Insulating a steel building.

[Ken_Shea]

Looking for insulating options/advice/opinions on a steel building.
Spray on would likely be the best but is is just so dang ugly.
Thank for any and all input
Ken


All sheeting panels are that heavy corrugated type like this.

[Geof]

I guess you are insulating it so you can stay warm in those cold Ohio winters . The ugly spray-on is the quickest and probably least effective in many ways. My suggestion is consider fastening 1" x 3-1/2" wooden strips to the inside, maybe with metal brackets or something. Then treat it like you would a standard 2" x 4" frame wall, put in insulating batts, vapor barrier and cover with drywall.

I know this is not the cheapest but it is certainly the most effective. It also has the advantage that nothing on the inside of the final walls is directly connected to the metal sheathing. I have been inside well insulated metal clad structures where metal fittings, screws, bolts, brackets, were attached directly to the structure. In really cold weather these metal parts cooled down to outside temperatures because they had good thermal conductivity and they would grow big masses of ice. Which would then melt and soak into the insulation and run down the walls and in general make a mess. The wooden stripping holding the inner walls acts as a thermal barrier.

[martinw]

Originally Posted by Geof put in insulating batts, vapor barrier and cover with drywall. .

Yes. It is absolutely vital to install a well sealed vapour barrier on the warm side of the insulation. Otherwise moist air from the inside of the building will condense in the insulation during cold weather.

Best wishes

Martin

[martinw]

Dear Ken,

Take a peek at this. It describes the general principles.

http://www.cssbi.ca/Eng/_pdf/House-Chapter7Final.pdf

Best wishes,

Martin

[Ken_Shea]

Geof, Martin
Thanks for the input.
I believe the firring strips with bat insulation and the vapor barrier followed by some sort of finish wall will be my best bet as well.

Martin, thanks for the link, saved it for later reading.



Ken