Pole barn is wrapped up just in time for winter!

[BehanCS]

Hi all.

Long story short I will probably be chipping away at the garage for a while but I finally got the structure done. It is 28x23x10 with 2 insulated 10 foot doors. I have the lighting layout figured out and started, electric started, and then it got freezing in PA for a couple days and the wax wouldn't even haze up on my truck without having a kerosene heater right next to the truck.

*warning* I overthink absolutely everything.

I am a carpenter by trade and I know first hand how great spray foam would work for my building.. Only problem is I don't have a couple grand to throw at it this year. I am a carpenter by trade and built my own house and I am plenty handy but spray foam isn't exactly DIY friendly and from what I've read it seems pointless to spend all the time and money to stud the building out just for batts. And if I'm not mistaken on my math by the time you by all of the foam panels and tapes and hardware your over a grand already and you might as well get the spray foam?

Either way this plays out I'm going to need a heat source. I am in between two main ideas and both of them would be fueled by natural gas. Either something along the lines of a Mr. Heater Big Maxx. or I have a buddy who does HVAC work and he was going to save me a good unit next time he pulls one and I can run a Trunk and a few ducts and let her rip.

Any thoughts on which insulation method I should go with (costs if you did it in a similar size).

As far as the heaters go which setup would be better for me? I'm more concerned about getting the room comfortable enough to work in and not necessarily running anything full time. Either way I go I feel like this thing is going to be ripping full blast until its insulated. Do you think one or the other would do better there?

 

[Krfjkm]

I have a 23x23 with an upstairs that has a full bath and a play room. I got my spray foam done for $2400 — here in Tx— the stuff is great and really tightens up the space.


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[BehanCS]

I guess another dark horse would be the reflective insulation. Seems a little to good to be true. Anyone have experience here?

 

[Toyomech]

We spray foam in your area. Pm me for exact cost. A building that size isn’t super expensive to spray foam and you’re right even an inch of closed cell will perform dramatically better than fiberglass. Reflective insulation is useless.

 

[brianpgriset]

I was quoted $4k for the normal vinyl faced fiberglass on my 30x60x14 build and in my experience that stuff is mediocre at insulating a space like that and does nothing for drafts. Now after looking at the building more I could have sealed all the joints with can foam, insulated smaller areas with foam board, and figure out a good way to vent an attic space, but by the time you add that all up, plus the time, I honestly dont think spray foam is costing me much more plus the time savings and ill get a stronger building while at it. So id agree with you sentiment. I also planned to finish the interior regsrdless of insulation type.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

What are your plans for interior walls? Are you going to need support for it?
Many pole barns have fiberglass blankets with a thick vapor barrier and no other interior wall.

 

[BKB]

Im in PA with a 40x64x16 poll barn 14'x14' garage door with **** seals blown in upstairs and R19 23" batts in the walls. Its 31'F outside and its 61'F inside with simply a waste oil boiler that runs twice a day to heat a 8'x8' bathroom. I might have $1900 in insulation the payback on spray foam didn't make sense. And in my situation i was able to work at my pace and get all air, wiring, water done insulating as i go. Insulation was just completed this summer so no heating cost yet. Last few years keeping the barn 55-60 while not in and 60-65 when working and the bathroom 70 used 400 gallons of waste oil. Im expecting that to drop significantly.
I had them lay 2x6 lumber between the post to make 23" strips for insulation. Bought the rolls at HD in a bulk order and paid 1/2 price, Morris Black did blown in. I have no regrets.