Thread: Is it possible to insulate galv iron sufficently?

Peter

Thanks for the great info. That sounds good enough for me. Will investigate Aircell further. I guess the roof blanket you used does the same thing as a radient foil heat barrier.

I had a look at your web site and your place is awesome! Will certainly visit when we're in the area. I wish we were closer - we are both artists and it's the sort of thing I'd like to be involved with. Congratulations.

Originally Posted by do-it-dog

We are building a small (40 sqm) cabin in the country with hopefully all the passive solar benefits.

My question is - is it possible to insulate a building sufficiently that's clad in galv iron (walls, roof)?

(We are building in a heritage zone that has a lot of galv iron architecture (sheds/barns). We'd prefer to build straw bale but suspect we in a potential flood zone - backs on to a river).

Any thoughts?

I have already left this comment on another users question page, however I am currently in the process of lining my 12.1m x 7.7m x 3m shed with a mixture of MDF & particle board, I have put sizalation on the walls first(blue side against wall), then 1.5 fat batts, then the cladding. I have used cover sheets sourced from local cabinet makers, 12mm behind cupboards and existing free standing Hammerlok shelves, fidge, freezer etc, and 16mm & 18mm in the open areas that I will be hanging tools on, shelving etc, leaving a 5mm gap from the floor, due to moisture coming up from the slab.
Before hanging cladding I gave it a sealing coat of Polyurethane, after drying, hand sanded it smooth, then rolled on one coat of paint.
I also laid sizalation on the roof purlins before fixing the iron to it, however after recent heatwave in Sth Oz, shed was still getting to 42 deg C, as outside temp was 45 deg C, so will be installing whirly birds soon, just to extract that heat that cannot escape, due to the sizalation going over the centre apex of my shed, where hot air would usually escape.
Hope this helps

I built a house in far west NSW cladded entirely out of colourbond. The NSW government have strict 5 star energy ratings for building out there because of massive extremes in weather...

We were required to insulate the ceiling with min. R3.5, walls with R3 and floor with R2 (the house was on posts, and insulation was hung under the floor boards)

The house is now like a fridge tho, its very well insulated despite massive windows.

This is more than sufficent if you are running some from of cooling device in summer and some heating device in winter.. If you arent, you may want to go one step up with the R values..

Hang heavy curtains over windows and outside awnings as well if possible, as this is were most of the heat transfer takes place.

hope this helps

Thanks Mick. Good to hear your house works well. We are building out near Bathurst and have extreme temperatures too so hope our place works as well as yours - Nectre wood stove for winter, don't know what yet for summer but we plan on the same R values as you. Our cabin is on posts too.