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  "name": "Should I choose open-cell or closed-cell spray foam for a steel workshop retrofit?",
  "description": "Closed-cell is usually best for metal buildings because it repels moisture, forms an impermeable vapor barrier directly against steel, and delivers higher R-val",
  "url": "https://totalbuildingsystems.net/faq/should-i-choose-open-cell-or-closed-cell-spray-foam-for-a-steel-workshop-retrofi",
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      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Should I choose open-cell or closed-cell spray foam for a steel workshop retrofit?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
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        "text": "The choice comes down to climate severity, space limits, and your workshop activities. Open-cell foam expands rapidly, fills deep purlin cavities, and costs less per board foot, but it is air-permeable, absorbs moisture, and cannot act as a standalone vapor barrier on bare metal panels. Closed-cell foam cures into a dense, rigid barrier with a high R-value per inch (roughly R-6 to R-7). It adds structural racking strength to sheet metal, completely blocks air infiltration, and forms an impermeable moisture barrier, making it the superior choice for unconditioned metal buildings in high-heat desert and mountain regions.",
        "description": "Closed-cell is usually best for metal buildings because it repels moisture, forms an impermeable vapor barrier directly against steel, and delivers higher R-value per inch."
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