Replies

1. 
   walta100 | May 10, 2019 02:23pm | #1

   The only good way to insulate a steel building is to put the insulation on the outside and keep all of the steel warm on the inside. The problem is there is no cheap way to keep the insulation dry.

   Steel buildings generally leak so much air ERV would not be necessary.

   You may find this article interesting. Be sure to read the Q&A.
   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/insulating-pole-barn

   Walta

2. 
   harleyrea | May 10, 2019 03:32pm | #2

   I was thinking once the metal was 100% foamed it would be air tight

3. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | May 11, 2019 06:50am | #3

   Haley,
   Can you describe this building a little better? Will it have conventional 2x6 walls? Will the walls have sheathing (OSB or plywood)?

   Will the building's walls have metal siding (cladding) -- steel panels?

4. 
   harleyrea | May 12, 2019 06:03am | #4

   conventional 2 x 6 wall(no sheathing) with steel panel screw to them, then open cell foam sprayed to fill the wall cavity

1. Expert Member
   Akos | May 13, 2019 03:06pm | #6

   If you don't want plywood/osb on the outside, you can install house-wrap over the studs before the metal panels go up and spray foam against it. This way the spray foam will not glue your metal siding to the building.

5. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | May 12, 2019 02:17pm | #5

   Haley,
   For the reasons cited in the article ("Insulating a Pole Barn"), you really need OSB or plywood sheathing. Otherwise, you'll glue everything together, and it will be very difficult to replace a steel panel when it begins to rust.