mrc 953 #1 Posted May 14, 2019 hello men, i am planning on building a new shop. i live in massachusetts on a latitude equal to Milwaukee Wisconsin. debating going metal building or conventional stick frame. very concerned about insulating a metal building. most of the metal buildings i see have an insulation that is vinyl coated and sags a lot after a number of years. i welcome any and all suggestions. thank you mike in mass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 60,019 #2 Posted May 14, 2019 1 minute ago, mrc said: most of the metal buildings i see have an insulation that is vinyl coated and sags a lot after a number of years. That is more of a condensation barrier than an insulation blanket. You could add a wood frame interior to a metal building and insulate it. Another option would be to have it spray foamed and painted inside. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 10,719 #3 Posted May 14, 2019 (edited) If you go with a metal building, spray foamed is the way to go. Size can be the determining factor. As you go larger metal become less expensive than stick frame. Edited May 14, 2019 by oliver2-44 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 29,402 #4 Posted May 14, 2019 (edited) I agree with the above statements of foam being the way to go to insolate a steel building. You could also go with a pole building with metal sheeting. After insolating it you can use liner steel to finish the inside walls & ceiling. Liner steel could also be used to finish the inside of a steel frame building. Edited May 14, 2019 by Achto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,679 #5 Posted May 14, 2019 My shop is metal pole barn style 30'x84' (13' ceiling) Inside is lined with foil faced styrofoam sheets. there is a oil fired hot air heater hung from the ceiling. I only use it very occasionally..like an emergency repair on a car or tractor. Supplement it with a salamander. warms it up but is expensive to run the units. The foam insulation does really help in the summer keeping it comfortable in there especially with north facing doors open the others closed. Walled off a 15 x24 foot section with 8 ft ceiling (stick frame) and insulated that. Small electric baseboard unit keeps it at 59 degrees in coldest weather. Have a bigger electric heater that I use when i am working keeps it 70. . One thing with pole barn construction you have no over head structure capable of handling a load like a chain hoist etc. The heated area I built I put a beam across so I can use a small hoist in there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darb1964 1,119 #6 Posted May 14, 2019 I am in Peru Ma not far from you and higher in elevation . I have seen metal building around town that have been up a long time. I moved an old barn and added on to it for my shop but if that opportunity was not available i would have considered matel. I have a friend in Windsor Ma that has a nice metal shop he loves it. He put a big wood stove in it and it stays comfortable in all but coldest of weather with some insulation around the stove.I would go with the spray foam expensive but very good. My house is 200 years old and half Crawlspace, I am getting prices to spray under there first contractor coming tomorrow, sick of freezing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darb1964 1,119 #7 Posted May 14, 2019 Mike you the guy that keeps flying those huge military ✈ over my house at tree 🌳 top level? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #8 Posted May 14, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, pfrederi said: One thing with pole barn construction you have no over head structure capable of handling a load like a chain hoist etc. My shop is 116 feet by 32 feet with 14 foot ceiling.Five 13 foot wide by 13 foot high insulated steel overhead doors.One 16 foot wide by 13 foot high insulated steel overhead door.Couple 36 in by 80 in steel personal doors.60 feet by 32 feet is partitioned off as my shop.Thats the only part that's insulated.The rest is for storage.Pole barn construction with couragated sheet metal sheathing and same for the roof.Oil fired hot air furnace hung from ceiling.Plus a pellet stove.2 inch foil backed insulation in the ceiling.1 inch foil backed on the walls.Easy to heat,but I seldom heat it due to being too cheap to buy lots of fuel oil.As far as not having capabilities of hanging a hoist,I bought a used 2 ton gantry crane on wheels that came with an electric CM 1 ton hoist and trolly.Nice thing about the gantry crane is it can be moved where I need it.Even outside.If I had to do it over,the building would be 40 feet wide instead of 32.These buildings sure do fill up fast. Edited May 14, 2019 by Pollack Pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrc 953 #9 Posted May 16, 2019 darb 1964, westfield is home to barnes afb. its mission is homeland security for the northeast and i believe extending down the east coast. they fly F15's. then there is westover AFB in chicopee. that is a mac type of base. they are a jumping off point for going over to europe. troops and cargo. they fly C5's or C17's i believe. got my discharge many moons ago. i was an enlisted ammo troop. sooo... no i have nothing to do with their flying schedule. when the F15's roar by i like to think of that as the sound of freedom! regards mike 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darb1964 1,119 #10 Posted May 16, 2019 I seen that you were in the Air force and I think the planes I have been seeing are large transport. I known the bases are there,just messing around. Thanks for your service! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
