What Is the Best Way to Keep Metal Buildings Comfortable Year-Round?

Metal buildings are durable. They deal with the most extreme of weather conditions, last for decades, and require little maintenance.  However,  there‘s one thing metal buildings can‘t provide: insulation. Anyone who‘s been inside a metal workshop in the middle of July or a storage building during the winter has already experienced the problem. It gets hot.  Very hot.  And then freezing cold when the season‘s change.

And it‘s this type of things that insulation for metal building projects are so important for. It‘s not just about comfort.  Proper insulation prevents moisture problems,  reduces heating and cooling costs,  keeps equipment safe, and sometimes even increases the life expectancy of your building.  Many people don‘t realize the importance of insulation until they see the condensation dripping from the ceiling.

Regardless of whether you are constructing a new building or attempting to improve an existing one,  knowing the insulative properties will save you money in the long run.  Most well-established metal roofing businesses have suggested the installation of insulative components prior to the roof panels being installed as it produces a superior system than attempting to mask the issues.

The Bad News:  Metal Buildings Lose Heat and.  Gain Heat So Quickly 

Steel is strong, but it‘s not a great insulator. It‘s an efficient heat conductor.  Hot sun in summer shines down on the roof panels and that heat makes its way into the building.  Cool air out in winter will escape just as quickly if there‘s nothing slowing it down.

What‘s the outcome? A building in a non stop battle with external conditions. Heating and cooling bills run up. Comfort plummets.

Even no-people-are-here buildings can be harmed.  Tools,  tools,  office equipment,  paper, inventory all are subject to daily shifts in temperature and humidity. Some owners think that just ventilation will solve all their problems. It does help, but it is not insulation.  Those are two different jobs.

Proper installation of insulation results in much more consistent indoor temperatures.  HVAC units run for fewer time cycles, cooling improves, and people enjoy the interior environment.

Condensation Is Usually the Bigger Problem Nobody Talks About

We usually think that temperature is the first thing, but maybe moisture should be listed first.

Hot air will always carry water vapor. When that hot air hits a cold metal roof or wall panel the moisture instantly condenses into water droplets.  Not so bad. The problem begins when those droplets continue to form day after day.

Moisture can also damp insulation and stain ceilings,  cause framing to rust,  destroy electrical wiring and foster mold in enclosed spaces. Even stored equipment may be slowly corroding with nobody realizing why.

So the installation is not just for keeping the building warmer or cooler.  It‘s about controlling how and where the moisture is going to generate. Vapor barrier, sealed joints and proper installation all prevent that cycle from happening costly.

If you‘re talking about a building used for agricultural activities,  auto repair, manufacturing, or storage of commercial products it typically suffers from elevated conditions and moisture levels inside.  Such building designs should not lack insulation as this will lead to condensation issues eventually.

Different Types of Insulation Work Better for Different Buildings

The best insulation product for an application varies depending on climate, building use,  cost, and design of the building.

Fiberglass blanket insulation is still one of the most popular types because of the low cost and its good performance characteristics if installed properly, it is particularly good for large commercial buildings where cost is of great significance.

Rigid foam boards: offer high R-value at a relatively thin thickness.  These are commonly employed when the space of the interior must be preserved.

Spray foam is more and more being used because it insulates while blocking small air gaps. In addition to the insulation, closed-cell spray foam also increases the strength of the building and keeps out the moisture at a higher price. 

The effect of reflective insulation is different. In hot weather it reflects heat radiant heat back in to the building and reduces heat transmission rather than retarding flow through thick material, as in conventional insulation.

Selecting the wrong material doesn‘t always mean failure simply that you might end up spending more money without receiving the performance you were expecting.  That‘s why reputable contractors assess the building before advising on a solution rather than always offering the same product.

Installation Quality Matters More Than Most People Realize

Premium insulation is of no benefit if it has been installed badly.

Tiny openings between the roof purlins or through the fiberglass insulation,  or the torn vapor barriers,  and joints that aren‘t sealed all weaken the barrier. Air penetrates at those points. Moisture penetration occurs as well.

Professional installers pick up on subtle points that are not immediately visible once wall are closed up. They know where thermal bridges occur,  they are aware of the roof system growth and shrinkages, and they are also conscious of the areas where the condensation is likely to occur all year around.

In reality, many property owners will be concerned only with the thickness of the insulation. Yes,  the thickness is important and certainly the thickness is important, but the continuity of the insulation system is equally important. Continuous insulation systems with fewer gaps will generally perform better than thicker material with many openings.

This is just another of many reasons why established metal roofing firms will (or should) work in conjunction with insulation contractors.  If roofing systems and insulation are designed and installed as the “whole system”, life performance will typically benefit greatly.

How good insulation can reduce your energy bill throughout the year

Energy prices don‘t suddenly climb; they gradually increase over time, and before you know it, you find yourself asking how your bill has suddenly tripled. For the most part, a metal building with inadequate insulation is often to blame.  If you‘re losing warmer or cooler air through the roof or walls, your HVAC system has to work overtime to replace it which is just costing you money.

After you get the proper insulation system installed, you‘ll find that cold weather in winter and hot weather in summer become much more manageable inside your home.  Instead of running the furnace all the time in winter and experiencing record heat from the roof all summer long, your utilities are making less work for your unit,  and there‘s less maintenance too.

Savings vary based on building size,  location and application but many owners see a difference earlier than expected.  Work areas are more comfortable. Warehouses stay a more constant temperature.  Inside metal buildings office areas are no longer drafty or muggy. Those little improvements add up, and after a short time the insulation has paid for itself.

Choosing the Right Insulation System for Your Building‘s Purpose

Not every metal building has the same task to do, so one type of insulation can‘t possibly be the best choice for all.

A storage warehouse full of boxed inventory is vastly different than a mechanic‘s shop that has bay doors open all day. A horse barn also has to contend with moisture from the animals and a manufacturing plant might generate heat from the equipment. Even a weekend-only hobby workshop for projects that everyone in the neighborhood can see from the street needs a system that is scheduled to match the life cycle of the building.

Climate is just as important.  Structures in warm southern environments, for instance, typically feature reflective barriers along with thermal insulation in order to minimize radiant heat transferring through walls and ceilings.  Those in cooler conditions generally require increased R-values in order to protect indoor heat from escaping.  Regions with major seasonal fluctuations require year-round insulation instead of addressing exclusively a single seasonal challenge.

When you work with knowledgeable metal roofing firms from the planning stage, you make these choices so much easier.  They‘ve experienced what has performed in the local climate and what will fall apart in 4 or 5 years time. That experience is worth listening to because replacing insulation at a later stage is a lot more costly than selecting the most suitable system to begin with.

Common Mistakes That Can Reduce Insulation Performance

Some insulation faults aren‘t caused by the material at all, they‘re caused by shortcuts taken during design or installation.

Among the biggest mistakes is to have small gaps around framing members,  around roof penetrations or wall joints. They may seem insignificant but air will always find those cracks, and over time they decrease efficiency and cause moisture migration.

Insulation another related issue is fiberglass insulation being compressed.  Often people think that really squishing it down makes it better, this actually decreases the insulating value since it‘s the air trapped in the fiberglass that insulates.

One must be careful not to ignore ventilation. Ventilation is a balancing act.  Moisture from the inside must be vented, or this can be a problem. Insulation and ventilation work as a team.  If one does not exist, the other has to put extra effort forth.

There‘s also the tendency to purchase the lowest cost product. Saving some money on your materials can result in premature moisture damage, soaring heating bills, and uncomfortable indoor conditions for years.  Nearly all building owners who have suffered these repairs will tell you the same thing.  It costs less in the end to do it right the first time.

Investing in Comfort Today Protects Your Building for Years

Many people consider insulating as just another building cost. It‘s actually another “protecting the investment to the building which you already have”. 

Temperature swings move / fluctuate / grow and shrink. Moisture burns the campus with rust and corrosion. Condensation damages insulation, ceilings, equipment, and whatever has been stored away. Good insulation takes care of all of that and makes the building a lot more pleasant to work in, store valuables or do business in.

Another benefit is that the acoustics within the home are also enhanced with a modern insulation system.  Sound of rain on a Metallic roof is less deafening,  sounds from outside are less audible, and the structure itself just has a more substantial feel to it.  It‘s another of those benefits that you can‘t really appreciate until you experience it.

Whether it‘s new construction orretrofit of an existing building,  a decision to install proper insulation is one that‘s difficult to second-guess.  Energy consumption is reduced, operating costs are lower and maintenance issues are simplified.

Conclusion

metal roofing companies builded Buildings are designed to last, but built to perform optimally, they need to be protected both externally and internally. Choosing the right insulation will increase the comfort within the structure,  reduce energy costs and condensation, and help to preserve everything inside the building. It will also act to protect the building from as yet unseen moisture damage that could be costly to repair.