Insulating a metal garage

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oderus1671

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Hey all, we just recently had a metal garage put up and i am wanting to insulate. I think we’re settling on using 2” foam board, mostly because of cost. I know theres better options, but cost and me doing it is the driving factor. The foam would be glued up, and at a later time will be covered in 1/4” plywood. My question is theres a crap ton of air gaps, all because of the shape of the metal. (See pics) do these need to be sealed with spray foam before putting the foam board up or should i leave them to let it breathe?
 

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I don’t know about the sealing part. I have seen foam board for sale on Craigslist. It looks like it’s on a surplus auction site.
 
Forgot to add, we wont be conditioning the garage, other than maybe down the road a ways putting a small potbelly wood stove.
 
I’m not exactly an expert in this field, but I’m pretty sure you do NOT want any moisture between the metal and insulation. Gaps where air (moisture) can get in may be problematic. Im also not sure about the insulation thickness as it relates to dew point control.
 
Look into putting screen wire up to control insects building nest between the metal and your insulation.
I've seen honey bees build in those spaces, plus wasps etc.
 
The foamboard insulation would be 2” as thats how thick i can go to keep it inside the framework and still be able to clad it with the plywood.
 
We paid for insulation in our new metal building. 2” fiberglass. I guess one side was adhesive and they slapped it on the panels before bolting onto the frame.

I think it would be to your benefit if you cover the holes with plastic before insulation. Like adhesive vapor barrier or something.
 
ES44AC said:
A friend of mine had someone spray foam insulation in one of those. Not sure how much in cost?
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Sprayed polyurethane is The Best, but it ain't cheap. We've got two 12' enclosed CoolBot Trailers with 4" sprayed polyurethane, each one cost $1200 to insulate. Well worth it... 1400 BTU window unit air conditioners get each one to 38 degF in less than an hour during the summer.

You would probably get 2" of sprayed polyurethane in a metal building. Nice thing is that it's absolutely tight.
 
MacEntyre said:
Sprayed polyurethane is The Best, but it ain't cheap. We've got two 12' enclosed CoolBot Trailers with 4" sprayed polyurethane, each one cost $1200 to insulate. Well worth it... 1400 BTU window unit air conditioners get each one to 38 degF in less than an hour during the summer.

You would probably get 2" of sprayed polyurethane in a metal building. Nice thing is that it's absolutely tight.
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Might be too heavy for metal sheathing. That stuff is dense. Much more than fiber or styrofoam.
 
Spray insulation would be very expensive to prep that building and spray. I think a low R factor bat insulation would be better and done when you put interior walls up. I thinking from a cost point though. I have been involved in a dozen projects of making coolers out of a metal buildings with blue foam board. It certainly works but none of those projects did the actual roof as they put in a ceiling at 8 or 9 feet with blown in insulation. The last two were at a winery and I can’t recall either sealing between the blue foam boards. I’ll drop a text on the contractor about material and installation today and hopefully he will respond being holiday.
 
Nhusa care to hijack threads? Im just looking for some info on my garage insulation. Geez.
 
You got a badass model a, but seriously, i just want info on how to insulate my garage…to protect what i got.
 
I would definitely foam seal the gaps. And then when you're getting ready to put the plywood up, throw some 5-10mm poly up for a vapor barrier. Until that point, don't worry about the poly. It might benefit you to get a froth pack instead of using quick seal cans, even with the professional gun. The frother pack is $200 but you can get all the foam board up and then seal it all in one pass with a frother.
 
For reference, we did the factory 2” fiberglass insulation in our new 30’x40’ with 9’ eaves. We put a wall unit AC/heat pump in it. The coldest it’s gotten inside without the heat pump on is 45-47 degrees. With the heat pump on it’ll hover in the mid 60’s or so. Enough to make you take your jacket off if you’re actively doing something.
 
Spray foaming is tricky. Especially in wood construction areas. Mold and rot can develop fast. When considering foam on a metal building you have closed and open foam. One cheaper, one expensive. One not much R value, one mid rated. If you hire someone to spray it’s going to be very expensive. One thing I can tell you. If the spray foam gets mixed wrong it will be a tear down building after the smell. Use a highly experienced contractor if you go that route.
 
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