Critique My Insulation Retrofit Plan

[bagsanthony]

All, I have an approximately 28' x 36' x 13' finished space on my pole barn. There is an existing radiant tube heater. I'm in Western, NY and its propane fed (live in the country) and the price has been pretty high to run with the brutal winter this year. I'm only maintaining 45 and putting up to 55 when working and have been burning through about 3 gallons a day. The ceiling is drywalled and insulated. However, the past owner only drywalled the walls - no wall insulation exists. Not sure of the logic there. I would like to put in some wall insulation, however, don't want to rip all the drywall down.
My plan is to cut a 4 ft section from the top and about 3' from the bottom. I would then drop 24" R19 insulation, stapling at the top and bottom. I realize that there would be some air leakage in the middle, however, it's got to be a lot better than what's there. Let me know your thoughts or if you have any better ideas. Thanks!

 

[racecougar]

Is it indeed a pole barn, or is it stick framed? Is R-19 going to pass through the sheeted area without hanging up on the girts?

Have you considered blown insulation?

 

[dscheidt]

There are people who blow insulation into existing walls. They cut ~3" holes top and bottom in the stud bays, and blow cellulose or fiberglass thorugh them. May need more holes if there is stuff in the walls that blocks the flow.

 

[bagsanthony]

This is a pole barn construction

 

[bagsanthony]

There are people who blow insulation into existing walls. They cut ~3" holes top and bottom in the stud bays, and blow cellulose or fiberglass thorugh them. May need more holes if there is stuff in the walls that blocks the flow.

Oh ok. Great suggestion. Any reason to go with cellulouse over fiberglass?

 

[racecougar]

Oh ok. Great suggestion.

That's why I asked if you had considered it.

Any reason to go with cellulouse over fiberglass?

BIBS fiberglass dense pack vs. cellulose dense pack - GreenBuildingAdvisor

After reading about all I could find on dense pack fiberglass vs cellulose (which is much less then I'd have expected)...I decided I'd love to have cellulose in our new +- 3000sf home/shop that is being built in Western SD...BUT...I cannot find any professionals to install it. We have taped the...

www.greenbuildingadvisor.com

 

[sublime68charger]

There are people who blow insulation into existing walls. They cut ~3" holes top and bottom in the stud bays, and blow cellulose or fiberglass thorugh them. May need more holes if there is stuff in the walls that blocks the flow.

I like this idea. I follow the OP though track but your gonna have air gaps and getting the insulation to slid up/down in your wall cavities.

Is the outside nailed on or screwed on? if screwed on any way to take the outside tin off put in the insulation and then screw the tin back on?

 

[bagsanthony]

I like this idea. I follow the OP though track but your gonna have air gaps and getting the insulation to slid up/down in your wall cavities.

Is the outside nailed on or screwed on? if screwed on any way to take the outside tin off put in the insulation and then screw the tin back on?

It is nailed. Yes, I agree the blown in option seems very good. A lot of people may suggest rip everything down and start fresh. Not always feasible and the best solution in a shop. Everything has to be reattached, new drywall, sheathing, cabinets, tools on wall, etc. Plus, a giant mess ripping down drywall in a crammed space. I'm all for a better way and this seems more cost effective as well/

 

[racecougar]

A lot of people may suggest rip everything down and start fresh. Not always feasible and the best solution in a shop. Everything has to be reattached, new drywall, sheathing, cabinets, tools on wall, etc. Plus, a giant mess ripping down drywall in a crammed space.

None of us suggested that. From post #2 onwards, we've suggested blown.

 

[bagsanthony]

None of us suggested that. From post #2 onwards, we've suggested blown.

No I completely get that and your suggestions make much more sense. Unfortunately, I've asked the question before (in other ways) and that was the feedback I got and what I was referring to. You guys are on the ball. Us mechanics rather be wrenching than always worrying about the building! Thanks for your help!

 

[bagsanthony]

Revisiting this thread after almost a year! I've done a lot to beef up the existing ceiling insulation. I have approximately R50 in the ceiling which is about spec for balls cold Western, NY. Boy, are we having a winter.

Getting back to the lack of wall insulation - If I decide to leave the drywall and blow in cellulose into the walls, is the lack of a true vapor barrier a concern?

That is my only reluctance at this point. In other news, my 75k btu Modine is keeping up great without the wall insulation and the added ceiling insulation.

 

[racecougar]

If you go with dense pack cellulose (as we've suggested in this thread), you should be fine.

 

[fitter30]

Call the manufacturer of the cellulose. They don't want their product to fail.