Alternative Insulation

[LikeItCheap2009]

Hello, I live in Richmond/Louisa, Virginia. I often find myself trying to come up with alternative solutions to common problems especially when it comes to building things.

My current project is my Woodshop, a self supporting corregated metal building with conventionally framed ends that include a 6/0 solid steel french door, and a 9x7 garage door in the opposite end.

My dilemma: The metal sweats and this makes conventional insulation unusable. Spray in Insulation (Poly Urethane) is very expensive $6000 to spray 1 inch of it on the inside of my building that is 25'x36' and peak height is 15 feet.

I am looking for a CHEAPER solution.

Recently I jumped way outside the box and have come up with what I think will be a great solution. I would like to have people give me there thoughts on the idea.

The idea consists of one sheet of Tyvek or similar product folded at the bottom and then pockets created vertically 2 feet wide to match the ridges of the corregation of the building. I am creating the pockets by sandwiching the tyvek between irrigation (Black Plastic) tubing run in a vertical manner for no other reason than it is cheaper than wood. I will then run either nylon cord or thin cables end to end horizontally passing through metal eyelets mounted to the shell of the building. The cables will support the tubing and tyvek. The pockets will, come fall, be filled with dry leaves creating a similar affect as fiberglass insulation by trapping air within the tyvek material.

That is pretty much the idea, if anyone has any thoughts on the idea and it's ability to do what I hope please let me hear them. Thanks.


John

[dave45]

can you explain this please:

"The metal sweats and this makes conventional insulation unusable."

[LikeItCheap2009]

Well when there is a difference in temperature in this case, cold on the outside and warm on the inside, the metal has condensation on the inside surface. If insulation is applied in a conventional manner, it would soak the insulation eliminating its insulation value. Then unless dried completely, enables the growth of nasty little things like mold and mildew.

I am hoping that by both using a vapor barrier like Tyvek and leaving an airspace between the metal and my insulation this should keep that from happening.

Any comments, suggestions, etc.......?