How to Insulate a Pole Building
The best time to insulate your pole building is as it is being built. If you have a pre-existing pole building, however, you can still insulate it; it will just take some preparation and careful work. Options for interior insulation include fiberglass batting, blown-in loose fill, spray foam, rigid foam, reflective systems and radiant barriers. Exterior options include foam board, OSB and Tyvek(R), coupled with a felt paper or foil-backed house wrap. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- For structures without finished walls:
- 2-inch by 4-inch lumber to upgrade the interior framing
- 4-feet by 8-feet by 1/2-inch sheetrock
- Boxes of sheetrock screws
- Rigid foam board or fiberglass batting
- NIOSH_approved respirator
- Long sleeves, gloves, hair net
- For existing structures with finished walls:
- Blown-in insulation
- Insulation blowing machine
- Power drill
- 1-inch hole saw
- 1-inch plastic caps
- Expanding foam sealer
- Sharp, straight-edged putty knife
- Clear silicone caulk
- For exterior insulation:
- OSB, Tyvek(R) or felt wrap
- Spun-bonded polyethylene sheeting
Instructions
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Existing Structures
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Check the interior of your existing pole building. Retrofit 2-inch by 4-inch framing between any spaces wider than 24 inches.
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Install rolled fiberglass batting or rigid foam board between each joist in your frame. Use a staple gun to secure the fiberglass batting. Cut rigid foam so that it makes a tight fit between joists.
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3
Hang sheetrock to cover the walls. Seal cracks and crevices with expanding foam if they are wider than two inches. Apply joint tape where needed, between sheetrock sections, along floors and ceilings and at all corners. Apply joint compound over all joints. Allow to dry for several hours, then wipe smooth with a damp sponge. Sand smooth if the sponging is not enough. Paint walls and apply baseboards and crown molding if desired.
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If your walls are already finished, drill holes between each pair of studs from the outside using a power drill and hole saw. Make sure you do not drill into any plumbing or wiring. Attach blowing machine hose and fill the space between each stud with the insulation material.
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Fill all the holes with expanding foam sealer. Use a putty knife to cut the foam even with the wall. Insert a PVC cap into each hole. Apply clear silicone caulk around each cap to ensure that there is a good seal.
During Initial Construction
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After constructing your frame, but before applying your plywood sheeting, apply foam insulation board, OSB or Tyvek(R) to the exterior of your pole building.
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Wrap entire structure with felt wrap backed with foil, making sure that the foil side faces the outside of the building.
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Wrap house in spun-bonded polyethylene sheeting to prevent air infiltration and wind-driven rain from damaging your pole building.
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Apply your plywood sheeting over all insulation inside. Apply plywood sheeting or vinyl siding outside over all house wrap layers.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember to insulate your roof and add a vent for every 300 square feet of area.
Use a NIOSH-approved respirator when working with fiberglass insulation. Wear long-sleeved shirts and gloves.
