Insulating Your Pre-Engineered Steel Building: The Do’s and Don’ts
Correctly insulating your steel building will save you money on your energy bill.
Insulation is key for ensuring your pre-engineered steel building doesn’t bleed you dry in energy costs. We’ve discussed the many advantages steel buildings have for being energy efficient, including insulation; which helps keep an indoor space cool in the warm summers and warm in the cold winters.
There are lots of material potentials that can be used for insulating a steel building, such as glass wool, mineral wool, spray foam, and polyisocyanurate rigid board insulation. With the advantages steel building kits have for DIY (whether you’re building a steel barn, a new workshop, or anything in between), knowing how to insulate your building is an important component of erecting your steel building yourself!
Insulating Steel Building Dos
It’s important to remember that insulating a steel building is different from a traditional building. While traditional construction installs the selected insulation material between the studs, insulation in a steel building is installed either above or to the exterior of the metal panel framing.
When insulating your steel building, remember to keep some of the following tips in mind:
- Account for the type of insulation you need (this will vary depending on your location, what sort of climate you have, and what sort of local building codes are required)
- If using a fluffy type of insulation (like fiberglass), ensure there is an air barrier between the insulation material and the steel panels
- Consider what your budget is for your project and what you can afford to spend on insulation
- Batt and blanket insulation is the most affordable option but isn’t as wind-resistant
- Spray foam and rigid board installation are more effective options but also have higher price tags associated
- Ensure your chosen insulation material is correctly sized
- Consider the R-value of your insulation material
Insulating Steel Building Don’ts
As with all DIY projects, there are many safety tips to remember when insulating prefab metal buildings or steel buildings yourself. There are often more things to remember to do than not to do, but here are some tips for things to avoid:
- While budgeting is important, sacrificing material quality for short-term savings can often result in more headaches down the road (i.e., higher price tags to fix disrepair)
- Don’t have the insulation material touching the steel/metal panels
- This is important for future care, as an improper application of insulation can result in “weather pockets” that result in condensation, mold, and loss of temperature control
- If using spray foam as instillation, do not spray directly against steel panels, in case down the road they need to be removed (due to rust or remodeling or other needs you may have)
When in doubt, check with your steel building manufacturer professionals. We here at MSC take insulation into account when designing and building projects, so you know any pre-engineered steel building with us will be ready for any weather demands.
Insulation troubleshooting doesn’t just end with installation. For upkeep and maintenance of your insulation, check out our article: How to Stop Condensation Problems in Your Metal Building.
Metal Structure Concepts has been designing and constructing steel buildings across Canada for over 20 years. From retail spaces to warehouses to wineries (and more), we are the experts for your next project. Contact us today to get a free quote.