Shop Insulation

[GeeZ]

Our shop is of the basic construction for Texas gulf coast. Metal roof, with some sort of batt insulation and concrete block walls. Needless to say it is very hot in the afternoon. Worse, we are in corner with a wall facing the hot west afternoon sun. The walls/ceiling measure 95+ in the mid-afternoon. Our shop is 4500 sq ft with 1 overhead door and 3 back door facing north in an alley way. We have 2 wall mounted fans and 3 mobile floor fans. Still very hot in the afternoon.

 

My questions is for owners that have insulated their shops or have insulation. What is most effective method. I would like to drop the temp at least 10 deg F.

I was looking at foam on the west wall and thermal barrier on the ceiling under the bat insulation. Also looking at thermal barrier paint.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks

[xrac]

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[CARMandP]

I just kick on the A/C system when it gets hot in here. I built my own garage to be comfortable when I am working. LOL

[xrac]

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[Joe Marconi]

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[CARMandP]

I worked too many years in the very hot, no air moving dealership shop to not have A/C in my own shop that I built. Its currently turned off so I can get use to the heat before I go to Haiti on a missions trip next week but as soon as I get back it will be turned on.

[Joe Marconi]

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[GeeZ]

How big is your shop?

 

Sorry for the delayed answer. The shop is 4500 sq. ft. If I had built the shop, I would have had it a/c'ed.

 

I have contacted several insulation "specialist" and they have various answers/quotes.

 

1. Spray on elastomeric paint on the roof. $4,000 (with permission of landlord)

 

2. Add sheet radiant barrier below the batt insulation. $3-$4000

 

3. Take off the batt insulation and spray on the bottom of the roof with radiant barrier. $2500 (we remove the insulation)

 

4. Spray the bottom of the insulation with radiant barrier paint. $2100

 

5. Paint the inside of the west/south walls with an elastomeric roofing paint with a radiant barrier additive. < $1000

 

I am leaning toward spraying the roof and painting the walls, because of aesthetics.

 

Thanks for any advice.

[Joe Marconi]

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[GeeZ]

This is great information. I assumer with the changes you made the effeciency is greatly improved.

 

I hope so. Right now, during the hottest part of the day, the guys work for 30 min and come in to the office to cool off for 15.

 

I decided to coat the roof with a Sherwin-Wms product called Kool-Seal. Hope to reduce the shop temp by 10-15 deg. F.

The contractor said I would not need to coat the west wall. The cost will be $4600 for approx. 4500 sq ft. We'll see.

[Mario]

I recently just painted a foam sprayed roof on my parents tobacco shop. A bucket of white elastomeric roofing coating cost $70 here and is 4.75 gallons. I was able to cover a 936 sq. ft roof with two buckets ($140) and had a little bit left over. If you dong't mind getting on the roof (ours was a flat roof) you can save a lot of money doing it yourself. All I used was a nap roller and pole with a brush to get the edges. It took me a little over two hours.

[Brianp]

We have evap coolers plumbed inot the walls of our shop. It helps alot. We are not a humid climate but it gets hot could be 115 outside any given summer day. I would not consider a/c with the electrical cost. We ran a/c in a body shop I worked at along tiem ago and the electric bill was outa hand. I am gettign solar put on my roof to help with elect costs but still wouldnt consider a/c due to the expence.