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Insulating Metal Shed

1,705 Views | 6 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by AggieGunslinger
555-PINF
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I have a small 15' x 30' metal shed that used to be shaded by a line of around 15 Hackberry trees, but I had them removed last week to give the pool more evening sun and to stop the absolutely crushing amount of leaves I'd have to fish out of the pool every Fall. I want to do something to mitigate the heat before it gets too bad. I'm thinking about spray foaming the inside of the roof, as that's where most of the heat comes from and because I have a lot of crap hanging on the walls. Any recommendations for a DIY kit or any other suggestions?


SoulSlaveAG2005
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AG
Get some venting system going. Cut some intakes out just above ground level, install screens to keep critters out, then put an outlet on roof (whirley bird or something similar) will help keep air flowing and move hot air out.
tgivaughn
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AG
Agree with above about ventilation! Many solutions out there.

Open cell foam has been SOP on metal clg/roof horse barns for decades, although Closed cell would be more water/leakproof. The DIY route is tricky and Great Stuffing it could easily become a mess.

Improvements in traditional insulation makes DIY more possible, e.g.
http://rb.gy/qdz97
http://rb.gy/zk9j3

Expanding this project beyond your budget
Pergola covering/shading shed & concrete sitting area in your photo
These can be covered with metal or Lexan as well but vines that shade & don't shed leaves might also be considered; ref: Garden Success FM90.9 KAMU
Gary79Ag
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AG
Quote:

Any recommendations for a DIY kit or any other suggestions?
My recommendation would be to insulate with closed cell spray foam. I used Foam It Green to insulate our home during a major renovation and it worked great and was easy to do with their DIY kits. BTW, 1" of FIG equated to an R-7 value so 3" would be equivalent to R-21 value of insulation.

Foam It Green
aka The Legendary *******!!!
555-PINF
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Thanks, all. I think adding simple ventilation may get me to where I want to be. The main thing I'm trying to protect is my beer fridge/freezer, which also houses meat I purchase when I find good deals. We had a catastrophic loss last year due to the prior fridge's old age and I had to toss hundreds of dollars worth of briskets and stuff.

I'll add a roof vent and some "portal" vents down low and see how that performs. If it's still not enough, the FIG kit that Gary linked is exactly what I was thinking of when I posted this thread. Coupling the two would surely get me to better than where I was with just tree shade for protection.
Aggietaco
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AG
You're on the right track.

I've got an uninsulated wooden shed in my backyard that gets full sun that I wanted to keep closer to outdoor temps for the sake of items stored inside. Went with a solar powered roof fan and added some soffit vents low on the opposite side. It still gets warmer than the surrounding temps, but not by much.

Insulation doesn't do much when you aren't conditioning or refreshing the air in the space. But if you go the insulation route, some of the rigid panels either stick pinned or foam adhered to the roof will be much cheaper than the FIG kits.
AggieGunslinger
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AG
I did this a few years ago, ended up catching a pro crew that had a job cancel and they did it for $100 more than I could have installed bat or open cell myself. The biggest thing to realize is that one you spray directly only the metal it is now basically stuck there and changing panels due to rust, a leak, etc will be difficult. When they build these from new they use vapor barrier or something like it between the metal and the spray foam for that reason. my shed never gets over about 85 and during the super freeze two year ago stayed right at freezing.
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