loss through uninsulated ceiling?

[rieferman]

In the barn, there will be a finished 15x15 space (the "exercise room"). All 4 walls insulated. Nice new dble pane windows. Cement floor with exercise mat as the floor covering. Baseboard electric for heat, window unit AC for cooling. PA climate (coldish winter, summers on the hot side)

Question is:
Since I like the look of the ceiling as is
and
Since the planned usage of the room would be only a few hours per day
and
Since the ceiling has 2 layers of wood (original t&g [which is what I see from the first floor, and why I like the look] covered with plywood)
and
Since there will be a ceiling fan to mix the air in the room

Can I get away without insulating the ceiling? Or is it going to be an absolute nightmare to try to manipulate the temperature?

I guess worst case scenario is to just have to insulate later... but I'd rather have an educated guess so I don't have to create dust in that room after the TV/stereo/fridge/etc. are in place

Many thanks!!

 

[Mattlt]

How about insulating above the ceiling? Adding ~2" of some kind of foam to the floor above, between sleepers, then adding another layer of flooring above?

This will help with the noise as well.

 

[rieferman]

That is definitely doable because the space above is designated solely for storage (i.e. the added height wouldn't disrupt anything important). But do you think it's necessary, or would you do it as a second step later on if practical usage shows that I'm losing too much heat (b/c cooling shouldn't be a problem right?)

 

[Mattlt]

Since you've got the ability to add it later, I'd say to try it without.

Personally, I think it would better to add the insulation. What you've got now provides an R-value of about 2 (give or take R=1 per 3/4" piece of wood). Some of the poly* insulating foams can get up to R=7-8 per inch. (Maybe more, I haven't looked at them lately.)

Also, maybe a ceiling fan to push some of the heat back down?

 

[rieferman]

Ceiling fan is part of the plan, so that will help. R2... sounds so wimpy now that I hear it out loud like that... ha ha.

 

[hobie1dog]

no substitute for insulation...I used to work for Owens Corning Fiberglas Technical Center...a little insulation goes a long way in Pa.

 

[Tom McDermott]

Without knowing how well constructed the space is (is there air leakage, have the joints been sealed, size and type of doors, number of windows, etc.) a quick calculation shows that about 65% of the total room heat loss would be through an uninsulated ceiling.

Insulating the ceiling is twice as important as all other things you can possibly do put together.

-- Tom

 

[Nutty 5.0]

For my garage, I was losing tons of heat with just the walls insulated. (I was able to get the walls done and drywalled but the ceiling wasn't ready. ) I finally finished the ceiling using 2.5" roofing insulation foamboard I got cheap at the auctions in Leola. If you haven't gone there, great deals on construction stuff. I think its the 2nd or 3rd Thursday of each month. They have pallets of this insulation in all sizes of thicknesses organized (EG: 2" all on one pallette). I paid $120 for 19+ pieces!

 

[rieferman]

Between your posts, and just listening to my own better sense in my head, last night the wife and I agreed ceiling insulation is on the agenda. It will be a pain in the *** to do because I want to leave all the beams exposed (and they're all slightly crooked) but one time pain for full time gain right?

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[Nutty 5.0]

I think you're smart doing this. And take advantage of the tax credit this year. Wish I could!

 

[rieferman]

I think my "off the radar of 'THE MAN'" approach probably excludes me from tax breaks

 

[GSSFC]

Warm air rises. Your uninsulated room will be like a chimney for the warm air to escape. The roof or ceiling is the most important part of a structure to insulate. I would rather a well insulated roof and poorly insulated walls given the choice.

It will work the same with cooling. The heat will warm the roof and that heat will make the rest of the structure warm. Think of a hot attic in July here.

Tim

 

[rieferman]

Agreed You guys have me convinced


Now I'll piggy back with another question..

The door leading out of this room into the unconditioned (not insulated, not heated/cooled etc.) portion of the building is the original barn door. Just simple T&G planks back braced. Tight fit, no air gaps.


Given that this room is used only a few hours per day, and assuming the ceiling insulation/wall insulation as discussed above, would you:
A) Keep the character and be ok that it's not insulated / not 100% efficient

or

B) Lose character on one side of the door and create some R value


Thanks again guys, I really do appreciate the responses!