Rigid Foam or No behind MDO Walls

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Hello Everyone,

I was hoping someone could help me out here with trying to figure out what to do when putting up my MDO Plywood walls.

I just finished building a 40x60 Pole barn that has two sliding doors opening each ends 20 feet by 12 feet high. I live in Portland Oregon and didn't see a need to worry about heating and cooling as its usually beautiful year round. I am planning on using this as a giant recreational room/ gym so I will always be moving when inside anyway. I finished getting the concrete floor in and am now at the stage where I want to cover up the walls with some MDO Plywood but am trying to figure out if I should use some 1 1/2 inch Rigid Foam insulation in between the gurts and then Plywood or just slap some plywood up.

Like I said before I am not worried about insulating because with those big doors and the fact that I will most likely have them open most of the time it just doesn't seem smart. but I also don't want to not insulate and and then have a bunch of moisture collecting on the plywood causing issues down the road.

I have searched insulating a pole barn a bunch but found my situation to be kinda special so figured I would ask here. If anyone has any input I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Here are some pics since everyone loves those!

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[Smiliesafari]

By all means insulate it. You will never regret it. You may regret not doing it. I live in Florida. I used 2" foam board to insulate my shop. Walls and ceiling. It makes a difference.

 

[bgarrett]

thats a fine looking building!

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Thanks Smilie,

Thats kind of what I was thinking but didn't want to drop a bunch of money on insulation if it wasn't gonna make that much of a difference but I also didn't want to put all the plywood up and then have to take it all back down again to put insulation up later if it was gonna be worth it.

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Thanks Bgarrett,

I had alot of fun with it and definitely used this forum for research when I was figuring out exactly what I wanted.

Another question I have is if I do do the insulation should I cut it up and put it in between the horizontal girts or just slap the big 4x8 piece over them and attach it to them?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Smiliesafari]

It will go up quicker if you do the 4x8's. The dead air space between the wood stringers will also aid in insulating.

 

[rburke65]

Might help us to help you if we knew on what continent you live.

 

[slip knot]

Damn nice space. I really like the open ends on it.

 

[rustybutt]

Might help us to help you if we knew on what continent you live.

OP said in first post he lives in Portland, Oregon. I know, it's not in his profile. Whatever! To the OP... nice shop! Keep us updated. Thanks.

 

[why worry]

I live in Newberg OR and am going through the samething have decided to insulate with foam sheet cut to fit between the girts. Then I will build a false wall with batt insulation over the foam and girts. This will make it easier to keep the condensing moister at bay during the winter.
Nice looking building by the way

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Hey Everyone,

Thank you to everyone for the kind words about the shop. I never thought when I first got on this sight I would end up with something so nice but after 6 months its finally here. I should probably but together a build sight to help others. Sorry rburke65 I didnt realized I hadnt filled in the about me section yet but its up now.

So I think I have decided that I am just going to not insulate in between the MDO Plywood and the metal siding and let that gap between the two take care of the moisture. Really I have decided that because I do not plan to Cool or Heat this barn and would hate to dump a bunch of money into insulating it when I will more than likely have both doors open at all times when I am in there anyway. I also came to this conclusion because last winter I worked on a vw bug in a crappy apartment garage and it wasnt heated or cooled or insulated and I got along just fine. Later down the road I figure I can always just take off the plywood and spray foam insulate in there for maximum insulation when I have more money to throw at it.

Thanks everyone for your help, I will post a picture when its all done with the walls up so you can see!

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Oh and to Slip knot, Thanks! I wanted this barn to have an indoor/ outdoor feel because I live out sorta in the country and would hate to be trapped inside the building when I could have beautiful views while I am in under cover from rain.

 

[Voi]

So I think I have decided that I am just going to not insulate in between the MDO Plywood and the metal siding and let that gap between the two take care of the moisture.

If I were in your shoes and in Portland I think I'd be trying the same thing. However, I love the look of unfinished pole barns and don't think I'd even bother with the MDO plywood. Or do you need it for hanging stuff?

Also, how much is MDO going to cost? Last time I priced a less expensive MDO at Menards it seemed to have gotten a lot more expensive. I do like the stuff though.

I wanted this barn to have an indoor/ outdoor feel because I live out sorta in the country and would hate to be trapped inside the building when I could have beautiful views while I am in under cover from rain.

Local cross-fit gym is in an older industrial building and they put in glass garage doors. We have not so bad winters here so they can open then up at least partway many weeks of the year.

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Voi,

So the MDO I am getting is stuff from a guy on craigslist here that sells blemished boards for cheap so I got 10 sheets of HDO Actually not MDO for 100$ and plan to go back and get more once I get those hung. Its a sweet deal if your not worried about it looking beautiful. The sheets usually look fine except for a fist sized spot that the laminate didn't take. If I paint it I guarantee it would take a sharp eye to notice. I kinda like the look of having it with blemishes anyway, adds to the ruggedness of the pole barn in my opinion.

I actually considered the glass doors because they do look sweet but realized those cost a fortune so just went with the big sliders instead. It is great for getting old air out and new air in ha ha.

 

[Joshua.b.sweeney]

Voi,

Oh and I needed the plywood up because I am planning on using this pole barn as a giant rec room/ Gym and I dont want a dumbell/weighted bar or basketball to go flying through my metal siding.