Best Method for Insulating Metal Outbuilding?

[SOAMthingiForgot]

First I will apologize if this has been asked. I spent a good deal of time searching to see if it was, and I found a lot of semi-related posts, but not one that addresses this directly. If you have a link handy please share!

Anyway, I have a 20'x25' metal building going onto my property soon. Likely within the next 2-4 weeks. Contracted through Big Buildings Direct. I've read both sides of using them (before pulling the trigger) and based on pricing and ease I decided to go with them.

However, I am not getting them to insulate it. I'd like to do this myself. There is no roof vent.

It seems like from my research my best bet will be to use rigid insulation foam? I've read some poor results from spray foam, and it seems more costly than rigid foam sheets.

I will heat the shop in the winter, but will not cool it in the summer. Looking for any thoughts / links / advice from others who have been through this!

 

[dougf]

I have a 20x30 (soon to expand to 34x30) metal building myself. A couple things come into play here when insulating, and I am no expert, but this is what I did...

- If you can still verify/change your order and upgrade to the metal studs being 4' on center instead of the standard 5' on center, do it. It will make this entire process way easier.
- I had the roof directly spray foamed with 2" of closed cell and love it.
- I bought the polypro rigid foil backed foam and stuffed those between the studs. I started last year and where I used any form of adhesive to secure the foam to the walls it has failed. Everywhere I used canned spray foam it has held, so that's what I use now.
- Most companies tell you to make the slab 1' wider and deeper than the building, I hope you didn't listen to them like I did. You'll have water intrusion issues seep under the bottom sill.
- Be present when they install and involved. It's likely 3 mexicans in a dually will show up and speak very little english, want to throw the building up and leave. If you are helpful, prepared, and courtious it will help. Have a level and check the studs before they do their final screwing together but dont expect perfect. My guys did all this for me and were great.
- Have compressed air or a leaf blower, and plenty of a good polyurethane sealer ready to go. After they snap their lines and drill for the anchors blow away the concrete dust and lay a giant bead of poly sealant (I used Vulkem 116) where the sill will go. This will help prevent water seeping under the sill plate. If you can do another bead around the outside before the sheeting goes on, all the better.

Anyway, these are just a few things I would recommend from my personal experience. There's tons of threads with hundreds of good pictures and tips from people with these buildings if you search the forum.

Hope the building goes up without issue and hope to see some pics when its completed!

 

[dougf]

Oh, one more thing. Think ahead on how you want to finish the inside. I'm doing sheets of plywood and since my studs were 5' on center I have to cut out foam, drill in 1.5x3 studs, repair the insulation, then screw up the plywood. All of this would have been a LOT easier prior to moving anything inside and insulating