When building a barndominium, one of the most frequent questions people have is what type of insulation to install. Even though the insulation may not be visible, you will feel the difference in daily quality and the long-term heating and cooling costs and is an important upfront decision you have to make. Find out more here.
Factors to consider when choosing the best insulation for a Barndo
Effectiveness: You need to think about the overall effectiveness of a particular type of insulation before choosing it for your barn. These could be factors such as better sealing of gaps and cracks at the foundation or metal seams, water penetration resistance, and particularly the R-value which we will get into later.
Specific benefits: Different insulation has different benefits. For example, closed cell foam will increase the strength of the building, but open cell foam does not. Closed cell foam is effective at keeping sealing out water penetration, while types of insulation do not. Some types of insulation have the benefits of superior noise reduction, while others are less effective at reducing sound. Some are quick and easy to install, others are not. There is quite a range of price differences among different types of insulation as well. You need to understand your priorities, budget, and choose the material that suits your needs.
Durability: How well the insulation is maintained over time depends on the material you select, installation. Spray foam insulation is the most durable choice because it doesn’t settle over time and doesn’t get gaps that batt insulation might form. Before deciding on insulation, it is worth considering the cost, time, and expertise required to install a particular type of insulation. Use closed-cell or open-cell spray foam to insulate a barndominium. Closed-cell spray foam seals the gaps in the frame of your building, keeping the moisture, insects, and heat and cold out. You can add additional layers of open cell foam to increase the R-value (particularly on the inside of the roof). The cheaper batt insulation and moisture-resistant foam board insulation do not compare performance-wise to spray foam, making them more expensive over the long term, despite the lower initial cost.
The R-value of Insulation: In your research on insulation, one’ll come across the word “R-value” rather frequently. This figure will show how effectively a certain kind of insulation prevents heat flow into and out of your home.
Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation: Especially suited to commercial metal buildings, barndominiums, shops, and pole barns, closed cell polyurethane foam is a kind of polymer spray that, when used, creates a continuous air seal barrier. This kind of insulation prevents the transfer of heat and offers a practical remedy that prevents air intrusion.
Spray foam with closed cells has the unusual ability to fill in tiny gaps and crevices, due to the foam expanding as it dries and expands, obstructing both air and water. Additionally, the material is a superior insulator with the highest R-Value per inch.Wherever you reside, spray foam insulation will lower your heating and cooling expenses. Despite being a far larger initial investment than other types of insulation, it ends up saving you significant money over time.
Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation: Unlike closed cell spray foam insulation, the open cell type is not completely encapsulated, so it has both flexibility and softness. This means that open cell insulation is soundproof both inside and outside the barn. This is particularly valuable if you live near an airport, railroad track, a busy highway, or in a two-story structure.
Batt Insulation: You have no doubt seen the common fiberglass batt insulation, or sometimes called “blanket insulation”. This type of insulation is the cheapest on the market today. Batt insulation is usually fiberglass or rock wool and is spread between the joists in the frame. Not only is it affordable, it can be installed by yourself to save costs and comes in a variety of thicknesses. It is, however, the poorest choice for insulating a metal building.
The lower R-value per inch of batt insulation means you need more thickness for the same R-value of spray foam. For example, if you want R13 for your walls, you need about four inches of batt insulation. This means your walls may have to be thicker if you are framing out the inside – thus reducing your living space.
Conclusion:
Most barndominiums and metal buildings contain insulation in the roof, walls, and floors on multi-level structures. Choosing superior insulation such as spay foam has a higher initial cost, but pays you back through saving on heating and cooling over the life of the structure. Spray foam insulation is a good long-term investment. Choosing a spray foam insulation contractor.
