metal roof insulation recommendations

Pay somebody to come out and spray foam the entire thing. It's speedy but it's a air tight and also acts as a vapor barrier. There is nothing you can do to eliminate condensation in a building unless you climate control it. Heating the air rapidly will cause condensation to firm on the cold items in the shed and humidity in the summer will get your layout soggy and promote mold growth on anything organic like wood

Thanks for the info Matt. Is the foam anything like the spray foam they sell in cans?

Bob

It is similar but I think it has more UV stabilizers and things in it. It's spendy but will also keep the sound down when it rains. If you've ever been in a metal building in the rain, it's hard to stay in there

There is one major difference between the spray foam supplied in cans and the open cell spray foam used in buildings.  The spray foam used in buildings should have a fire rating to meet building code requirements.  Spray foam from cans is extremely flammable.  While all foam products burn, they do not burn at the same rate.

I also like the spray foam idea. If you were to spray the ceiling and walls of the whole structure I imagine you could heat and cool year round it for very low costs, if that would be a consideration or added bonus. As Matt said above, the spray foam is a great insulator and it seals out all infiltration as well. And as he also said it is a great sound insulator as well. Good stuff!

As an example, years ago on a construction project I was on, in the winter (and it was cold), there was a large kitchen area that had freezers and refrigerators for food storage. All built in place with panels having thin metal sides with spray foam in between them. I believe they were either 4" or 6" thick, IIRC. Anyway, we got one of those and put a temporary lighting fixture (as they use on construction projects) in it so we could see. It turned out that the single light fixture heated the entire area to a nice toasty temperature. We even had to leave the door open at times because it would get too hot. Of course it had no windows and the only opening was the door, but the point is that it took very little energy to heat and the same would apply to cooling.

Thanks for the replies. I will check into cost of the foam and fire requirements. 

Has anyone used or know anyone that used the foil reflective bubble insulation? I heard that it might be good, but I'm not sure about using it for a train room.

Thanks,

Bob

Some company's now offer closed cell foam, that is more dense and seals better. Open cell foam will not stop roof leaks from coming thru.

Bob .. I don't know what your summers and winters are like, but if Humidity is something you know is going to be a problem insulation will keep the ceiling from dripping but the air will still be humid and probably not a good environment for your trains and track. A small window Air conditioner with heating and cooling capabilities or a dehumidifier may be necessary. Here again I don't know your climate conditions... Best thing to do is check with an HVAC person if you know one or a company. Your house is insulated and has an air conditioning , turn it off and see if your trains can live with it ..  : ) 

Rick

I think you have a question that needs answering from a professional contractor. 

Rod Miller

Bob - I had a metal pole barn building which housed my train layout.  I had 2" X 10" trusses running across the building which supported the drywall ceiling.  I then added 10" of insulation to the top of the ceiling - I didn't put any type of insulation covering the metal roof and never had any condensation or water problem - I did heat the building during the winter months.  Hope this helps.

Paul

Thanks for your responses!

Rick:  I'm in So Cal, arid climate with low humidity. Winters have been in the low 20s and highs as much as 110. Many people have garage layouts with high summer heat and I have not heard many problems. However, I never run my dcs or tmcc engines in the extreme heat.  A dehumidifier is a thought. We did get an unusual amount of rain this year.

Rod: I did call a few and everyone had a different approach.

Paul:  Did you use fiberglass insulation? My shed has a low sloping roof on one end and the heat is unbearable.  I probably won't heat this building.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob - I used regular fiberglass insulation bought from Home Depot.

Paul

Well big commercial buildings insulate the roof a different way. That is first the steel roof trusses are set then corrugated roof decking is welded ontop of the trusses. After that insulation is applied on the outside then a rubber membrane installed over insulation. Usually a layer of stone is spread over the rubber to help hold it down. Of course those are all big flat roofs.

It's quite the operation. Next time your in a big box store look up and you'll see the steel decking.

Besides drywall, what other materials have you used for the ceiling?

Thanks,

Bob