This is Why You Need Rigid Foam in Your Post Frame Insulation!

[@PlanetMojo]

As the ice has melted away, you can see that out dirt guy has piled-up gravel in the area outside of where this water was, which is probably why there was so much water in this pocket. Still can't be sure, but I'll be raking that away sometime this Spring, and it wouldn't be a problem anyway with the XPS foam at the bottom of the pockets. With the pockets insulated and protected from mice and insects, I can finally install the wall insulation throughout the woodshop. Things are coming along quite nicely! 😊

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

Yikes, water is never good! Hope that keeps it out. I'm glad we don't get much snow or ice. We just have to deal with crazy rain and wind storms in the summer.

[@PlanetMojo]

Hi Red & April Off-Grid! There will always be dampness and possibly a little water here and there because the grade boards are right at grade and in some places just below grade. The XPS will allow the water to come and go without rotting things or loosing insulation values. Are you guys in Arizona? I lived in Nevada for a summer and it rained once - but it was a massive downpour!

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

Yes, we are in Arizona. The monsoon storms and microbursts can be pretty fierce! 🏜️

[@ShedHomePro]

That XPS should do the trick quite nicely! I've seen a few buildings that have these rat pockets simply use fiberglass batts down to the bottom of the pocket. That is clearly a mistake! 😐 Now that I've seen this method, I wouldn't do it any other way! 😊

[@PlanetMojo]

I've never actually seen anyone insulate these pockets - just the 'after' videos on @RR Buildings where the insulation is already in place. Spray foam would work as well, but fiberglass in those pockets would be a big no-no! 😮

[@adenvet2830]

Hi Mojo, nice video, it'll be nice when all the ice has gone.

[@PlanetMojo]

I agree! We had an inch of rain last night - then it froze. It's like an ice skating rink out there now!

[@ccrx6700]

Your in there with a T shirt! Bet that feels good compared to last vid when you had the heavy gloves on. 66 in there, bet you love it! Good job today

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Dave! It was awesome! It will be nice to work out there like that any time of the year. 😊

[@RobertRalphR]

This seems like a no-brainer, but I'm sure not many people do this. People seem to rush through the insulation phase only to pay for it dearly for the life of a building in extra heating and cooling costs and les comfort.

[@PlanetMojo]

I see that as well. People seem to rush through the insulation stage and/or have no idea how to do it. You only have one chance to get it right, so it's a good idea to do the research and take your time! 😊

[@NewWoodGuy]

I had a wall that had a tiny leak a few years ago. It ruined every bit of insulation in the wall, and rotted things in completely different areas! Water and fiberglass are definitely a bad thing!

[@PlanetMojo]

I've seen that as well. The fiberglass acts like a wick and moves the water all over the place. It not only ruins the fiberglass, but ruins the wall as well!

[@dirty0276]

Planet Mojo, when you put your "rat board" on the inside of the building...did you use the 0.15pcf ground contact treated wood or the .60 Critical structure treated lumber (special order)? If you used the 0.15 that can buy anytime at Menards, are you afraid of it rotting away or anything?

[@PlanetMojo]

I used regular ground contact. We used that on another building that we just moved, and not a speck of rot after 20 years. Zero fear of it rotting away.

[@bmfairweather]

Why pray the water before/after you spray the foam?

[@PlanetMojo]

The spray foam is polyurethane based and water speeds the cure time. In this cold weather I wanted the foam to cure as fast as possible so it didn't freeze. It will work either way, but it cures much slower without water.

[@bmfairweather]

@@PlanetMojo Great info I’ll have to keep that in mind. Thanks.