40×60 Red Iron Metal Building in Wimberley, Texas
Spray foam insulation can help make your metal building more comfortable, but getting the results you want involves more than just simply choosing to add insulation.
How do you know how thick it should be? When should it be installed? And what should you realistically expect once the job is finished?
Here at WolfSteel Buildings, we offer closed-cell spray foam insulation for both tubular and red iron metal buildings, and these are some of the questions we hear most often from clients. We understand that insulation is an important part of making your building more functional, especially if you plan to spend time working, storing equipment, or enjoying the space.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what needs to be done before installation, how to choose the right spray foam thickness, how the application works, and what the finished product actually looks like. We’ll also cover whether you can add spray foam after your metal building is already completed, so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises along the way.
What Needs to Be Done Before Spray Foam is Installed?
When planning for spray foam insulation, there are three important things to keep in mind to help ensure a smooth process on installation day.
1. Clear Out Your Building
First, make sure your building is completely cleared out before installation begins. Remove vehicles, toolboxes, equipment, and anything else that could get in the crew’s way.
Spray foam expands as it’s applied, and because it’s sprayed, occasional splatter is normal. If your belongings are inside, they can end up with foam on them, and it’s a hassle to remove.
Also, starting with an empty building gives our insulation crew enough room to work while helping protect your property.
2. Finish Your Electrical and Overhead Doors
Electrical Work
One of the common questions we get is, “Should I run the electrical before or after the spray foam?”
Doing it BEFORE or AFTER has its own advantages and disadvantages, and choosing depends on your preference and recommendation of your electrician.
To learn more read the full blog here: When Should I Do Electrical With Spray Foam Insulation?
Disclaimer: The blog was written couple of years ago, and WolfSteel’s process has evolved since then.
Based on our experience and now that we offer our own electrical services, we recommend completing your electrical work before installing spray foam.
Why? Having electrical work done after the insulation is installed may require cutting into the spray foam to accommodate conduit and wiring. This can leave the finished surface looking uneven, especially if you’ve chosen painted spray foam.
Electrical Installed AFTER Spray Foam
By taking care of the electrical work first, you can help achieve a cleaner, more consistent finish without having to cut into the insulation later. This is typically how we schedule the process so the building is ready before our insulation crew arrives.
Overhead Door
Ideally, we recommend discussing the possibility of installing spray foam before your overhead doors go in. This is because spray foam can splatter during application, and even with proper preparation and protective coverings, there’s still a chance some foam could get onto your newly installed doors. Once spray foam hardens, it can be difficult to remove without risking damage to the door’s finish.
Installing spray foam before the overhead doors can help reduce that risk and means fewer finished surfaces for the crew to cover and protect.
However, if your overhead doors are already installed, don’t worry! The crew can still cover and protect them before spraying begins. Just keep in mind that accidental overspray can still happen.
3. Install Foam Gap Enclosures
Foam gap enclosures, sometimes called foam closure strips, are specially designed foam pieces installed along the corrugations and gaps found in metal building panels.
We recommend purchasing these when you plan your building. They’re installed when the metal panels go up and help keep spray foam from pushing through gaps and oozing out of the building. Without them, foam is more likely to escape through those openings, which can mean extra cleanup.
Foam gap enclosures are typically installed as the metal panels are being erected. If you plan to add spray foam insulation in the future rather than right away, let our team know so we can include the foam gap enclosures in your quote and have them installed during construction.
Learn more about foam gap enclosures here:
How Thick Should Spray Foam Insulation Be?
The right thickness depends on the size of your building and how you plan to use it. Here are the general guidelines we share with customers:
- 30×40 or 30×50 buildings: At least 1 inch of closed-cell spray foam if you plan to spend time inside.
- Adding a mini-split or other air-conditioning system: Consider 2 inches.
- Working with a tighter budget: 2 inches on the roof and 1 inch on the walls is another option worth considering for temperature control.
- Larger buildings, like a 40×60: We generally recommend 2 inches.
These recommendations don’t meet residential code requirements. Residential projects require a different approach. Contact us to learn more!
WolfSteel offers up to 2 inches of closed-cell spray foam on tubular buildings and up to 3 inches on red iron buildings.
Check your local permit requirements. If your project requires a permit and you plan to install a mini-split or other HVAC system, your building may need to meet specific energy code requirements. Check with your local permitting office before you decide how much insulation to install.
WolfSteel Buildings does not offer HVAC services.
There isn’t one thickness that works for everybody. We’ve been inside a 40×50 building with just 1 inch of spray foam on some of the hottest days of the year. With two doors open on opposite sides and a breeze moving through, it was comfortable. We’ve also worked with a client who has a 30×100 building with 3 inches of spray foam and three mini-splits running, and that building is very comfortable inside.
It comes down to how you plan to use your building and what you want to accomplish.
How is Spray Foam Applied to a Metal Building?
The process of applying the spray foam is pretty straightforward as long as the building is ready for it.
- Preparation. The crew covers and protects windows, doors, and garage doors so foam doesn’t get on them. Cleaning foam off those surfaces is a hassle.
- Application. The crew sprays the insulation with a spray foam gun. The material expands as it’s applied, then hardens into a solid layer of insulation.
- Extra prep for certain finishes. With our Flat Wall Finish, portions of the framing are taped off and covered so foam doesn’t stick to those areas.
What Will My Spray Foam Look Like When It's Finished?
Think of spray foam like foam from a can. It expands as it goes on, so the finished surface won’t always look perfectly smooth or uniform. It’s still construction and still applied by hand, so expect some imperfections. You may notice uneven areas, especially around corners, framing, and the ceiling because that’s the nature of the product.
Here at WolfSteel, our team will ask you which spray foam finish you prefer: Full Coverage or Flat Wall Finish. So, what’s the difference between the two, and which option is right for your metal building?
Full Coverage
We apply spray foam directly to the entire sheet metal and framing, both roof & walls, for maximum coverage.
Full Roof and Flat Wall Finish
We spray the entire roof, covering the sheet metal and framing for full insulation. On the walls, spray foam is applied between the framing, leaving purlins exposed for a flat, accessible surface.
This option is typically for customers planning to install interior wall panels or frame out rooms later. We keep portions of the framing exposed so those surfaces can be used for mounting.
Flat Wall Finish doesn’t mean perfectly flat or smooth walls. Because the crew is constantly starting and stopping the spray gun, the application won’t look as clean as it would if they could run the gun continuously. You may still see uneven areas or overspray that needs a little cleanup. If you plan to cover the walls anyway, that may not matter much.
That’s why it’s important to understand what each application looks like before you choose.
Can I Add Spray Foam After My Metal Building is Completed?
Yes. At WolfSteel, we typically install spray foam after the overhead doors and electrical work are completed. If you’re not ready for insulation right away, you can also schedule it a few months after your building is finished.
Keep in mind that this option is only available for buildings we’ve built where spray foam installation has been scheduled at a later time. We do not install spray foam in buildings constructed by other companies.
If you plan to add spray foam later, here are two important things to keep in mind:
- Clear the building before installation. Remove your tools, equipment, and personal belongings before our crew arrives to help protect them from overspray.
- Let us know before construction begins. If you plan to add spray foam in the future, tell our team ahead of time so we can include foam gap enclosures in your quote. These are installed along with the metal panels to help prevent spray foam from pushing through gaps when insulation is applied later.
Even if you’re not ready to spray foam right away, planning ahead allows us to prepare your building during construction and helps make the future installation process smoother.
What does WolfSteel think?
If you can, get everything done at once. We understand everyone has a budget, and doing it all upfront isn’t always possible. Our goal isn’t just to sell you a metal building but to help you make the right decisions for your project.
The last thing we want is for you to finish your building and think, “I wish I had done that while we were building it.” That’s one of the reasons we offer a turnkey service, from dirt to finish. Rather than leaving you to figure everything out on your own, our team oversees the process from start to finish, guides you through key decisions, and plans ahead to help prevent issues down the road.
If budget is a concern, we also offer financing options that may make your project more attainable, so you don’t have to put off the features you want.
Check out our financing page to learn different options that might work for your needs.
Need help with planning your metal building with spray foam? Reach out to us!
Call us 844-941-0999
Or email us anytime at quotes@wolfsteelbuildings.com