Insulating a metal building

[Weldor]

Humidity in your area? seems like you would want to spray when it's pretty dry or risk trapping moisture on that steel. Possible rust issues down the road? Be worth finding out.

 

[Gadjet]

Humidity in your area? seems like you would want to spray when it's pretty dry or risk trapping moisture on that steel. Possible rust issues down the road? Be worth finding out.

I'm in western Colorado. Pretty dry climate so moisture shouldn't be a concern.

 

[Frozenlead]

It sounds like spray foam is the way to go. One problem that I have with foam is the finished look on the inner roof. I'll eventually be sheeting the walls with plywood or OSB. So the walls will be covered, but I was going to leave the trusses open. Just from some photos I've seen on the web, the spray foam looks pretty rough when left exposed.

Here’s my walls. The ceiling is sheeted with the foam sprayed in the attic onto the flat sheeting, not the roof pitch.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Mine has been good, it’s been around 15years. In my garage it’s exposed as the interior is not sheeted, I generally do not heat it either. I have not seen any change in it. In my shop it is covered, but looking in the attic, there hasn’t been any change.

Impressive and thanks for the info!

 

[Rich M]

Insulated bld before trimming. Still waiting for him to finish.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

My 40x60 has the roll on bubble sheets. I never turn the heat or air on. Stays a good 15-20 degrees cooler in the summer and about the same in the winter. I’m in SC.

I built a 20x20 metal pool house last summer. I’m going the 4x8 sheets of 3/4 radiant barrier/ insulation on the roof only. I just wanna knock the inside temp down a few degrees during the summer since it’s all metal and gets a bit to warm during the bday party’s. Doors are always open so makes no sense to fully insulate it and run the ac.

For a shop or garage spray foam is overkill for my applications and it’s a nightmare for future add ons or additions.

If I lived where it was cold and actually need insulation idk if there is anything better that spray, I would just make sure all my electrical, air compressor lines, access panels, etc was 100 percent correct before spraying.

 

[Beendare]

I'm in western Colorado. Pretty dry climate so moisture shouldn't be a concern.

Yeah, trapping moisture is the negative on spray foam...but in your climate it's not a big deal. I've seen minor shrinking in some cases- it's not a big deal. The big problem with spray foam is a poor contractor that gets a bad mix of chemicals and it off gasses. Better to use a guy that has the right equipment and has done hundreds without off gassing problems.

It is a bit lumpy on the lid. I've seen it sprayed light blue then paint some clouds- looks cool.

I sound like a guy who sells the stuff- no I've just seen a lot of examples. If you compare a metal building with Foam vs Fiberglass batts- its not even close, the foam is way more effective.

 

[Hunter26]

Only thing I would add that I haven't seen mentioned is putting a layer between the tin and the spray in foam. I live in KS and hail damage is a real thing. Not sure if that is really much of a threat in western Colorado. My understanding from a contractor buddy is if you spray directly to the tin and have to replace the tin the spray in foam insulation comes with it. Insurance won't pay for the insulation. I would also think this could be handy as well if you ever had to replace a sheet of tin because it got damaged somehow. I think they use house wrap or something similar. Something to think about or look into.