 

[heitjer]

The insulation helps a lot. Its been 100+ today here in Houston and inside the building we had nice breeze and did not feel hot at all.

We finished the doors today! This thing went up in 3 days and then I took over with the doors.

Here is a shot at my son tightening up the stopper. In the back ground you can see the insulation. Its the typical white plastic lined 3". The roof and the walls are cold to the touch.


Nothing better than looking back at a great day spend with my son and got something accomplished!