Ceiling for my machine shop

[Meyer]

I have a 40 x 60 machine shop. Bottom of the trusses are at 14', trusses are 8' apart. It has a 2" thick foam vapor barrier on top, with aluminum on top of that. The foam that is up there is a little ratty - original, 30 years old, worn around the eaves and ridges in some places. The place costs a pretty penny to keep at a minimum temp all winter.

Any ideas on a ceiling?

I am a novice on this, but I think my options are

1) Drywall - would take alot more framing up top, be expensive and a mess to put up.

2) Some kind of corrugated metal, with insulation blown on top. Not sure on cost, but seems cheapest.

3) Suspended ceiling, with insulation blown on top. I estimate this at around $2,500.

4) Tear off roof and reroof with new vapor barrier. Seems costly.

Any other ideas and/or pics?

Thanks

Scott

 

[7echo]

Drop, or suspended, ceilings have some advantages-they help with sound, and you can get tiles specifically for sound absorption. There are common light fixtures that are made to drop in to most standard dimensions. Same with hvac grills. Easier to repair in the event of a leak.

 

[pseudorealityx]

Do you heat and cool the building?

How nasty is the actual structure? Any leak issues? A new roof is likely the "best" solution, but a drop ceiling with insulation may be a cheaper alternative that gets you where you want to be. That said, check your local codes about blowing insulation on top of a dropped ceiling. Around here, they won't allow that, and I hear that's becoming more commonplace.

EDIT: I'm not sure how you're heating the shop, but I bet with a new roof, you could probably keep the place 10 degrees warmer, and pay equal or LESS with the new roof.

 

[2chipped]

In our area i've seen some shops wi brite white metal roofing as a ceiling it's amazing how it brightens everything.

 

[ironroad 9c1]

In our area i've seen some shops wi brite white metal roofing as a ceiling it's amazing how it brightens everything.

yea . but that is high dollar.

 

[6768rogues]

My 40x60 barn has framing 4 feet on center in the ceiling. It has white corrugated barn metal on it. A couple of sheets were installed then insulation slid over it. There are lights wired with surface conduit. Fast, cheap, really nice looking, everyone like it.

 

[Meyer]

I have a new heat pump with natural gas backup that I use to heat the place. I keep it around 50 so the machines don't get damaged.

The building is ok, but not great. I put some of the aluminum roof coating over it and put tar on the nails. That sealed the pinhole leaks it had. A roof would be great, but big bucks.

I am going to check on the metal, I have seen a few pics of that, may not be much more than a suspended ceiling.

RIght now, I have 20 lights up there that fit in a suspended ceiling. If I go that route, they will drop in.

 

[mad57]

Real cheap r- max foam boards fairly cheap and really light to put up tape the seems and your done holds the heat great. Look on cl as see if anybody has a deal. Good luck.

 

[little d]

meyer, if ya don't need the 14', drop it down as much as you can stand, this will cut down on the space ya gotta heat. if your going with the metal, you could span the 40' with 2 by 4's on 4' centers, tied to the trusses with wire(like they would do with a drop ceiling). i have done this and it works great, and fast to. also, a sheet rock jack works great to lift and hold the sheets.