To insulate or not

[PoorUB]

Ok so I'll stand by the original assessment of insulation is a "must do". However, I do think that most of the people recommending the DIY fiberglass insulation route have wood frame buildings and conventional roof trusses where standard insulation at Lowes or Home Depot along with ceilings are easy to accomplish and install. Metal buildings that require vapor barriers and have 5 ft spans on the frames are a different animal. I'm trying to find the 5ft insulation again that specifically makes stuff for metal buildings but I'm struggling to find that website.

This is one of the reasons I question stick built over pole frame or steel framed.

If you just want cold storage, pole or steel is quick and easy. If you want to insulate, stick frame is more DIY and also considering sheeting the inside walls stick is a bit more DIY friendly.

Many times we see it where someone has a pole building they want to finish out and pretty much end up building walls on the inside of the building wall to insulate and sheet, or at least by the time the fur out the pole building they have a bunch more time and money invested.

Either have advantages.

 

[Sturgeon]

Not ridiculing spray foam, looks like a great product and just wondering? Say for example you built your shop with reasonable care, where are the drafts coming from? You sheated, Tyveked, sided, caulked all joints and sealed all wall penetration's. Didn't consider getting a air draw down test, But inspecting insulators work over 2.5 days couldn't be happier. So when old man winter comes, it's minus thirty pretty sure my old Mother Earth wood stove and I will be toasty.

 

[Smoker]

I've never seen a fiberglass insulated wall that was sealed as well as a foam insulated wall without taking a LOT more time over the details than most people put into the job.

My last shop was fiberglass insulated, the sheetrock tape and mud sealed it up pretty good. Its a shop.. how air tight does it need to be?

 

[Metal-Marc]

My last shop was fiberglass insulated, the sheetrock tape and mud sealed it up pretty good. Its a shop.. how air tight does it need to be?

As much as you want it to be!

If you're comfy and your utility bill is not horrendous, then you're fine.

 

[Sturgeon]

Yeah forgot, also put 6" rubber base on as well. Someone fart's in their, probably going to to die. He he

 

[mike93lx]

Not ridiculing spray foam, looks like a great product and just wondering? Say for example you built your shop with reasonable care, where are the drafts coming from? You sheated, Tyveked, sided, caulked all joints and sealed all wall penetration's. Didn't consider getting a air draw down test, But inspecting insulators work over 2.5 days couldn't be happier. So when old man winter comes, it's minus thirty pretty sure my old Mother Earth wood stove and I will be toasty.

Air sealing properly is not easy. Tyvek doesn't seal and as much as you think everything got caulked, it very likely didn't.

You don't have to see gaping holes. Small leaks really add up.

 

[Timoto]

Central Florida here so similar climate. I have a 30x40 shop with a 36k btu mini split that can barely keep up, will keep it cool but not freeze me out. The walls are cinder block and I did open cell on the roof. My biggest regret is there is no ventilation as of yet. If I had to do it all over again I would just use conventional insulations and retain the roof vents.

 

[Metal-Marc]

I have a 30x40 shop with a 36k btu mini split that can keep up barley,

Add hops, yeast, water and you're good to go.

 

[Sturgeon]

Funny, I also hand painted it. Pretty sure it's caulked, hard to miss if an less you just don't care? In my case there's not a gray area.

 

[Bob2112]

I'll add to the list of "yes, insulate". Also, I'll add to the list of "batts are better". The best part is you can put them up at your leisure and as they go up, the place keeps getting more and more insulated. You can buy wider rolls than the ones solds at HD & L, so if your framing works for it, you can save some time getting the wide rolls. I'm in TN, which has a similar climate to GA and some summer mornings I don't even need to turn on the AC out there because the R-19 walls and R-30 ceiling keep it so cool in the shop.