Notices
Garage & Workshop Tips & Ideas for the garage or workshop. No Truck Tech Discussion   

pole barn insulation

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 12, 2003 | 12:03 PM
  #1  
dant's Avatar
dant
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
20 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: linden, mi
pole barn insulation

What is the best and most economical way to insulate a pole barn 32x48. Do they make insulation that is wide. Can't use fiberglass it is to narrow and I would have to frame for it.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2003 | 01:36 PM
  #2  
donnor's Avatar
donnor
More Turbo
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 620
Likes: 5
From: Missouri - Lake of the Oz
insulation

Dant:

The best insulation for a pole barn is probably some type of spray-on. Quite possibly, though, not the cheapest - at least up front. Don't let yourself be penny wise & pound foolish by selecting a low-buck option; you will live to regret it. Any insulation that traps moisture will rot your wood & rust your metal plus destroy the R-value of the insualtion.

BTW, you will want to keep birds out of your shop - they will LOVE pecking away at whatever you use.

Make sure you also have properly functioning fire extinguishers in your shop (and house & Ford Truck), for that matter as well. Hope you never need them, but have them anyway!

I just wish I HAD a shop to insulate! Oh well, someday...

Best wishes & enjoy your climate controlled shop!

dn.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2003 | 08:17 PM
  #3  
dan79's Avatar
dan79
Junior User
20 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Hamburg, NY
I have seen two cost effective ways to insulate a pole barn. No matter what it is going to cost more than to insulate a studded wall.

Home depot has a form of packaged roll insulation. It comes in 4' wide rolls and is a bubble lined foil. A neighbor used it with good results. It has a R value of 9 I think, but it is better than nothing. It is stapled to your horizontal 2x4s.

Foam board has come a long way and is 2 1/2" thick. It fits nicely between the boards and can be installed with two layers to give a high R value. It also sits flush with the poles if doubled.

As stated It is not as cheap as a roll of fiberglass.

Hope this helps
Dan 03 Ranger EDGE 4x4 5speed
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2003 | 10:30 PM
  #4  
Torque1st's Avatar
Torque1st
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
I have seen fiberglass in wide rolls also with a white plastic vapor barrier.

No matter what you put in you will have to protect it from physical damage.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2003 | 11:05 PM
  #5  
Aftrmidnite's Avatar
Aftrmidnite
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 21
They make fibreglass insulation in four foot widths X up to 2 1/2" thick with reinforcment thread in a tough foil face. Its called duct wrap or basement wall insulation. It can be found at air conditioning supply houses or wholesale insulation supplies. What is your floor made of? You should insulate the edge of your floor with ridged foam sheets, by digging around it. Two foot deep minimum, four foot is ideal. If your ceiling is high and you are trying to heat the space you will need warehouse ceiling fans to push the heat down. Pole buildings are hard to Insulate and heat, did a private horse arena in Manassas years ago, luckily the guy was rich. If you go with a froth spray, have it professionally done, and do it when its humid out. The spray expands more in high humidity, and will have a higher R value. You might want to check with your building codes department, some areas require you to cover insulation with a fire resistant material. IE taped sheetrock or stucco.
 
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2003 | 02:47 PM
  #6  
dfisher1's Avatar
dfisher1
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
Dant,
How is your pole barn framed? That would be the determining factor to the insulation you choose.
Are you using perlions (horizontal boards between poles)?
Have you framed between the poles (16" or 24" O.C.)?
I assume you've already poured a slab?
give me some details.
KingFisher
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bwoldschool65
Garage & Workshop
21
Jan 27, 2009 09:38 PM
COLD
Garage & Workshop
11
Nov 27, 2005 07:47 PM
jrwhitey_2000
Garage & Workshop
2
Nov 19, 2005 09:35 PM
jrwhitey_2000
Garage & Workshop
13
Nov 18, 2005 06:48 PM
bodabdan
Garage & Workshop
23
Feb 9, 2005 06:16 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:12 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE