Recommendations/experiences with spray foam for existing shop

[gsganzer]

I came across this website while looking at insulation retrofit options. They have some good info.

Retrofit insulation in metal buildings

 

[Quaffer]

As much as everyone wants spray foam; rigid foam, and then cans for joints is much more cost effective; IF the framing is in such a way it works out to be an easy install. Now, rigid foam, 3", might be $1-1.50/sq ft (not BF), BUT its not fire retardant, and it needs attached to something, And joints, and all need sealed too


Guess my point is, in my world, $9k is an awful lot of cash for shop insulation

A very experienced metal building fabricator I know only does rigid foam.

 

[Snobdds]

A very experienced metal building fabricator I know only does rigid foam.

Why?

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, what im most familiar with, the fiberglass with the vapor barrier on the one side, as described, one down side; metal buildings often have leaks. They arent easy to track down, and that moisture gets trapped between the rib panels and the vapor barrier, just kinda hanging out, and gets funky. I dont think I would say it grows mold much, but it does get a urine smell, that is less than what owners want.

It also has to be installed after framing, but before skin is placed.

If you plan ahead, it is the cheapest, fastest way to insulated a red iron building (PEMB), but it is very difficult to retro fit; without removing all metal panels.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here are a few pics of what Open Cell Spray Foam did to the MDF siding on my client's house. This took about 5 years to happen.

The Open Cell foam was sprayed directly to the back side of the siding. The building didn't install House wrap for the attic area. The house has brick siding up to the gables, and the gables are all MDF lap siding.

So there is a list of things that should have been done differently when the house was built, but if the Open Cell Spray Foam had never been installed, this damage would not have happened. And as long as they kept the MDF Siding painted, it would last forever.

On Monday they are having it cleaned up, then sprayed again. The replacement of the siding is being put off until they get it all figured out. I'm not touching that job. They asked, I declined. Before they spray it, they required a 6-inch cold air supply line for the water heater in the attic. I did that yesterday and took these pics.