Blog

Pole Barn Insulation: Insulating Post Frame Building and Get Year-Round Use

A pole barn just waiting to have insulation added to it.

Winter is here, and the cold won't be letting up anytime soon. No matter how you feel about the cold weather, we can all agree that paying extra on the energy bill is no fun. There are steps you can take to keep your home warm, including sealing doorways, hanging thick drapes, and closing off unused rooms. But what should you do to stay comfortable in your post-frame building or pole barn?

Especially if you spend time daily in your hobby shop, farm shop, or other pole barn, keeping it at the right temperature year-round is important. Pole barn insulation will help you prevent heat loss and save money in the long run. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about pole barn insulation, including the importance of R-value and temperatures and the main types of pole building insulation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE R-VALUE

spray foam insulation in the attic of a pole barn

Understanding the importance of insulation involves delving into the concept of high R value insulation re-value, a crucial metric that measures an insulation's ability to resist heat flow or conduction. As winter temperatures drop, a well-insulated pole barn equipped with high R-value materials becomes your stronghold against heat loss and rising energy bills. Partnering with an experienced pole barn contractor ensures optimal insulation tailored to factors like the heating system, climate, and size of your structure.

Contractors needed a way to speak a common language about insulation. They came up with the R-value. The R-value is a measurement of an insulation's ability to resist heat flow or conduction. Greater resistance comes from higher R-values. The R-value of a pole barn also changes based on the:

  • Type of heating and cooling system

  • Climate of the area

  • Size of your pole barn

To get the most out of higher cost of your pole barn's insulation, make sure to work with an experienced professional pole barn contractor. Hint - we can recommend a professional builder to install your pole barn insulation.

AREA #1:  PERIMETER SLAB INSULATION

Let's begin with the foundation. Your pole barn is most likely constructed atop a concrete slab, serving as a foundational layer that separates the exterior walls of the structure from the ground. Enhancing insulation around the edges of this slab can significantly contribute to safeguarding the building's overall R-value. By doing so, you effectively fortify your ability to retain heat within the confines of the barn.

Let's explore key areas for effective pole barn insulation, starting with the foundation. Enhancing insulation around the perimeter slab provides the air and a thermal break, crucial for preventing heat loss and moisture buildup. Careful consideration of water table elevation ensures insulation effectiveness, highlighting the interconnectedness of insulation efforts and environmental factors.

AREA #2: POLE BARN WALL INSULATION

Addressing insulation for your pole barn walls is essential, especially considering the heat conduction potential of metal walls. These surfaces can be conduits for significant heat loss if not properly insulated. When selecting insulation options for the steel panels in your pole barn, keep an eye out for the following types thinner insulation that can be particularly effective:

  1. Vinyl Back Insulation: This variety of insulation involves fiberglass material that comes equipped with a vinyl backing on one side. The combination of these materials not only aids in insulation but also provides an added layer of protection.

  2. Single and Double Bubble Insulation: Irrespective of whether you choose single or double bubble insulation, both types operate on the same principle. They utilize the concept of creating air space and incorporate a radiant barrier to impede the transfer of heat between surfaces. This mechanism ensures that heat is prevented from moving from one surface to another, maintaining a more stable internal temperature within your pole barn.

By opting for these specialized insulation types, you take a proactive step towards enhancing the energy efficiency of the construction of your pole barn while effectively curbing the potential heat transfer concerns associated with metal walls.

AREA #3: ATTIC INSULATION OPTIONS INCLUDING SPRAY FOAM INSULATION

fiberglass batt insulation being added to an attic of a pole barn building

Looking up, we're talking about the attic, the highest part inside your pole barn. You need something to protect the floor and ceiling of the attic, like drywall or steel, along with insulation. Many people like using fiberglass or blown foam for insulation for their attics.

  • If you go with fiberglass insulation, it's smart to work with a pro to make sure they put it in the right way. This helps your barn stay cozy and saves energy.

