Need advise on Insulation...

[Rez90]

I recently built a 30x40 pole barn garage. Right now it's literally just a standing structure with concrete storing my cars.

I will be beginning the finishing process this spring and Insulation is one of the first things to think about.

Everyone and their mother is telling me spray insulation is the best way to go. But it's so freaking expensive. I got 2 prices so far of $11k and $10k and truthfully...thats WAY more than i wanted to spend on insulation.

can anyone else offer any good suggestions because i think spray is out of my budget.

Thanks very much.

 

[moserjj]

How do plan to finish the inside? Stud up some walls, etc? Spray foam really is best and is really expensive, you definitely get what you pay for with insulation. I would try everything not to use batt insulation. Rigid foam board is a good option as well.

 

[Rez90]

the inside will be finished with sheetrock and a drop ceiling.

i was budgeting like 3-5k for insulation....I had NO CLUE spray was this expensive...

 

[moserjj]

How is your garage constructed, space between posts now, etc? They make some blanket rolls for pole buildings. Do you have any pictures?

 

[Nowater]

My workshop doubles as my Florida hurricane shelter. It is structural panels with foam insulation, and is very close to being air tight, even with a rollup door. If you are in a cold climate, the air tightness will make a tremendous difference.

Also, the spray foam increases strength since it glues everything together. An inch of foam will give you the air-tightness, to save cash, but it will leave you finding a way to add insulation after that. It does not have to be all or none, one can join the systems together.

 

[Al Bundy]

I recently built a 30x40 pole barn garage. Right now it's literally just a standing structure with concrete storing my cars.

I will be beginning the finishing process this spring and Insulation is one of the first things to think about.

Everyone and their mother is telling me spray insulation is the best way to go. But it's so freaking expensive. I got 2 prices so far of $11k and $10k and truthfully...thats WAY more than i wanted to spend on insulation.

can anyone else offer any good suggestions because i think spray is out of my budget.

Thanks very much.

I assume that is for someone else to spray it. Half of that cost is labor. Spray it yourself it will be a lot cheaper.

 

[blkhonda1991]

I assume that is for someone else to spray it. Half of that cost is labor. Spray it yourself it will be a lot cheaper.

i havent heard of anyone actually sprayibg their own foam insulation cheaper yet

 

[collmorgen]

If you are putting in a drop ceiling you can have the installer put fiberglass over the panels. It's done all the time in commercial buildings.

 

[Galaxie]

Insulate it just like a house with bat insulation, only question will be if you put in 2x's at smaller gaps to run narrower insulation or go with the wider stuff. You can do blown in on the ceiling depending on what it is going to be. We did blown in on the ceiling and bats on the walls, all OSB covering. It'll take some basic math to figure what will be cheaper 16", 24" or even wider bats with corresponding 2x's. Either way you can do all that work yourself with very basic tools.

 

[hockey88fan]

I assume that is for someone else to spray it. Half of that cost is labor. Spray it yourself it will be a lot cheaper.

Someone told me recently that you can buy that spray foam in 5 gal containers and it is relatively inexpensive, is this true? He also said the 5 gal would be enough to cover a 30'x10' wall 3" thick, is this true? Not trying to hijack thread, just thought the info might be useful to OP and others, thanks!

 

[RPH]

Would love to know about the 5 gallon thing but I bet it will prove to be rumor.
$3.00 square foot is what I've been quoted and it's more if I provide the the labor

 

[green.bubbly]

1200 square feet at 1" thick would cost $1,379.00.

http://www.sprayfoamdirect.com/products/spray-foam-kits/energy-efficient-home-insulation-kit-detail

Assuming he has 10 foot side walls, just the walls would 1,400 square feet. 3" thick would require just under three of these kits. If it is a low pitch roof, you are looking at another 1200 square feet and three more kits for 3" thick.

$8,250 to spray it yourself.

 

[Al Bundy]

i havent heard of anyone actually sprayibg their own foam insulation cheaper yet

Then you haven't been looking. I did the leg work before I insulated my garage which is similar size though his ceilings may be taller. My cost was around $5K to spray it myself. The reason I didn't do it is because fiberglass was significantly cheaper.

 

[rsa]

Flash (closed cell in appropriate thickness) and batt? Listen to the earlier comments about air sealing and avoiding batts.

Take a look at these Q&A from greenbuildingadvisor.com.

Insulating a steel building used as a home

Spray Foam and Batt Insulation

Try the search: "pole barn" site:greenbuildingadvisor.com

 

[green.bubbly]

Then you haven't been looking. I did the leg work before I insulated my garage which is similar size though his ceilings may be taller. My cost was around $5K to spray it myself. The reason I didn't do it is because fiberglass was significantly cheaper.

How thick did you spray? Care to share where you purchased the foam from?