Hi everyone -
With no insulation in the walls or for the rafters, my shop is absolutely blazing in the summer time (I live in upstate NY). I'm specfically wondering what I might do for insulating the rafter areas. There is no "ceiling" - you can see the inside of the roof area from the shop.
I'd like to keep it open if possible, and I realize that will likely affect how well it can be insulated. To make an actual ceiling would have it be pretty low, not great for moving taller stuff around. Plus my ducting is already at/above the double top plate, complicating that approach. The cavities are not that deep, maybe 7" or so; this is a late-19th century structure.
I've considered insulating the open cavities (the 45* degree areas) with rockwool, and then covering the cavity. Drywall is pretty heavy, not sure this ancient roof structure could handle all that weight. But rockwool is messy stuff, and I don't want it falling all over the place.
Also considered spray foam or foam board. So far, foam board with an air gap seems most palatable, but that might require specific covering due to the fire code, and then I'd be back to the potential roof weight issue.
I've included a couple of images of the roof and cavity area.
All feedback welcomed --
Thx,
Ned