How Much Does It Cost To Insulate A Pole Barn Building?
Always keep in mind insulation itself in a climate controlled environment has a payback through energy, mechanical or lighting savings. Saving just $100 per month (which is not a difficult goal to reach) saves $24,000 over a 20 year life span!
Pole barn insulation costs vary depending on the type of barrier you choose. Really there are (2) most popular options for insulating your pole barn or post frame constructed building.
The first being spray foam insulation and the second being fiberglass insulation commonly faced with a white attractive polypropylene product. Spray foam undeniably is the best to prevent air leaks from base, corner, eaves and around all panel terminations. However, it’s also much more costly for increase R-values than the fiberglass options, less attractive and may have certain fire related issues as far as flame spread and such for building codes.
Spray foam insulation runs around $1 per sq. foot per inch. 1” of spray foam offers around an R-7 insulation value. So to get to a R-25 insulation value it would take about 3.5” of spray foam or a cost of $3.50 per sq. foot. Of course this includes labor because it is an installed price.
Fiberglass insulation on the other hand for a R-25 8” thick batt cost around .85 cents per sq. Foot with white attractive facing that is factory laminated to the fiberglass rolls. While fiberglass is made of glass and does not burn, it does not carry a “Fire Rating” as far as 1 hour or other. It meets almost all fire codes as far as flame spread and such specified by building departments. For the walls of a post frame building is common to see 6” x 6” posts with a 1” thick vertical board fastened to the post which acts as a structural component which the wall panels fasten to. It is also common to see the posts on 8’ centers. In between the 6” x 6”posts it is 7’ 6” based on the 8’ centers. If you get your insulation package through us we can provide either a one piece 7’6” wide insulation roll or a 4’ wide roll and a 3’ 6” roll to make the 7’6” space. The rolls are factory pre-cut to save on installation time and costs associated with the additional labor required from purchasing standard width rolls.
For the wall application you can purchase a white plastic washer with long 8” nails to go into the wall girt referred to above. For the roof you can purchase white steel banding that supports the insulation blankets to the bottom of the wood truss for a flat roof or to the bottom of the roof purlins for a follow the roof pitch install. Steel banding with out screws included adds around 15 cents per sq. foot and is sold in coils of 500 lineal feet. To calculate the amount of banding you would need take the sq. footage x .40. this will calculate the banding strips to be on 30” centers.
For insulation blankets 3” thick it is around 55 cents per sq. foot, 4” 70 cents, 6” around 85 cents.
(*Prices are subject to change due to inflation and availability.)
What will the pole barn be used for? Storage units may not require the highest quality of insulation. If the building will be occupied often, owners may want to invest in a higher quality insulation as to maintain a comfortable temperate year-round. Always remember that the insulation package is an investment that will pay for itself. The savings is not just in the energy costs but in the mechanical systems required to maintain the temperature, and the white facing offers a reflective finish to save on lighting.
To estimate your cost, start with the following calculations:
- Square footage that requires insulation
- Type of insulation required
- Thickness of insulation needed
Once you’ve identified these three factors, contact a professional for an accurate price quote.
Call 1-800-486-8415