  • Blown insulation also works really well for this, but it's important to know it needs special skills to install properly. So, teaming up with an experienced contractor is a big deal to make sure this insulation works like it should.

When you think about what to use for your attic and how to put in the insulation, you're creating an environment in your pole barn that keeps it energy-efficient and the temperature just right. 

AREA #4: POLE BARN ROOF INSULATION

Adding insulation to your roof can truly be a game changer. It's a smart move that doesn't break the bank, especially when you compare it to insulating the inside of your pole barn and the attic. Instead of saving money by spending extra on interior insulation, many people find that insulating the roof is a cost-effective solution.

Builders usually put the insulation right under the roof panels. This type of insulation is like a shield that works well, especially when you're using a forced air system. Imagine this: when you warm up your pole barn, the heat naturally rises. Without insulation, all that warmth would escape through the roof. But with the insulation in place, it acts like a catcher's mitt, trapping the radiant heat up at the top of the building. This not only keeps your place cozy but also helps you save on energy bills.

The cool thing about roof insulation foam is that it's a one-time investment that keeps giving back by cutting down heat loss. So, while the initial cost might seem like something, it pays off in the long run with lower heating expenses.

Choosing to insulate your roof is a strategic choice that balances your comfort and your wallet. With the right insulation setup, you can make your pole barn a warm and energy-efficient space without having to worry about high energy costs.

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Pole Barn with Optimal Insulation Strategies

New pole barn building that's red with a metal roof

When planning your pole barn, there are many things to consider. Insulating post frame buildings is one of these things! If done right, insulating the post frame building of your new pole barn will allow you to enjoy the building comfortably all year. Mansea Metal knows this is important. We provide rugged metal in more than 20 striking colors to pick from along with quality lumber.

We work in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Connect with one of our skilled contractors to make building easier. Choosing Mansea Metal means more than just materials – it's a partnership that cares about your project's success, comfort, and happiness. We'll always do our best to make your pole barn dreams come true.

CONTACT ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT METAL ROOFING

The Ultimate Guide to Metal Roofing

When it comes to roofing, durability and longevity are paramount, and there’s no better way to achieve both than with metal roofing. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to protect your investment or a business owner seeking a...

Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Roofing

Whether you’re installing a roof on a new home or are interested in upgrading your existing residential roof, selecting the right roofing material is an important decision. If you’re curious about metal roofing, the professionals at...

Can I Install a Skylight With a Metal Roof?

In areas like Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio, severe weather conditions are all too common and can quickly take a toll on your roof. From excessive snowfall to high winds and tornados, your roof takes a beating. Thankfully, with innovative technology...

Spring Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Metal Roof

Original Blog Published April 24, 2019 This year, the Midwest, Central, and Eastern states experienced a more mild winter. States in these regions received heavier rainfall and below-average snowfall throughout the months of December to February....

Can You Install Metal Roofs in Winter?

Undoubtedly, the busiest time of year for roofing contractors is the spring and the fall. Most homeowners want to replace or fix their roofs during seasons with mild weather.However, most homeowners pursuing new roofing projects are under the...

Top 5 Fall Tips to Keep Up Your Metal Roof

Original Blog Published in 2019 Fall is in full effect and keeping your metal roof protected before winter hits is crucial. A metal roof is one of the longest lasting roofing materials you can purchase and install for your home or barn, but...

The (Metal) Roofs, Roofs, Roofs They’re On Fire!

Original article written 8/21/15 Metal Roofing As a top metal roof manufacturer, we are pretty biased when it comes to choosing metal panels over traditional asphalt shingles. We believe they are the right choice for every homeowner....

Seasonality and The Metal Process

Original article published 9/23/15 We receive many questions regarding the best time of year to buy metal building materials. As one of the top metal roofing, metal siding, and post frame building kits in Kentucky, fall is our busiest time of...

