Garden sheds are no more just a storage space, don’t you think? More people are exploring their hobbies such as painting or singing at their sed, and many just use their man caves for me-times and relaxation.
Whatever be your reason behind insulating your garden shed, the result we definitely be rewarding. Here, we’ll provide you with an in-detail guide on how to insulate your garden shed.
Tools/Supplies Required for Insulating a Shed
When it comes to insulating a garden shed, the tools required will vary greatly on the shed type you have and the insulation material you choose.
Nevertheless, here’s a general list of tools and supplies you might have to gather before beginning the actual insulation process.
- Insulation cutter
- Appropriate insulation materials
- Measuring tape
- A long-scale (Preferably T-scale)
- Vapour barrier
- Expandable spray foam
- Breathable membrane
Step by Step Guide on How to Insulate a Shed
The insulation process differs depending on the type of garden shed we own. Here, we’ll discuss in detail about insulating wooden garden sheds.
Let’s look at some of the steps you’ll have to follow once you decide to insulate your garden shed and the step-by-step procedure to do so, shall we?
Step 1: Some consideration before starting
Always remember to plan your electrical and plumbing needs before you insulate your garden shed. If you are sealing the cracks and holes in the shed to make it airtight during insulation, you’ll also need to have a proper ventilation system on site.
Especially if you’ll planning on spending hours or sleeping in the shed, all these requirements must be properly planned and executed.
Step 2: Understand the R-value
It’s always better to gain some theoretical knowledge first, don’t you think? Understanding R-value is essential if you want to choose the appropriate insulation for your garden shed. In simple terms, R-value indicates the capability of the material to prevent heat transfer.
If your shed insulation material has an R-value of 30, it signifies that there will be 30 times less heat transfer in the shed than when you had no insulation at all. Likewise, if 1 inch of insulating material has an R-value of 4, then 2 inches of that material would have an R-value of 8.
R-value for some material depends upon compression, exposure to moisture and can lose its value over time. Also, the appropriate R-value varies depending upon the climate and also on the area of the shed you want to insulate. So, always do your research first.
Step 3: Be clear of your requirements
Before shopping for insulation, you shall be clear about your requirements. Do you want the shed to be noise-proof? Are you planning on living or sleeping there? What is your budget? What is your end goal?
You must be ready with answers to all these questions before proceeding on to the next step, where you’ll be choosing the insulating materials.
Step 4: Choose the right insulation material
Now that you know what R-value is, what are the general R-value recommendations in your area, and how well you want to insulate the shed, you might quite easily be able to choose the right insulation material for you.
We now know that the recommended R-value varies for shed walls, floor, roof, doors, and windows. You shall now choose the ideal form of insulation for each of these areas keeping in mind the R-values, the method of insulation, and the space you have for insulation.
Hardening spray foam fillers are excellent for insulating the edges of doors and windows, whereas the bubble reflective foil insulation is one of the most cost-effective ones.
Step 5: Check for air-tightness
The air might be moving in and out of the shed through tiny cracks and holes in the shed. You can spot the holes using a simple technique.
Sometimes, such holes are clearly visible. However, we have a solution for you in case you couldn’t spot them. On a bright sunny day, close all the shed’s doors and windows, and if you notice some light coming through other areas, check for a hole there.
Now, all you have to do is fill the hole with spray foam or any other insulation technique to make the room as airtight as possible.
Step 6: Moisture control
Moisture can be a real culprit of causing mold growths and the rotting of woods in a shed. If moisture control is not done properly, it might result in wet insulation, thus decreasing the efficacy and longevity of the insulation.
If you’re newly constructing a shed or retrofitting it, apply an ISO board or a polystyrene board on a reflective barrier followed by waterproof claddings over it. If not, you can add a breathable membrane on the outside.
Step 7: Insulate the garden shed walls
If you’re using boards, batts, or foams, measure the space between two studs and cut the same piece of your insulation.
You can now simply put the insulation between the studs or use an adhesive to keep them in place. If you use spray foam, the process will become relatively easier. Make sure to go around wires, electric boxes, and pipes.
Step 8: Insulate the garden shed floor
If your garden shed is still under construction, it’ll be better if you consider adding insulation to the grids in your shed base.
However, in case your shed is already completed, line the floor with a breathable membrane and top it with a rug or a carpet. If not, you can add an insulating layer of the false floor on top of your floor.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t lined your shed floor with a breathable membrane, check the underside of the carpet regularly to see if there’s any sign of moisture damage.
Step 9: Insulate the garden shed roof
Insulating your shed roof depends on the type of roof you have and if or not you intend to use the attic space. If your shed has a flat roof, add a rigid insulation board on top of it, followed by a weatherproof layer.
Else, you can use mineral wool to insulate between the joists first and then lay the insulation again at right angles to cover the joists. Alternatively, you can also fit the insulation between and over the rafters.
Most importantly, ensure that the room ventilation system is in place as it can be essential to prevent moisture build-up within the insulated shed.
Step 10: Insulate the garden shed doors and windows
To insulate the edges of the doors and windows, you can use spray foam or liquid wool. Once the insulation has dried, cut off the excess.
Step 11: Vapour barrier
Finally, you can also add a layer of vapour barrier outside or inside your garden shed once you’re done with the insulation. Generally, adding vapour barrier during insulation isn’t considered a must-do. So, decide for yourself if it is necessary or not for your situation.
Extended Tips
Insulating a shed is quite a time-consuming and challenging task. And, most importantly, you shall be knowledgeable about what you’re doing. Let’s discuss some essential tips you must keep in mind while insulating your garden shed.
1. Insulating a metal garden shed
Insulating a metal garden shed is quite similar to yet very easy than what’ve we’ve discussed above.
Rigid foam board and spray foam are the two best insulations for metal sheds as they have quite high R-value. If you don’t have any studs, you can use adhesives to fix foam boards in place.
2. Add MDF or plywood to the frame
If you can stretch your budget, adding MDF or plywood to the insulated frame might be a good idea. It keeps the insulation in place and also acts as an added layer of insulation.
3. Always wear protective clothing
Some insulations can be quite toxic if you’re not wearing protective clothing, especially a mask.
4. Don’t compress the insulation too much
Compressing some insulations might affect their R-value. So, when you’re fixing the insulation between studs, make sure that you’re not applying too much force.
Moreover, if you compress the insulator too much such that it doesn’t sit flush against the wall, you’d completely reduce R-value to 0.
5. Take help of professionals
Insulating a garden shed is quite a serious task, especially if you’ve decided to live or sleep there. So, if you’re not confident of following all these steps properly, it is best for you to take help from the experts.
6. Use bubble wraps
If you just want to protect your gardening and other tools in the shed and want some cheaper alternative, you can use bubble wraps to insulate the shed.
Summary
Did you know that insulating a shed also sound-proofs it? If you’re into music or love watching movies, you already know the drill, right?
By following a proper set of guidelines, you can absolutely insulate your garden shed on your own. Now all you need to do is get your supplies ready and start on the project. If you have some queries, we’re just a comment away!
