Insulating Steel Garages, Sheds, Barns & Homes

Generally, our buildings do not require insulation. They are manufactured to withstand extreme conditions in both frigid temperatures and brutally hot regions of the world.

Your decision to add an additional layer of protection inside of your building will greatly depend upon how you plan to use the structure, the climate conditions in your area and your specific needs.

Once you’ve decided that you need insulation, the next step is to determine which one of the steel building insulation options is right for you. There are two main types of insulation for steel buildings: batten and spray foam.

The first type of metal building insulation to consider is batten or blanket insulation for metal buildings. It is mineral fiber consisting of rock wool or processed fiberglass. It’s normally used in floors, ceilings and inside of walls. Customers are able to purchase it in metal building insulation rolls that are cut to fit the specific area (more on this later).

Another choice to look into is spray-on insulation for metal buildings. This liquid form of insulation has a foaming agent and a polymer like polyurethane. It can be used on floors as well as ceilings. This kind of insulation fills every space of the Quonset hut structure.

While there are many factors to consider when choosing insulation for your building, some of the most important are ease of installation and aesthetics.

Installation

SteelMaster’s insulation kits are customized to your building’s model and measurements and all hardware necessary for installation.

Customer Teresa R. inherited her father’s Quonset hut from the 1980s. After doing some research, she decided the SteelMaster insulation kit was the best option for her.

I talked to [Assistant Customer Service Manager] Ryan, he was super nice and told me how to install the insulation. He knew everything about the building so we didn’t have to do any guesswork. It’s customized exactly to the size you need,” she said.

“I could do a lot more work and save a couple of hundred bucks, in other words, not worth it.”

Spray foam insulation can be complicated and messy for a beginner, which means you may have to hire a professional company to do the job for you. However, installing a SteelMaster insulation kit is simple and can be done with as little as two people, which saves you the time and money of hiring a professional.

Additionally, spray foam insulation has harsh chemicals, which means you need to wear a respirator suit during insulation. This is not necessary for SteelMaster’s fiberglass spun blanket insulation.

Aesthetics

Another thing to take into consideration, especially if you decide to leave your insulation exposed, is the look of your insulation.

Even when done properly, spray foam insulation can look bulky, lumpy, and messy. The texture is created by the foam moving into small spaces and expanding. Although  you can paint the foam once it’s dry, it won’t hide the surface.

The backing of SteelMaster’s blanket insulation is smooth and once installed, has a pillow-like look. The white color can brighten up the interior of your Quonset hut.

“I heard about spray foam insulation, but I wasn’t attracted to the idea. The arches themselves were beautiful but [the insulation] is beautiful. It’s brighter because it’s white and reflects light. It’s cool–soft, yet industrial–it’s great,” says customer Teresa R.