Barn building question. I live in the south. Hot summers. Moderate winters.
I’m in the process of building a new house and barn (attached). My builder has insulated some of the barns he builds so I’m considering this option.
Barn: 36x42, metal roofing Board and batten vinyl siding with stone veneer, open center aisle (no loft)
Thoughts?
I have an insulated tack room and I have put sheets of the blue insulation along the walls in the feed room. I have high ceilings but I really really wish I had roof insulation. That would keep the whole barn cooler in the summer. If you can afford to do it I surely would insulate the roof.
There is a very high end barn in Birmingham. The owner pulled the whole roof off the barn and put some kind of reflective insulation up and replaced the roof. It is so much cooler in the barn than outside. I wish I could afford to do that!
For those buildings around here everyone today uses spray foam insulation.
A little goes a long way and the results are impressive in the winter and summers.
The local garage used that in their shop area, the kind you can paint over, closed cell I think.
The results are really neat and they can clean it so easy.
We also have that spray insulation foam in our tack/bath/feed rooms and in our well house.
I would check into that where you are.
My BO built her 120x200 s.f. steel building almost 20 years ago. Indoor with attached barn. She planned on insulation under the roof to eliminate condensation. She decided to do the walls after construction started. The skylight frames drip sometimes when it warms up with deep snow on the roof. No other issues. I don’t know that the insulation makes much difference for hot and cold weather here in Maine. It can hit -20 in the winter and in the 80-90s in the summer. That gives us a tot complain about year-round.
I just had my metal pole barn’s ceiling insulated (went with the spray foam) and I’ve noticed a difference. Last week we had our first 90 degree days and the interior of the barn was noticeably cooler than outside.
In my opinion, insulate as much as you can afford. Metal roof should be insulated at minimum. Your horses will thank you.
5 Likes
Insulate if you can afford it. With roof insulation you want the shiny foil side up, ie: facing the roof, it will reflect the heat back up and out. Closed cell foam is more expensive but works amazingly and like Bluey said, can be painted. You can use the sheets of insulation for your walls.
Side note: make sure your roof has a ridge vent to allow hot air to go up and out, if you can swing it, an electric or solar type attic fan will help pull hot air out as well. If you are doing a metal barn, get a light colored roof. Mine is white and it makes a huge difference. It was 90 yesterday outside the barn and about 78 inside, I need insulation though, if only we could block the humidity!!!
I live on Texas and have roof insulation in my barn. It makes a big difference and shouldn’t cost a lot
My metal barn is not insulated. I don’t think you would ever regret insulting your barn ceiling.
Yes to insulating your barn roof.
As I understand it, there are two or three main options, then a new one that I’d like to hear about if anyone has tried it:
-
Felt (I think)— from the underside, it looks like white plastic that drapes down from the purlins a bit.
-
Bubble wrap with foil on both sides.
-
Foam insulation.
The problem with the first two, which I have seen a lot where I am now (Aiken, SC) is that no one quite knows what the R-values are. I believe the white stuff is a bit cheaper than the foil bubble wrap. Bird will make a mess of your foam insulation.
The stuff I want to try is the Prodex stuff. The manufacturer brags about pretty high R values (17 and 22?) for the 5mm and 10 mm versions. I have a sample of it. It’s closed-cell foam with foil on both sides. I think the company is small and a tad weird. Here’s the website:
1 Like
I don’t know, if insulted, your barn ceiling may take offense and do something silly, like spring leaks or fly away.
6 Likes
Insulate the roof (it also helps muffle the noise and horses have much more sensitive hearing). Air exchanges perhour are important for the horses health (15 - 17 per hour of memory serves). They aren’t even particularly comfortable until temps are below 60 degrees. Big boilers on slender legs.
May it be done right and done under the cost and time estimate!
Ha, ha, ha, that is funny!! Don’t ya love autocorrect!!!
When I built my barn I added the insulation to the ceiling and it makes a huge difference IMO. The Amish builder called it double bubble, it’s the stuff with foil on both sides - I did put the silver side up.
FWIW, my barn is 34x86 center aisle with trusses. No loft, but it’s built on an old bank barn foundation so one side is 3 1/2 feet in the ground. The roof is steel, sides are board and batten with house wrap on the inside. I had big doors on each end of the aisle, another one on the side for pasture access, and two on the bank side for ventilation and unloading bedding and hay.
This is by far the most comfortable barn temperature wise I have ever had. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Our barn is insulated under the roof, and it stays pretty comfortable in our hot summers.
Before we built the barn, we visited a neighbor with two barns, one with the roof insulated, the other without, and there was a noticeable difference between the two, temperature-wise.
I’m also in the south (N. GA) and am very happy the roof of my barn is insulated. I would definitely do it! Keeps the barn so much more comfortable.
Just to jump on the bandwagon. The thermal barrier (foil/foil, double bubble) by any name is the best investment I made for my barn, cannot believe the difference and I have an “older” barn section to compare to.
There is also radiant barrier OSB for sheathing. Per one manufacturer, the foil side faces down for roofing. Seems counterintuitive but see installation guide at this website:
Michigan here. I just have, and have had, thin accordion-fold insulation on the ceiling of my barn(s). It deadens the sound of rain and stops condensation in the summer. Be aware, any exposed foam insulation is potential nest-building material for birds.
Your ears will thank you. Rain on a metal roof can be thunderous. Snow sliding off a metal roof creates an eerie sound.
