Industrial building insulation, especially in the northern climes, is a major expense. It’s also absolutely necessary in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone that works in your facility as well as the integrity of many types of products. But while building insulation is necessary and is going to cost some real money it doesn’t have to be the building component that breaks the company bank. Below are some tips that should help you reign in the cost of building insulation.
Keys to Affordable Industrial Building insulation
- Make sure you schedule the insulation work at the right time – If insulation work is scheduled in a haphazard manner it may unnecessarily interfere with normal activities of your plant or warehouse, which will in turn cost you money. It’s not an expense you’ll see directly reflected on the insulation bill but it’s the kind of secondary cost that will eat away at your bottom line. Always schedule insulation work at a time when it won’t get in the way of normal business activities.
- Make sure access to the work areas is properly accounted for – Often times a request for proposal will not take access to the work areas properly into account. The amount of scaffolding or lifts required is underestimated by the insulation contractor and cost overruns eventually ensue. Always make sure access mechanisms are properly accounted for.
- Be careful not to damage existing insulation – This is a very common problem. Workers in a hurry to finish an insulation job will inadvertently damage existing insulation which will then need to be replaced. You can keep costs down by simply making sure workers take their time and install any new insulation without damaging what’s already there.
- Ensure proper coordination between trades – It’s often the case that insulation is being installed during a renovation and at the same time other trades are doing work on the building. The danger here is that poor coordination between trades can lead to the insulation techs having to jump around from location to location. This wastes time and often leads to mistakes.
- Have all work thoroughly inspected before signing off – When it comes to cold rooms/drive-in freezers getting the insulation right is crucial. Gaps in the insulation and other oversights can cause the cooling system to work overtime to keep the space at the proper temperature. An issue you may never be aware of but which could cost you big in the long run. Likewise, when insulation isn’t properly fitted to pipes or when there are gaps are left in the insulation in the walls or ceiling of a factory you’re going to wind up paying more for hot water, heat and air conditioning as well.
Proper industrial building insulation is the key to running an efficient business. Make sure you always enlist the services of an insulation contractor with a proven record of success. You may pay a bit more up front but you’ll save a boatload of money and aggravation in the long run.