Insulating Pole Barn Ceiling

[KennyG]

KennyG: how are you securing your wall insulation sheets in place? I was thinking about screwing my first two layers (2.5 inches total) to the vertical furring and then using adhesive to temporarily hold the last layer (1.5 inches) in place between the the interior horizontal girts supporting the fire barrier material and the finish metal panel.

I need to take some pictures of this process in progress (and it's a lengthy process because I don't have too much time to work on it), but keep in mind that I'm working on an existing barn so I'm insulating from the outside to the inside. My bays are just a little under 8 ft. wide by 12 ft. tall (poles on 8 ft. centers. I'm putting a new treated 2x6 between the poles so provide a bottom nailer. I start out with a horizontal sheet with two vertical ones above it. Once in a while I need to put a nail through to one of the purlins to hold a sheet in place, but most of them are just pushed in and "friction fit". The second layer I start with two vertical sheets on the bottom and a horizontal on top. Then I put three 2x4 horizontal nailers between poles (at about 42", 90" and just lapped behind the 2x10 plate at the top of the wall.). I then fit the last layer of foam between the purlins. So far, I've only had to fasten one outside sheet in to keep it place (nailed at a angle into the post). Once the plastic and steel is in place, it's not going anywhere.

I've been using spray foam to plug up the existing screw holes and nay gaps around the bracing. The foam to foam seams are too tight to add any sealer. For my purposes, after the vapor barrier is added, the foam may be mostly wasted effort.

 

[Oldmopar]

I think you could just seal the first layer, after that is air tight it wouldn't let any air passed it. Also if you staple poly to the ceiling it would be a good idea to leave enough to hang down onto the walls a foot or two to complete the seal. There are glues that are made for joining foam, comes in caulking tubes. Just make sure it says its ok for use with foam, some construction adhesives will eat foamboard. Good luck.

 

[KennyG]

I think you could just seal the first layer, after that is air tight it wouldn't let any air passed it. Also if you staple poly to the ceiling it would be a good idea to leave enough to hang down onto the walls a foot or two to complete the seal. There are glues that are made for joining foam, comes in caulking tubes. Just make sure it says its ok for use with foam, some construction adhesives will eat foamboard. Good luck.

That sounds good but with the pole barn geometry, it's not so easy. The attached picture isn't very good, but the 2x10s at the top of the wall will be exposed, so the poly will actually go over the top of the 2x10 plates. I will then put a horizontal nailer on top of that over the poly and attach the edge of the ceiling metal to that nailer. Similarly, the wall poly will have to butt up against the bottom of the 2x10 plate and be held in place by a channel for the metal.

 

[TC65023]

All: I just got some great news from my insurance company underwriter. They will accept the metal wall and roof panels as a fire barrier with the foam insulation. No expensive or heavy drywall or OSB barrier will be required. Obviously this will save save me substantially on the insulation work. Thanks to everyone who recommended I pursue this matter further with my insurance company.

So I will be using metal panel over poly vapor barrier over layered polyiso in the exterior wall on vertical furring and on the purlins in the ceiling construction.

I finished installing my SDR35 underground downspout collection system late yesterday without hitting the building with the mini-backhoe....and its raining this morning. Great timing.....LOL!

I will post some pics soon......

 

[KennyG]

I'm glad it worked out. I thought it would because we get credit for metal barriers on industrial facilities.

I look forward to seeing your pictures. I will try to post some as I move forward, but I'm afraid I'll be going a lot slower than you will.

 

[TC65023]

Here are photos of my sitework before starting building construction

 

[TC65023]

I got my picture files uploaded to the tractorbynet server, how to you get them to show in your message? I tried the "insert image" thingie and put in the URL link, but nothing happened. What am I doing wrong?

 

[KennyG]

It is not at all intuitive. I use the attachments. First click the paperclip and "manage attachments" and upload the picture from your computer. Then when you click the pull down arrow by the paper clip, it will let you select the files you uploaded and will insert them.

 

[TC65023]

 

[TC65023]

Thanks for the photo insertion tips KennyG, works like a charm!