Quonset spray foam insulation in Vermilion is work on some of the oldest buildings still earning their keep on farms around town. Long-established yards in this district carry arch-rib buildings put up decades ago and still used for grain, equipment and general storage, which means the structure is sound, the cladding is intact, and the one thing it has never had is any insulation at all. There is a reason for that, and the reason is the shape.
No flat plane, no cavity, nowhere to put a batt
An arch-rib building is a continuous curve of corrugated steel with ribs behind it. There is no stud, no girt grid, no flat surface and no cavity. Every conventional insulation product is manufactured flat and sized for a cavity, so putting one in a Quonset means building a secondary structure inside the arch to hold it, which costs more than the insulation, loses interior space and still leaves an air gap against the steel. Sprayed foam is applied to the curve itself and takes the shape of the corrugation, which is why it is the normal answer here rather than one option among several.
Condensation runs downhill to the base
In a flat-ceilinged building condensation drips from where it forms. In an arch it forms on the whole inner surface and then runs down the curve, following the corrugations, and collects at the base where the arch meets the footing or the floor. That is why the characteristic damage in these buildings is not a wet patch in the middle of the floor, it is rot and rust in a band along both sides, grain spoiling at the edges of a pile, and equipment corroding where it is parked closest to the wall. Removing the condensing surface stops it at the source. Closed-cell foam adhered to the steel at roughly R-6 to R-7 per inch gives a surface that stays close to interior temperature, and at about two inches it is its own vapour barrier, so there is no path for moist air to reach the steel behind it.
The end walls are a separate building
The arch is one thing and the end walls are another: usually stud-framed, often with the large doors in them, sometimes added or rebuilt at a different time from the arch. They are the leakiest part of most Quonsets and they take a different approach, framed and sprayed like a conventional wall. The joint where the end wall meets the curve of the arch is the detail that gets missed, and it is a long joint on a tall building.
Thickness follows the use, not the building
A Quonset storing equipment and grain needs enough to stop condensation forming and very little more. A Quonset converted into a heated shop is a different proposition, needing thickness matched to the heating and a thermal barrier over the foam because people are in it. The same building supports both specifications, and the difference between them is substantial, so the use has to be decided before the thickness is.
Ventilation after sealing
Grain and equipment storage both benefit from some air exchange, and an arch building that has been sealed needs that provided deliberately rather than through its own leaks. A ridge or end-wall vent arrangement sized for the use is part of the job, not an afterthought, because insulation does not stop air movement and sealing without a plan simply relocates the moisture.
One company, start to finish
Quonset spray foam insulation Vermilion is work we take care of ourselves. We scope it, we quote it, we schedule it, and our own installers are the ones holding the gun.
Quonset Spray Foam Insulation Vermilion: Common Questions
Why can a Quonset not be insulated conventionally? There is no flat surface and no cavity. Flat products need a secondary frame built inside the arch, which costs more and still leaves a gap against the steel.
Why is the damage always along the sides? Condensation forms on the whole arch and runs down the curve to the base, so the water collects in a band at both edges.
How thick does it need to be? Enough to remove the cold surface for storage. More, plus a thermal barrier over it, if the building is going to be heated and occupied.
How much does Quonset spray foam insulation cost in Vermilion? Priced per board foot of sprayed area, so the arch area and the thickness set the base. End walls and the joint between them and the arch are additional, and they are not optional.
How do I choose a Quonset spray foam contractor in Vermilion? Ask how they handle the joint where the end walls meet the arch, and whether ventilation is in the scope. Both are routinely left out.
Size the assembly with the R-value calculator, then get a free Vermilion quote. More on Quonset Spray Foam Insulation Alberta province-wide.