6 Inexpensive Ways to Insulate Your Workshop Shed
Outdoor sheds make great workspaces, but proper insulation is necessary to keep a shed workspace warm in winter and cool in summer.
29/06/2021
There are many benefits to outdoor sheds. They make great workspaces, and they provide room for all types of storage. But when it comes to colder climates, proper insulation is necessary to protect those temperature-sensitive items and keep a shed workspace warm, especially if you are setting up a permanent workspace in a shed..
Due to the versatility and ease of installation, there are many inexpensive options for insulating an outdoor shed. The following is a list of six economical and effective ways to insulate any shed or workspace. These techniques will not only keep your shed and its inhabitants warm during the cold winter months, but they’ll also keep the interior cool during the most searing summer. Sheds can be effectively insulated with just about any type of insulation.
1. Fibreglass
This is the standard for all insulation needs. It comes in many different thicknesses, or R-values, which directly relate to temperature ratings. And although fiberglass insulation can be on the expensive side depending on its thickness, there are ways to keep the price down.
Sheds and workspaces tend to be small in size, so it doesn’t take as much to insulate them. Instead of buying the expensive fiberglass insulation rolls with higher R-values, opt for the cheaper, lower-rated kind. Since it’s intended to cover a smaller area, it can easily be doubled up, which increases its effectiveness without increasing the price.
2. Styrofoam
A great and cheap alternative to fiberglass is Styrofoam.
Most Styrofoam insulation comes in two forms: sheet and block. Styrofoam sheet insulation tends to be on the cheaper side and usually covers a larger area. It’s easy to cut and, depending on thickness, can be very effective. If the shed in question doesn’t have to stand up to the most extreme climates, half-inch Styrofoam sheet is the best way to go.
3. Spray foam
Spray foam insulation is one of the easiest
DIY options for an outdoor
Perthshed or
workspace. It’s important to remember that with
spray foam, a little goes a long way. Once it
reaches full expansion, spray foam can grow up
to ten times its initial size.
This makes the
use of it not only effective but also
inexpensive. It adheres to whatever surface you
apply it to, and spray insulation will also
expand into any crack and opening, virtually
eliminating drafts.
4. Foil bubble wrap
Because it’s essentially pocketed air, bubble-wrap insulation is one of the most effective forms of insulation available. Most bubble-wrap insulation comes sandwiched between two layers of aluminium foil, which gives it an added benefit in terms of heat transfer.
Bubble-wrap insulation is extremely lightweight, easy to install, and doesn’t absorb moisture, which eliminates any mildew or mould concerns. And, as with everything else on this list, it’s affordable.
Most people store their traveling supplies in their cabin sheds. If you are someone that loves taking trips all year around, you would know how foil bubble wrap comes in handy. Whether it is protecting your travel gear, or any other equipment, you can always depend on bubble wrap to ensure that your traveling supplies are well stored and protected.
5. Cardboard
It may not be an obvious choice, but corrugated cardboard doesn’t just make a great box—it can serve as excellent insulation too! Cardboard can be used in sheet form or it can be shredded and backfilled behind wall panels.
Not only that, but it’s also one of the cheaper outdoor shed insulation options. When used in sheets, it’s important to sandwich many pieces together to create multiple layers, which increases its effectiveness.
6. Hay
Hay isn’t just for horses anymore. Although
this may seem a bit odd, it has been used to
insulate structures for centuries.
Many
desert adobe style homes use hay in their
construction due to its natural ability to keep
the heat in and the cold out. The reverse is
true, as well, for hot days. Hay is quite
inexpensive and a great option for any outdoor
shed or workspace.
So when it comes to keeping the climate-controlled in that shed, all the above options are economical and effective—no matter how strange they may seem. Just remember that to get the full benefit out of the insulation, the walls, roof, and floor of the workspace all need to be insulated.