Garage & Shop Insulation in Duluth, MN

Garage and shop insulation is a big part of our work outside the city core. Hermantown's western half is still rural, and towns like Rice Lake, Esko and Wrenshall have plenty of acreages with a detached garage or steel-sided building. People want to work in them, park in them, or keep things from freezing, and an uninsulated building in a place with a -20F design temperature makes that expensive.

Steel buildings drip

When warm, moist air inside a steel building touches the cold roof and wall panels, it condenses. In winter it freezes on the steel, then rains down when the building warms. Closed-cell spray foam applied directly to the steel stops that, because warm air can no longer reach the metal, and it insulates and seals at the same time. That is why foam is the common choice for pole buildings.

Wood-framed garages

Attached and detached garages framed with wood studs can be done with foam or with batts or blown-in insulation and drywall. Foam costs more but seals air and works in tight spots. For a garage under living space, insulating the ceiling between the garage and the rooms above is often the priority.

Agricultural buildings and permits

Minnesota Statute 326B.121 says the State Building Code does not apply to agricultural buildings, with narrow exceptions. A hobby shop, a garage with living space or a commercial building is different. Ask your city or township what applies to your building before work starts.

Sizing the foam

How thick the foam goes depends on how you use the space. A shop held at 55F all winter needs more than one heated a few hours on weekends. We base the thickness on your use and write it into the quote.