Insulating a shed.

[johno]

I want to make working (?) in my shed during the coming winter more comfortable, so I thought about insulating it , what do you good folk recommend as being up to the job.

[John Cartmell]

What is the construction of the shed and can you afford to lose space with extra 'skins'? How comfortable and what costs are you prepared to pay?

[Christian McArdle]

Andy Hall did his very comprehensively. A quick Google should find the details.

I did it relatively on the cheap. I have (in order):

22mm external boarding (painted) 40mm Kingspan, foil backed Duct taped board joins 4mm plywood (in some areas) 9.5mm plasterboard

It is still cold bridged across the studwork. I would have used 12.5mm if I wasn't shifting it myself. The plywood is so I can mount light hooks easily. I had it lying about. The plasterboard is because I hate spiders. So far it has been extraordinarily successful. Barely a spider in there. It is also excellent for reflecting light, making it quite pleasant within.

Kingspan is cheapest from

Given the limited stud depth, Celotex/Kingspan type insulation was the only practical. I had not the time, money or space to eliminate cold bridging by affixing further insulation over the studs/rafters. Wood cold bridging is never as bad as masonry, anyway.

Christian.

[johno]

Thanks for the ref to Andy Hall, had a quick look and it helps a bit. I am not looking at using it as an office, so it does not need to be hi tech. I can lose a little space vertically, but not much, walls are no problem. I had thought of Rockwool and clad with mdf or similar, will have a look at the cost of cladding in comparison. Shed is fairly new T&G, uprights are 40mm, roof beams are 50mm. The main thing is it is empty and if I can get it done before she gets back from her holidays and fill it with my stuff, then jobs a good un!!!

[Chris Bacon]

Get a few sheets of Jablite and a tin of Sealofoam (apply sparingly). When it's draughtproof apply 6mm WBP ply to the inside.

[Christian McArdle]

It's up to you. Kingspan/Celotex have twice the insulative capacity of polystyrene (Jablite). Rockwool is a complete pain in wall construction, as it sags.

Christian.

[soup]

Ask in uk.rec.sheds. (TeeHee)

[robkgraham]

I don't know what half the proprietary names that are given here are, but I just used 2 inch expanded polystyrene sheets, and it made a major amount of difference - not only with warmth but also light relection.

One area you will have to address is that the joinery round shed doors is usually basic and is a pain to draught proof - that's probably where the greatest heat loss will come from after adding insulation.

In the end what you do does depend on what you are going to use the shed for - whether you can get some heating into it and how many layers of jumpers you want to put on.

Rob

[Christian McArdle]

These, often referred to by a common trade name "Jablite" are OK, but have much less insulation value than Celotex/Kingspan (polyisocyanurate, IIRC).

Christian.

[Chris Bacon]

That's what "Jablite" is (you can get different thicknesses)....

[chris French]

If you don't end up with light coloured surface , then painting it white is worthwhile, made big difference to our shed

[John Rumm]

I used 2" jabfloor sheets (built it before I knew where to get PIR foam cheaply!). With 3/4" shiplap outside, 1" air gap, and 1/2" ply inside it actually works very well. I have a 2.2kW fan heater in there that I rarely if ever need to run above its lowest 800W setting. I added thermostat so I can leave it on frost free to protect the rustable kit in there. Piccies here: