Sealing Up An Old Barn.....

[Scott.ID]

Howdy all!
I've been turning an old wood dairy barn into a woodshop/studebaker restoration shop and want to seal up and insulate a section so I can work in the fall and spring. 90 year old wood barn walls are full of holes and small cracks and I don't want to change the exterior looks, but North Idaho winters can get pretty windy.

Studs are exposed, so I'm thinking 30lb felt inside the stud bays, add some R-15 batts and cover with 3/4 ply. Anybody done this before or got a better idea? I might add a heater later on to keep the space warm enough to work in the winter.

Any and all opinions appreciated!

Scott

 

[JRosenberger]

Hi Scott,
Have you considered spray foam insulation? I have no experience with it, but in your situation it might be the answer for keeping the weahter out. Good luck with your decision.

 

[caterpillar guy]

The spray foam that needs to be put in on an open wall is supposed to be water resistant. The bat insulation is not going to be much good once it gets water logged from snow melt and rain. That will come in the cracks and holes. If you sided it with steel then do as you discussed it would be fine.

 

[hd6gtom]

Have someone install closed cell spray foam insulation.

 

[Ted in NE-OH]

You will need to caulk and block all holes from the inside to preclude water and vermin from entering, foam would also do that. Install wiring first.

 

[ss55]

You might be ahead to leave the existing barn shell alone and build a new weatherproof structure inside the old barn. If you need to replace the concrete floor, consider building a brand new shop in a new location and save the old barn for cold storage. Crunch the numbers to be sure.

 

[4x4stude]

Hello Scott. What Studebakers do you have? I am a Stude nut from Oregon.

 

[John,PA]

I agree with your post.

As a refrigeration engineer, I /we convert quite a few barns to cold storages by having the inside sprayed with closed cell foam insulation. Also I recommend that the use of fire-proofing over the foam will help meet local codes and insurance requirements. It is a one-time expensive project.

John,PA

 

[Scott.ID]

Thanks for the ideas guys! Foam is pretty much out of the question, the nearest outfit that has the correct rigging is in Spokane and they want 400 bucks just for road time to get here and back.

I figured stapling felt vertically inside each stud cavity covering the studs and the back side of the barn siding would make it somewhat weatherproof, then some bats and cdx for the interior covering. If I'm way off base here let me know; I've already got enough 30lb felt and cdx so my main cost would just be the batts.

4x4stude- It's a '57 3E6 C-cab 1/2 ton pick-up. Almost done, she'll be a driver come spring. Did you make it to the Studie meet in Post Falls last year? This years meet I think is in your neck of the woods.....

Scott

 

[NoNewParts]

(quoted from post at 23:38:14 08/26/15) You might be ahead to leave the existing barn shell alone and build a new weatherproof structure inside the old barn.

agree
sealed building/room built inside the old building would be the best bet.
Don't have to worry about snow/wind load....just build it.
Anything tried to patch against weather on the inside of the old building walls will be defeated by wind.
Weatherproofing outside where it needs to be done will change the looks and raise taxes.