Insulation in Texas
Texas is a state with hot summers and a place where extreme weather conditions aren’t rare. Because of that, insulation for homes, offices, and warehouses is essential, not only to help you save energy and money on bills but to make temperatures inside of those buildings bearable for the biggest part of the year.
Texas Insulation — Or Why Do You Need It?
In one of the hottest states, you’d surely need to know how to protect yourself from the sun and its radiating heat. It’s quite simple, if the insulation in your warehouse doesn't solve the heat problem — get rid of it and find a better one.
No one can last more than a few minutes in an unprotected metal building or pole barn in Texas. It feels like a tropical rainforest on steroids. The heat and humidity are unbearable. Anything you store in there melts. The only question is whether you'll sweat more than the building.
No matter if we are talking about homes or commercial buildings, insulation is equally important for both. Homeowners in Texas need insulation that prevents heat transfer in and out of their homes, and to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors without having to pay high air-conditioning bills.
If you have a warehouse, you probably know how difficult it is to cool such a big space, especially if it doesn’t have proper insulation. Installing the right kind of insulation will not only help you balance out the temperature inside, but protect whatever goods you store in the warehouse, and drastically reduce your energy expenses.
If you are about to insulate a warehouse in Texas, you’d need to consider the specific properties of your building and its needs. Depending on the size, material, and use of the building, you may need to install different types of insulation.
What Insulation Works Against the Texas Sun?
The right choice of insulation will depend on your building, and sometimes different insulation materials combined will give the best results. If you’re only renovating an old warehouse, check what kind of insulation already exists there, and whether you need to completely replace it or only fix it by adding a new one.
Pay attention to the R-value each insulation material has, which is a measure that shows its ability to reduce heat transfer. R-value is marked with numbers, and the higher it is, the better it will protect your building from extreme outdoor temperatures and their consequences.
Some of the most common warehouse insulation materials are:
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is a very common insulation in warehouses. It is made of thin glass fibers that create a light and flexible material with R-value from 2.9 to 4.3. Fiberglass insulation can come in batts, and rolls or can be blown in when applied to places that are difficult to reach.
This material can be installed on walls, ceilings, and floors to protect from both heat and cold. When thinking about the needs of Texas insulation, the things we can point out are its easy installation and cost-effectiveness.
On the other hand, fiberglass can lose some of its insulation properties over time, and in some cases, get wet and damaged by mold. Also, when installing fiberglass in your warehouse, make sure to handle it properly and wear protective equipment, as it can cause irritations and harm your health.
Spray Foam
Spray foam is another very popular option for insulation in Texas. This insulation material is applied by using specialized equipment directly to the walls of warehouses to provide a great air barrier and reduce heat transfer.
Some of the biggest advantages of spray foam are its high R-value, and the ability to provide an almost complete air barrier that prevents airflow and preserves the required temperature indoors.
It is easily applied to any surface, but it’s better to be handled by professionals or someone with experience as it requires special equipment. Because of that, spray foam may also be more expensive than other TX insulation materials, but can be an excellent choice for warehouses.
Aerogel Panels
Aerogel insulation is maybe the best option for refrigerated warehouses because it has a very high R-value, it is frost, steam, and water resistant and it doesn’t allow condensation. This is a relatively new synthetic insulation material that comes in thin and flexible sheets that can be easily shaped and installed.
Aerogel doesn’t take much space, and it’s a very durable material, but also more expensive than other insulation options. It won’t attract pests and rodents, which makes it a good choice for warehouses.
Cellulose
Made of recycled paper, denim, or wood, cellulose is considered an environmentally friendly insulation material. It’s applied by the blow-in technique, which is great for filling up all cracks on the walls or fixing any uninsulated spots. Cellulose can be also wet sprayed on newly built walls before the building is completed.
It has a fine R-value of 3.2 to 3.7 which works well in warehouses, and it’s very affordable. However, cellulose can lose its insulation properties over time or get damaged by moisture so it requires a bit more care and maintenance than other more durable materials.
Prodex Total
Probably the best insulation material for metal buildings and warehouses is Prodex. It is made of closed-cell foam placed in between the layers of reflective foil that has a high R-value and doesn’t react to changes in temperature.