Reasons to Add Square Footage to Your Metal Pole Barn

Over the past few years, house prices in the US and in the world have been skyrocketing. In 2021, the sales price of new properties reached an all-time high of over $443,000. Because of the transformation of the American real estate market, adding...

Top Benefits of Having Gutters on a Pole Barn

The finishing touches can be the difference between something that lasts and something that gets worn out quickly.  Pole Barns make for great homes, workspaces, horse-homes, equipment storage areas, and more. Here at Mansea Metal, we...

The History of Post-Frame Buildings

Originally posted on 04/27/2016 Could you single-handedly construct a building in a month? We bet you could! That was the mindset at the creation of the post-frame building.  Post-frame buildings have a long history that...

Post-Frame Buildings vs. Steel Frame Buildings

Originally posted on 02/28/2017 In your pole barn building material search, you may have seen many different methods of construction, notably, post-frame and steel frame, but what is right for you? The obvious difference...

Top Benefits of Metal Buildings for RV Storage

Are you an RV enthusiast struggling to find the perfect storage solution for your recreational vehicle? Look no further! Mansea Metal brings you cutting-edge RV storage solutions through state-of-the-art metal buildings installation. Our...

Top 3 Heating Systems to Consider for Your Pole Barn

The more comfortable a space is, the more likely you are to use it. Some people use their pole barn for storage of materials. Much like a garage, this would not need to be a heated area. However, if you are like most pole barn owners, your...

Flooring and Ground Options for Your Pole Barn

Have farm equipment? How about a workshop on your property? Or maybe you have an RV or recreational vehicle you need to store? All of these needs and more can be satisfied with a pole barn. Owners of pole barns, or Midwestern Buildings as we...

Welcome to Our New Website!

We've added great new features and updated our content to bring you the most up to date information about our company.  Check back often for updates.

10 Year Anniversary & Customer Appreciation Event

In thinking about our 10 year anniversary, this moment of reflection, it is important to me. I believe it’s not the journey that matters - it’s who you take the journey with. And I am so proud of what this team has accomplished...

NASCAR Xfinity Alsco 300 Race Recap

Mansea Metal was honored to be a part of NASCAR this season. As proud partners of Dale Earnhardt Jrs racing team, JR Motorsports, Mansea showed their full support by attending the race with most of their work team in tow - some of which were...

NASCAR Ticket Giveaway

As stated in a previous post - Mansea Metal & Midwestern Buildings have teamed up with JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series event. The Alsco 300 is to take place July 7th at Kentucky Speedway....

Memorial Day Special! - Premium Rib $1.85/LNFT

Premium Rib, Premium Pricing! Now through Memorial Day, our premium rib metal is discounted to $1.85 a linear foot. This is the perfect time to order metal for your roofing, siding, or pole barn project! As our most popular panel, Premium Rib...

Bet on MWB for Your Equine Pole Barns

The Kentucky Derby is quickly approaching - one of the most exciting times for horse enthusiasts! As a Kentucky rooted company, we know a thing or two about horses and how to create the perfect equestrian post-frame building. We not only focus...

Spring Post-Frame Building Specials

Spring into action and start building your dream with help from Mid Western Buildings! This spring we are offering greater affordability on our high-quality metal pole barn kits. Now through June 1st, we are offering not one, but TWO building...

Mansea Metal Unveils Renovated Office

This winter we got to work on a long-overdue front office remodel. As a metal and post-frame building supplier for commercial, residential, and agricultural customers, we wanted an updated space where all of our customers could come to feel welcomed...

Metal Roof Before & After

Before: After:   This Louisville, Kentucky home got a much-needed roofing makeover that significantly improves curb appeal. Manufactured on site, our red standing seam metal paneling updates the look of this home while also...

A Metal Workshop / Home Combo

With two metal manufacturing plants, Mansea Metal & Mid Western Buildings has provided high-quality, low-cost metal solutions for thousands of customers over the span of a decade. Throughout the years we have had the opportunity to help...

