| Among the most effective and easy-to-install | | | | Foam board insulation can be applied to steel |
| insulation choices for your enclosed carport, garage | | | | carports, enclosed garages or pole building in several |
| or metal building is foam board. The same stuff that | | | | ways: as rigid panels attached to your carport, |
| NASA has used to insulate a space shuttle's external | | | | garage or metal building inner walls or as a chemical |
| tank, keeping its liquid hydrogen fuel at minus 423 | | | | mixture prayed from aerosol containers or a pressure |
| degrees F and its liquid oxygen tank at near minus | | | | sprayer (A third method involves foam board in the |
| 297 degrees F to prevent ice buildups on the inner | | | | form of loose beads poured into masonry blocks in |
| fuel tank's exterior surface, can be used to keep | | | | more traditional construction). Rigid foam board |
| your metal carport toasty in the wintertime and cool | | | | insulation typically comes 4'x8' sheets and can be cut |
| during the summer. | | | | to fit your structure's walls using a craft knife or fine |
| While fiberglass insulation works by slowing down the | | | | toothed handsaw, then applied to your walls using |
| rate of passage of heat into your home during hot | | | | construction adhesive. Two important notes: 1) |
| summers and out of your enclosed carport, garage | | | | Because foam boards absorb water vapor, you must |
| or metal building in winter, foam board insulation | | | | cover the insulation with a moisture or vapor barrier |
| brings that passage to a halt by completely sealing all | | | | and 2) because foam board is flammable, building |
| cavities and spaces in your structure's walls. These | | | | codes in virtually all areas require that it be covered |
| unsealed voids are the primary source of energy loss, | | | | with fire resistant paneling or drywall. |
| which means more money out of your pocket and | | | | Foam board also can be sprayed directly on to your |
| into your energy provider's coffers. | | | | walls via aerosol containers or pressure sprayers. It is |
| Enclosed car port foam board is a bit more | | | | recommended that you hire a professional installer for |
| expensive than fiberglass and may require | | | | this method, as it can involve complex equipment. |
| professional installation. But its "R value" (its measure | | | | And because foam boar seals your enclosed carport, |
| of thermal resistance) can be three times that of | | | | garage or metal building so tight, an air exchange |
| fiberglass. The higher a structure's R value, the better | | | | may need to be installed. However, this results in |
| its insulation's effectiveness. If you plan to spend lots | | | | superior indoor air quality because air pollutants such |
| of time in your carport, garage or metal building (for | | | | as pollen and dust have no way in. Foam board |
| instance, if you plan to use it as a workshop, office | | | | insulation also can help ward off mold, pest and |
| or recreational room), the long-term energy cost | | | | insects for most enclosed carports. |
| savings over fiberglass can be significant. | | | | |