Photo: Erik Mclean

How to insulate a shed cheaply?

One of the cheapest forms of shed insulation is bubble wrap. Air pockets will trap and slow down the transfer of heat. You can also buy foil-backed insulation bubble wrap for garden buildings. Otherwise, use a draught excluder and rugs and keep doors and windows shut when not in use.

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Insulation

There are many ways you can insulate a shed – but none of them are the “right way”. Each form of insulation that we’ll go through has different pros and cons.

But before we get into that, what is insulation and how does it work?

Insulation will slow down the transfer of hot air out of your garden shed by trapping air between thick layers of material and covering any gaps where it could escape. This means that your shed, log cabin, summerhouse, whatever, will stay warmer in the winter months. Insulation will also help regulate your shed’s indoor temperature in the summer months.

Insulation Materials and Installation

Below, we’ll go into insulation options before explaining where to use them in your shed and how effective they are. When you’ve finished this guide you’ll have a clear plan of action to insulate your shed no matter what your budget.

Plywood and Polystyrene (Foam Boards and Pallet Boards)

If there’s one word you want to bear in mind when insulating a shed, it’s Celotex. This type of insulation board comes in either polystyrene or plywood with foil backs that insulate the building. You can use Celotex boards to actually insulate all areas of your shed, including:

Beneath the roof cladding /in-between roof joists

Beneath a concrete or timber floor

In-between wall studs

The plywood boards offer a layer of plywood at about £50 a sheet (2.4m x 1.2m) which will basically bulk up your shed walls. This added width will slow down heat transfer and insulate your shed, aided by the insulating materials of the foil. You can also purchase smaller Celotex boards for about £16 a board (in the same size). Whether you opt for boards or insulation sheets, Celotex is an easy-to-install and versatile insulator that, although being a more expensive option than other materials, won’t break the bank.

Bubble Wrap

Yep, that’s right – you can use bubble wrap to insulate your shed! Now, we’re not suggesting you take your standard packing from your last Amazon order. Instead, opt for foil-backed bubble wrap insulation. This can be either tacked to the inside of your shed wall with a staple gun or fitted in between your wooden shed‘s wall and an MDF or plywood panel to create a false interior wall. Bubble wrap contains gaseous air pockets, meaning that atoms have more space. Because of this, they (and heat), move more slowly. This method of insulating your shed will run you approximately £17 for a 0.6m wide, 8.4m long, by 3mm thick roll. Bubble wrap is by far the cheapest option, but it won’t deliver the effectiveness as other thicker and denser materials. That being said, it’s still an adequate insulation option.

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To install Bubble wrap in your Garden Building, simply:

Measure the shed panel and cut the bubble wrap to fit. Overlap the bubble wrap strips to avoid heat escaping through any gaps. Staple or tack the wrapping to the shed. Place a sheet of MDF boarding over the panel and screw or nail into place. Top Tip: Attach the bubble wrap to the frame (wall studs) of the shed and not the actual panel itself!

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Fibreglass or Mineral Wool Insulation

Fibreglass wool and Mineral wool are both extremely well-suited for insulating a shed. Fibreglass is used often in new-builds as well, however, it’s a bit of a nightmare to work with. It’s itchy and can cause damage to your eyes or throat if it comes into contact with either. Instead of fibreglass insulation, we’d encourage you to use mineral wool. Mineral wool is:

Just as easy to install between studs and joists.

Denser than fibreglass wool.

Great for acoustic and thermal insulation.

More fire-resistant than fibreglass.

Doesn’t itch as much!

Seriously, for around £18 a batt save your eyes, skin, and wallet the trouble! To use fibreglass wool batts or mineral wool batt insulation, simply: Cut open bags and let the batts expand. Place the wool insulation in between wall studs (or roof joists) depending on where you’re insulating. Cover with plaster, MDF etc.. Top tip: Always remember to protect yourself, cover your eyes with safety glasses, your nose and mouth with a mask (you’ll probably have some lying around now!), and wear protective gloves when handling fibreglass wool. Now we’ve covered some of the most popular materials for shed insulation. Now, let’s move on to where to use them in your shed!

Thermal Envelope

A building’s thermal envelope is basically all points at which heat can leave your garden shed. By combating these (especially the roof and floor) you can make your shed:

More energy efficient.

Perfect for year-round use.

Better equipped to protect tools and equipment stored within them.

Even suitable for use as a garden office !

So let’s have a look at how to tackle each point of your shed’s thermal envelope.

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Wall

The walls of your shed actually account for one of the smaller amounts of heat loss on average, approximately 24% compared with around 40% of heat loss occurring through roofing. That being said, if you want to insulate your garden building properly, you’ll still want to look at your internal and external wall panels. If you want more than one layer of insulation then your best bet is to install Celotex boards or rockwool insulation batts and hold them in place with a plywood or plaster wall (depending on your budget and shed size). You can also use a simple silicone gun or spray foam insulation as an effective solution to fill in any cracks in your shed’s outside walls that might be causing heat loss.

Ground

We said just now that your flooring can leech up to 40% of your shed’s heat. To combat this, think about installing Celotex panels between your floor joists before you add flooring. Also, depending on the floor surface that your shed is built on, you may want to use a breathable membrane to provide underfloor insulation. First, use a builder’s plastic sheet to prevent moisture and even weeds coming up through your flooring. Then you can think about floor insulation. When it comes to insulating shed floors that are already in place, there are two main ways to ensure that heat gets retained inside your plastic garden storage.

Lining the floor with a breathable membrane.

Laying a rug or another piece of cloth (like a section of carpet) on top. Top Tip: If you don’t add a breathable membrane, make sure you regularly check under the rug to see that no damp or rot is building up.

Roof

To properly insulate your shed, you want your roof to not only reduce heat loss but also be water-resistant. This is where installing roof insulation felt, like that included as standard with our BillyOh garden sheds, comes in handy. Not only will roof felt help to prevent dampness and rot in your roof, but it’ll also allow for adequate water runoff. To better insulate your roof, you could install insulation batts or Celotex boards between your roof joists. For metal sheds, seal any gaps with silicone caulk.

gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk - Shed Insulation Guide | Blog - Garden Buildings Direct