Santa Visits Mansea Metal

Santa and his elf, Connor, stopped by Mansea Metal this past Saturday to provide a little Christmas cheer to some lucky children!  Children from the Winchester, Kentucky area were able to meet Santa on Saturday, December 10, courtesy of...

Mansea Metal Illinois Announces Grand Opening Event

Mansea Metal, Illinois’ own metal roofing, siding, and post frame building manufacturer, will hosts it’s grand opening celebrating celebration Friday, August 19. A little over a year in the marking, the grand opening will be held at...

Mansea Metal Announces New Metal Panel Color

With 20 metal panel color choices, customers have limitless metal roofing and metal post frame building design options. To further create a more comprehensive list of color choices, Mansea Metal has added a new color to the mix: Fern Green. We...

Mansea Metal & Midwestern Buildings Featured on Wlex

Mansea Metal & Midwestern Buildings were recently featured on a special WLEX segment with Lee Cruse. In the 3 minute segment John Griffith, owner, discusses the benefits of metal panel roofing and metal pole barn packages. Watch below!...

Mansea Metal Releases Creative Radio Ads

Building materials are a hard sell on radio, especially metal panels, as people do not get a visual. One way we have found to stand out is to create creative radio ads that will catch listener's attention and draw them to our website. This...

#Manseamonday & #Postframefriday April Review

METAL ROOFING FEATURES: Colors: Our metal is available in 20 vibrant colors, granting you endless design options. Better yet, we use a Valspar WeatherXL paint system that limits fading and chalking! Crinkle Finish: Speaking of...

Don’t Be Lax, Get Your Metal Roofing Tax (Credit)

Improve your home with a metal roof and simultaneously improve your wallet! Thanks to the Energy Efficiency tax credit (and the energy efficient nature of metal roofing), if you install a metal roof on your home by December you qualify for a tax...

Mansea Metal Awarded Top 5 Honors

MANSEA METAL AWARDED TOP 5 HONORS AT THE ANNUAL WINCHESTER SCARECROW FESTIVAL Winchester, Ky. – Mansea Metal got into the fall season by participating in the 10th annual Winchester Scarecrow Festival. Located at Beech Spring Farms, the...

Mansea Metal Opens New Plant in Illinois

Winchester, Ky. - Mansea Metal will be opening the doors of its second location in Mt. Zion, Ill. in April 2015. “Mt. Zion is the perfect location for us to open our second branch. With its healthy farming community and its ideal location...

The Mansea Metal Difference

We Are The Manufacturer

Most of the companies who advertise metal roofing and siding or post-frame buildings are simply reselling products produced by someone else. We produce our own products from rolled steel and have large indoor yards that keep our lumber protected. That way, we control the quality and time of delivery to you. And that creates jobs right here in your home town.

Higher Quality Steel with Superior Finishes

The truth is not all steel is alike, especially when it comes to finishes. That’s why we use Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL™ Coil Coatings. Created to withstand most anything that comes its way, designed to maintain extreme resistance to abrasion, chipping and marring with tremendous color and gloss retention. And you get to select your favorites from more than 22 striking color options

You Won’t Be Shorted On Lumber

When we price a building package, we give you everything you need to ensure structural integrity. Like longer gable posts that extend to the top of the truss, not just tying in at the bottom. And long-lasting pressure-treated wood measuring .60 CCA. You won’t get this quality at a ‘big box’ store. Plus, we use 6x6’s along with 2x10’s and 2x12’s that are #1 grade.

Request a
FREE Quote
* Indicates required questions
Name *
First
Last
Email *
Phone #
Zip Code *
How can we help you?
You Won’t Find a Better Product, Value, or Service than with Mansea Metal Residential or Commercial. Pick-Up or Delivery.
217-350-0181
859-309-6394
859-544-2935
937-669-7893
937-502-3848