Besides its ability to completely stop air transfer, block radiant heat and condensation, Prodex isn’t attractive to bugs and rodents and doesn’t grow mold. It can be installed very easily, during the construction of your warehouse, or when retrofitting.
Must-Have Features for Every TX Insulation
When talking about warehouse insulation in Texas, there are a few clear points to consider:
- The Insulation Must Stop Heat Transfer
Most warehouses are made of metal, which is known as a very good heat conductor, and requires proper insulation to resist summer and winter extreme temperatures. The insulation you choose should protect your warehouse from outdoor temperature changes and help you keep a balanced temperature indoors.
- Prevent Condensation
The next big problem of uninsulated warehouses is condensation, especially in warm regions and places with big differences in day and night temperatures. In such conditions, you will experience extreme moisture and dripping from the walls and ceilings in the warehouse that is harmful to the stored goods, as well as to the health of the staff that works there.
- Provide an Air Barrier
Airflow brings hot air from the outside and heats up the warehouse. If your insulation doesn’t stop the air transfer, you may also have problems with humidity. Besides that, the air can bring toxic gasses and smoke in case of fire.
- Work as a Vapor Barrier
The insulation you choose must also protect your warehouse from rain. Good insulation works as a vapor barrier to protect your building from getting soaked from the roofs and damaged.
- Numb the Noises
Insulation should also be a sound barrier. The noise of the machines, but also rain and hail on metal roofs can appear to be very loud, so don’t neglect this fact when looking for the right insulation.
- Doesn’t Support Pests
Pests like rodents and insects can cause serious damage to stored goods in warehouses, so you must invest in insulation that doesn’t allow their nesting.
- Prevents Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew can also seriously affect the goods stored in your warehouse, and cause health problems to people. The insulation you use for your warehouse must prevent its growth and help you maintain a healthy environment inside.
- Can Be Easily Installed
When installing insulation in huge buildings like warehouses, you’d want something light, flexible, and easy to work with. No matter if you are managing the insulation project yourself or hiring professionals, you need a material that installs easily.
Why Is Prodex the Best Insulation for Warehouses?
When the hot mid-summer sun heats the metal roof of a warehouse, the metal radiates an enormous heat into the building making it unbearably hot and humid inside.
Especially when there is a big contrast between the day and night temperatures, condensation occurs, and you’ll notice water drops inside your unprotected warehouse. When the hot air meets the cool metal sheeting, the building sweats and troubles begin.
Even if your warehouse is insulated with, for example, fiberglass which has a good R-value and is a commonly used insulation material, you are still not safe. Fiberglass doesn’t prevent condensation, it can get wet and damaged by moisture, and grow mold which can damage the structure of your building.
Spray foam also doesn’t offer a radiant barrier and if used in hot weather conditions like those we meet in Texas, it will simply let the heat pass through the roof into the building, making it hotter than it is outside.
Prodex Total can solve radiant heat problems in warehouses as it’s able to reflect back 97% of the sun’s radiant energy. Prodex combines radiant, air, and vapor barrier, providing complete protection in only one product, which makes it the best Texas insulation you can find.
We Are Still in Huston, Texas
About 15 years ago we decided to move our distribution center to Houston to reduce shipping costs. We figured it made sense — it was on the coast and approximately halfway between the East and West coasts of the United States. There was only one problem, when we traveled there from pleasant Colorado in July to look at warehouses it felt as if we landed in a place not conducive to human life! I had never felt that level of heat and humidity.
What made things even worse was that the warehouse with the best deal only had air-conditioning in the offices.
Without Prodex Total insulation, that would have been a deal breaker. However, we're still in that warehouse and we're as comfortable as we could be!
How to Insulate Your TX Warehouse?
You can install insulation during the construction of a new warehouse, or while retrofitting an old one. Retrofitting is usually done to reduce energy bills, but you should know that the process itself can be more expensive and longer than when constructing a new building.
In some cases, insulation can be placed on top of the existing one, depending on its type and the building’s properties. Retrofitting can sometimes be quite complex, so getting professional help from an insulation contractor would be your best option.
Companies providing professional insulation services in Texas will help you understand the specific needs of your warehouse, recommend the best insulation material, or help you carry out the whole insulation project.
