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 Ways to Insulate a
Barndominium

Insulating your barndominium gives you greater control over the temperatures in your indoor spaces, whether it’s during summer or winter. Besides enjoying increased comfort, your HVAC units will work less, lowering your energy bill. Insulation can also reduce the amount of sound penetrating your building.
If you’re looking for the best ways to insulate a barndo, read through this post.

1. Spray Foam Spray Foam Insulation

One of the most effective ways to insulate your barndominiumis to use spray foam. However, it is more expensive than other insulation forms. With this type of barndo insulation, two materials are mixed (a polymer and foaming agent) and sprayed in place. Spray foam works by expanding and forming complex cells that seal the cracks, gaps, and holes in the wall cavities of an existing building. To be precise, spray foam can expand 30-60 times its liquid volume. Keep in mind that there are two options to consider when it comes to spray foam insulation.

a) Closed-cell foam insulation – The cells that make up the foam are pressed together, leading to a high thermal insulating value for resisting air and moisture infiltration. Typically, the R-values range from 6.5 to 7.0 per inch. As you would expect, closed-cell insulation is the densest and rigid under this category.

b) Open-cell foam insulation – The cells of the foam matrix are not entirely encapsulated. With R-values of 3.5 to 4.6 per inch, open-cell foam insulation doesn’t match the thermal insulation properties of closed-cell foam. Moisture can pass through open-cell foam. However, the material is still a good option in some applications, such as soundproofing insulation.

2. Batt or Blanket Batt or Blanket Insulation

Many people building barndominiums from scratch prefer the batt insulation because it is, hands down, the most affordable option. And unlike spay foam, you can opt for a DIYapproach when installing blanket insulation. Manufacturers usually use fiberglass, rock wool (mineral wool), plastic fibers, and natural fibers to make batts or rolls. You will find batts pre-cut into different thicknesses, with R-value ranging from 2.9 to 4.3 per inch. Of course, the material can be cut to fit your wall space requirements. Batt insulation helps reduce air infiltration, although it doesn’t prevent moisture from sneaking into your barndo. You can install a vapor barrier to control the moisture levels to avoid mold and mildew issues.

3. Loose-Fill or Blow-In Loose-Fill or Blow-In Insulation

Loose-fill insulation is an excellent alternative to spray foam insulation. After building your barndo, the insulative material is mechanically blown into spaces in exterior or interior wall cavities to reduce the heat or cold transmission. It can be blown into attics and ceilings without much disruption. The job

requires a trained eye for better results.

The insulative material is cellulose or loose fiber. It can be a paper-based product, a form of wood, rock wool, or fiberglass. However, loose-in fiberglass and paper cellulose remain the most commonly used options.

If you live in an area with extremely high humidity levels, blow-in cellulose may not be a good choice. The material can promote mold and rot when exposed to a lot of moisture.

4. Rigid Board Rigid Board Insulation

Like batt insulation, rigid board insulation is ideal for barndominiums still under construction. The method involves the use of stiff boards of fiberglass (polyurethane or polystyrene). Its R-value is about 5.0 per inch, but it can be as high as 8.0 per inch.

The boards can be cut to a specific thickness for better insulation. It is worth noting that rigid board insulation is perfect for flat roofs.

This form of barndo insulation also provides excellent soundproofing properties. It can be a great addition, especially if you’re living near an airport or busy highway.

Keep in mind that some local municipalities may require an extra covering material with flame retardant properties to your rigid board insulation. Adding a 1/2 -inch gypsum board is usually the minimum requirement.

Wrapping Up

While insulating a barndo comes at an extra cost, it is all worthwhile. The best barndo insulation options depend on whether your building is still under construction or already built. If it is an existing building, you cannot go wrong with spray foam insulation or blow-in insulation. In case you’re constructing your barndo from scratch, consider batt or rigid board insulation.