Creating An Insulation Plan For Your Metal Building

Few structures require more robust insulation than a metal-walled building simply because metal conducts heat much better than wood or brick, giving you less of a thermal barrier than these other common materials. However, the issue of insulating metal is a completely different project than wood, brick, or concrete for a number of reasons. Here's how it's different and what you should do to make a plan to effectively insulate your metal building. 

How Are They Different?

As previously stated, metal has a much lower R value than other building materials, the R value being used to determine the insulating ability of a certain material. This not only means that you will need more insulation for metal than for other materials, but also that your insulation will require a more complete seal. Any hole in your insulation will compromise your entire metal building's climate control system more than it would in another building constructed of different materials. This, however, doesn't have to be a discouragement, but rather should form a backbone for your insulation plan so you can get the most out of your building when all is said and done. 

How to Design Your Insulation Plan

In order to best tackle the unique issue of insulating a metal building, it's best to break down the issue into bite-sized pieces that you can tackle one at a time. 

Convenience

Fiberglass batts specially designed for metal buildings have a sticky side that allows them to stick snugly to the walls of your building, making them pretty much "point and shoot." Spray foam and blow-in insulation are also convenient since they don't require as much hands-on work, but it takes a trained professional to make sure every nook and cranny gets its proper insulation. 

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of any type of insulation is more of a hard science than convenience or cost, since all you have to do is look at the R-value, which should be available on the packaging for the insulation. More extreme climates demand insulation with a higher R value, and thorough installation is key in such climates. 

Cost

Cost is going to be a major factor in any building decision, but insulation can add a lot or save a lot in the long run due to the various options available to you as a consumer. Spray foam insulating is one of the most expensive options out there, whereas rigid boards or batts offer less costly alternatives. Contact a metal building contractor, like Bexson Construction General Contractors, for more information.