Which insulation, R38, R49, R60?

[Durasmack]

Hi All.
Im in the process of heating and insulating the finish side of my shop.
16' wall.
Metal panel ceiling.
2" of Styrofoam under 6" of concrete with radiant heat.
My plan is to keep the building at 50° to 55° all winter.
Im planning to go with blown in pink fiberglass.
R-38 will cost $3780 or $1.25/ sq ft
R-49 will cost $4536, or $1.50/ sq ft
R-60 will cost $5,292 or $1.75/ sq ft

What do you guys suggest?

 

[purplezr2]

Location?

Heating and Cooling?

More is better. Is this for the ceiling or for walls too. It has be pretty deep to achieve R60...

Does 1500 break the bank? Maybe start at R49 and blow more in at a later date.

 

[soapii]

Typically the "pay me now or pay me later" phrase works for insulation.

--Joe

 

[Durasmack]

Im located in Chicagoland. (Sorry,thought that was in my sig. will have to update that).
Also, ceiling only. THe walls have 6" of fiberglass bat.
Heating only. No cooling at this point in time

 

[Showkey]

Typically the "pay me now or pay me later" phrase works for insulation.

--Joe

I think...... pay now ..and..save for the rest of your life is a more appropriate in this case.

Bare minimum R-49.........R-60 if your not a super tight budget. Its way easier to do now than add later.

 

[The Cobbler]

I would go r-49 , if funds available the r-60

 

[Richard Cranium]

Once thing I will say on this is, if you are going to stay there spend the extra and go all the way. 10yrs from now you will not remember that you spent 1500. extra for insulation, But you will like your heating and cooling bills each and every month from there on.... Rich

 

[Milton Shaw]

16 foot walls are going to keep all the heat at the ceiling height unless you have some fans to blow it to the floor. I have 12 foot ceilings and its a cold floor unless I turn on a ceiling fan-- makes all the difference in the world on room temp and how much the heater runs. My shop is 900 sq ft and one fan keeps the heat circulated just fine. Get one with speed control so you can adjust it to feel the heat but not the breeze.

 

[soapii]

16 foot walls are going to keep all the heat at the ceiling height unless you have some fans to blow it to the floor. I have 12 foot ceilings and its a cold floor unless I turn on a ceiling fan-- makes all the difference in the world on room temp and how much the heater runs. My shop is 900 sq ft and one fan keeps the heat circulated just fine. Get one with speed control so you can adjust it to feel the heat but not the breeze.

This is true if you have forced air heat, but the OP has radiant floor heat.

--Joe

 

[Durasmack]

Thanks for all the replies.
I do already have a fan for circulation.
I'm definitely going at least R49, so the difference between R49 and R60 is $756....
I guess I know the answer.

 

[BruceMc]

This is true if you have forced air heat, but the OP has radiant floor heat.

--Joe

Yes, but hot air rises and stratifies, no matter what heated it.

 

[rburke65]

Spend it

 

[rodm1]

You now the answer just do it R60 long term will save you cash and prices more then likely won't go down.

 

[bczygan]

R60!

Cheaper $/R value.

 

[Durasmack]

yeah, i'm pretty sure it's going to be R60.
Insulation is scheduled to go in next Saturday, so unless the insulation guy doesn't think its worth the extra cost, then R60 it is!

 

[Voi]

16 foot walls are going to keep all the heat at the ceiling height unless you have some fans to blow it to the floor.

This is true if you have forced air heat, but the OP has radiant floor heat.

I do already have a fan for circulation.

There have been several discussions about the use of ceiling fans with radiant floor heat on this and other forums. I would highly recommend a search and read some of the discussions. Most say don't run fans during times when the radiant system is working.

 

[toyotadriver]

Why is it so expensive? What size is your shop?

 

[DC73]

Check this link out: http://energy.gov/energysaver/tips-insulation

Scroll down to the map and then use the chart below the map. These are recommended levels, you can always do more if the budget allows.

DC

 

[Highbeam]

Why is it so expensive? What size is your shop?

Same question. What the hell? Blown in insulation is cheap and easy to do.

I blew in 160 bales of cellulose to get 15" and R-50 in my shop above the metal ceiling. The bales were like 10$ each so 1600$ for my 1800 SF shop.

FG is usually the same price and the pink is what they sold at the home depot right next to the cellulose. The blowing machines are very good and the FG machine is right there too. Free rental.

My walls are also 6" batts and the floor also 2" foam under 5" concrete. I haven't hooked up the radiant but the floors have the pipe.

With the insulation, especially the ceiling, the dang shop never freezes. Stays cooler in the summer too.

Yes, R50+. The only time it ***** is if you needed to run a new wire in the attic and walk around in that deep insulation.

 

[toyotadriver]

I got a quote from a cellulose installer to install damp spray in the walls and loose fill in the ceiling. This is for a 1200 square foot house, oversize garage, and walk out basement (so insulated walls there too). His estimate was between $2000-3000.

 

[Durasmack]

Part of Shop that I am insulating 3,024 sq ft.
That's about the goi g rate in Chicago.... Seems everything costs more here.