I need to partition off part of my barn during the winter when I am out working. I use a salamander heater to heat where I am working at. Which would workk better the canvas or a vinyl tarp? Thanks Tore

 

I'd think canvas might hold more heat in

 

I dont know because I see they list the canvas as breathable???

 

If the canvas is not treated with flammable dressings, it may take heat a bit better than the vinyl. Also should it catch, it may be easier to extinguish.

 

They're referring to breathable in terms of water vapor transmission, so that won't hurt for your purposes. The biggest difference will be the weight or thickness of the tarp you choose.

How big of an area are you trying to close off, and will it be affected by wind? Maybe we can come up with some other ideas that may be easier on the pocketbook.

Do you have the option of stacking some hay as a temporary wall?

 

I have a barn that is 32x54 and it is insulated. I just want to heat part of it while I am out there working I dont need to heat the whole barn. So I was wondering if someone else has been thru this and what did they use and how it worked. I know vinyl is cheaper but will canvas work better. Thanks Tore

 

It's more a matter of thick vs. thin and how far away from the heater your tarp will be hanging. Even a sheet of 3 or 4 mill poly (heavy duty trash bag material) will help. If your barn is insulated it sounds like the torpedo heater might almost do the whole thing.

Have you thought of looking for used carpet that someone else is going to throw away? If you can't get a single piece big enough you could just overlap it 6" or so which would also provide a point of entry.

 

After spending a few years in Alaska, I always think about flexibility in the cold. Canvas will take the temperature changes and not be too bothered by it. Vinyl will get brittle and crack if it gets too cold for too long, leaving you right where you are now. So, if it were me, I'd choose canvas!!

 

Which will hold the heat better?

 

F-350-6 I dont need to heat the whole barn up just part of it when I am working out there. It takes awhile to heat the whole thing up. Espically if I have some equipment in there in the cold.

 

You're not going to see any noticeable difference in resistance to heat flow (R-Value) between the materials. Limiting air movement will be your main concern. You also need to keep in mind how close the tarp will be to the discharge point of your heater for melting or flame point. After that, like snowbunny mentioned, you can factor in longevity.

 

Thanks Tore

 

Vis queen cheap and easy to replace. Either way you go use two so there is a space
between about 6 or 8 inches. Air plain old good air is the best insulator and is what
insulation does it traps air!! Fiberglass does nothing but trap air and that is why you
should never stuff insulation in places it needs to be at it's advertised thickness not
compressed or it does not give the wall or ceiling the advertised R value. With that
lesson there, Putting 2 pieces of canvas, tarp or vis queen up with a air space of
say 6 inches will provide a better barrier to the cold!! We did the same but in reverse
for my friends barn it was a open pole barn we enclosed a portion and put visqueen
only on the studs for the wall and the ceiling and had a double layer for the door
portion it was to keep the AC in and the vis queen let light in which is a big plus when
working on things.

 

canvas is better but vynal is alot cheaper id go with the vynal

 

Visqueen (polyethylene film) is your best bet. You can get large rolls of it for relatively cheap, and if it's out of the weather, it will last quite a while. For what you're doing, you just want to stop air movement, nothing you hang will have a measurable R-value unless you hang two layers with an air gap between them like someone else already stated. You'll want the 6 mil (0.006") stuff, as it will be the toughest for the money, and also have enough weight to not blow around too much.

Go to a big-box home-improvement store and ask for 6 mil contractor's plastic.

Jason