How to Insulate a Quonset Building

Military trucks are parked in quonset buildings.

Quonset buildings are commonly used for major manufacturing, farm labor or military purposes. These buildings are massively wide -- sometimes extending in excess of 150 feet in width -- with dome-shaped roofs. Quonset buildings are constructed of tin or steel and are used to house bulldozers, farm equipment or military tanks. These buildings are exceptionally difficult and exceedingly expensive to insulate. It will take several people many days to complete the job, but once insulated, a Quonset building is very effective at preventing rust or equipment decay.

Things You'll Need

• Spray gun
• Polyurethane foam
• Safety glasses
• Safety gloves
• Old clothes
• Ladder

Instructions

1. Put on old clothes and safety equipment. Spraying insulation onto high ceilings will create an insulation mist. You will get dirty.

2. Connect the rubber hose attached to a polyurethane insulation foam closed cell to a spray gun. The hose should be 15 feet long. The closed cell casing physically resembles a propane tank for a grill.

3. Aim the spray gun 4 to 6 feet from the ceiling and spray. The polyurethane insulation foam emits from the spray gun as an ultra thin paint-like mist. When the foam hits its target it will expand to 1 inch in thickness within 45 seconds.

4. Spray all metal ceilings and walls with one full coating to produce a 1-inch thick foam insulation surface throughout the building. Each close cell can cover 605 square feet of ceiling and wall space. Use as many cells as necessary to complete the job.

References

• Steel Master USA: Quonset Buildings
• Steel Buildings: Quonset Buildings
• FoMo Foam: Quonset Insulation