Affordable cooling for 2000 sq ft pole barn

[Jayhawk_Aviator]

Have a 40 x 50 metal pole barn. Not insulated yet, but I am currently thinking of doing spray foam on the underside of the roof and building a stud wall and using batts in the walls.

Trying to find a reasonable solution for cooling. Looking at evaporative cooling, but I'm worried about tools rusting. Learning about ptacs and mini splits, but don't know much about them. I don't need it to cool to 70 deg, but just something reasonable. I'm in Kansas City area.

Thoughts?

Thanks
Scott

 

[Jayhawk_Aviator]

Curious if anyone has similar experience? Better to install two mini-splits, 3 PTACs, or go evaporative cooling, fans, or some other route?

 

[soob]

It depends on how frequently you're using the building and what you're doing in there.

If I wanted to do it on the cheap and the building was only used semi-frequently, I'd install three or four 1-ton window units through the walls. That'd give you versatile and cheap cooling capacity with minimal costs. Maybe you could make one of them high-efficiency for maintaining a certain temperature. Oh, and ceiling fans.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Have a 40 x 50 metal pole barn. Not insulated yet, but I am currently thinking of doing spray foam on the underside of the roof and building a stud wall and using batts in the walls.

Trying to find a reasonable solution for cooling. Looking at evaporative cooling, but I'm worried about tools rusting. Learning about ptacs and mini splits, but don't know much about them.

DON'T SKIMP ON THE INSULATION !

Evaporative coolers only work in dry climate (AZ, NM)

1 mini-splts (with 2 air handlers) or 2 separate units slaved together is the way to go. PTACS are less expensive to buy, but MUCH more expensive to operate.

 

[troyks]

I'll echo the don't skimp on insulation, since that's not done yet it's dollar for dollar your best bang for the buck to simply get as much insulation in there as you can, that reduces the size of the equipment you need and how much energy it's going to use. I'm not far from you in Wichita and unfortunately evaporative coolers just don't work well in this area because the humidity is just too high for the evaporative process to work efficiently, and adding more moisture to already humid air is going to lead to rusty tools. Insulate well and then size out a high efficiency mini split system.

 

[Jayhawk_Aviator]

Thanks guys. For the walls, my plan is to put radiant foil around the purlins, then build a stud wall and put r19 Batts in the wall and sheet rock over. For the ceiling, I'm looking at spray foam, but it is ungodly expensive (5700 to do the ceiling). What other good ceiling options are there (or is the spray foam really worth it)?

 

[DEnd]

Insulation is insulation is insulation. What makes spray foam attractive to some people is that it can also be a relatively easy air barrier. There are plenty of other options for reducing air leakage other than just spray foam.

 

[theoldwizard1]

What makes spray foam attractive to some people is that it can also be a relatively easy air barrier.

Also fast to install.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . .you've really given TOO LITTLE Information.

What is your expectation of cooling large shop ?? Every day 24 hrs, weekends only, sporadic??

Update GJ Profile with your location.

What losses do you have in terms of windows, doors, garage doors (are they well insulated), etc ??

What R value of insulation are you planning for ceiling (you say you want R-19 in walls) ??