Insulating a shed

[Kirk Freeman]

We've got one of the kit type wooden sheds I'm getting ready to turn in to a work shop. I'd like to insulate it and was thinking the foam board would be the way to go but it's definitely not cheap. Figured I'd check with the fine folks of Ingo on recommendations? If foam is the way to go so be it but if there's a more affordable alternative I'm all for it. If it makes a different I believe the walls are probable 24" OC.

Stately Freeman Manor was formerly owned by a sign painter. His "workshop" was a 1.5 car garage in back of the Manor's sprawling estate.

Dad and I used foam board (rock-something, it is like gray and khaki). Worked out great and with a mini-salamander keeps it toasty in deep winter. (I am not out there for long stretches so factor that in.

 

[Hoosier Carry]

This is a great idea! Don't pay for 24 hr htg unless your staying out in the shed.

I was talked into doing our barn in spray foam and have been sold on it ever since. I thought the price was too much for me but when the area becomes air tight and heat/cooling loss is at its lowest, the savings on the other end of it is worth it.
So then I bought a diy kit, which i thought would be a disaster because I heard all of the “you have to know what your doing stories”, and sprayed a room I gutted and rebuilt. It was really too easy. So if you have thoughts on spray foam, these kits make the process simple. They come ready to shoot, you just need to get the chemicals in the tanks to the proper temps before spraying.

 

[femurphy77]

We used the pink foam board, 1 1/2" thick in our pole barn and then went over that with OSB and then painted that. Turned out real nice, I can't give you objective results, but it definitely made a difference and was relatively easy and allowed us to do it as time/money allowed.

 

[WebSnyper]

I've been made aware that the propane heater that my wife bought to use in the chicken coop is now mine for the shed so that'll be my heat source.

Frozen chicken for dinner?

 

[dieselrealtor]

Some things to think about for heat source.

• how much moisture does a vent free propane/NG heater put in the space?
• will there be condensation if allowed to cool down, heat up, cool down etc. My toolbox & tools condensate as the area goes through warm/cool cycles.
• is some passive solar heating an option?

 

[Creedmoor]

Some things to think about for heat source.

• how much moisture does a vent free propane/NG heater put in the space?
• will there be condensation if allowed to cool down, heat up, cool down etc. My toolbox & tools condensate as the area goes through warm/cool cycles.
• is some passive solar heating an option?

Moisture is acceptable to a level of 20 PPM in propane and over that amount droplets of water will be visible. In the winter months, it is standard practice for fuel suppliers to add methanol to the propane to prevent moisture. The ratio is not much, about 3 pints to 1000 gallons of propane.
Or one molecule of propane produces three molecules of water. lol

I try to keep four 100lb propane full most of the time. I have used propane for 25 years now to heat a house I'm gutting, the preheat for my shop till the wood stove is pumping out heat and to heat my loading room with setting a little salamander in an open swing door.
Ive never really noticed excessive moisture in the shop or loading room that I can say its from the bit of water in propane.
And like Ive posted I run a decent sized dehumidifier in the loading room a few hours a day.
The gallon and a half? tank on the dehumidifier takes about a week to fill up.
Just running that made a huge difference in humidity in that roon and inside of the vault thats there also. I want to say the dehumidifier costs about $15.00 bucks a month to run.
If all the tools and machinery in my shop and 10* to 30* everything will have water running down it for a bit untill that metal gets warmed up. With that I perheat the shop with a 200.000? btu construction heater. Its hard on propane with the valve turned up.
Every year I seem to forget to tie in NG to that end of the building.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I've been made aware that the propane heater that my wife bought to use in the chicken coop is now mine for the shed so that'll be my heat source.

Build them a stone fireplace?

Yeah, I remember your chicken Taj Mahal...

 

[phylodog]

Build them a stone fireplace?

Yeah, I remember your chicken Taj Mahal...

I believe she's gone with electric, the electric bill will let me know.

 

[phylodog]

Frozen chicken for dinner?

If that happens I hope I'm in another state.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I believe she's gone with electric, the electric bill will let me know.

I've been amusing myself with the thought the chickens couldn't figure out a pilot light, so you had to go electric. Touch sensitive thermostat, obviously, so they can adjust the temperature via pecking.

Yes, that's seriously how my mind works. Or doesn't. Your call.

 

[phylodog]

I've been amusing myself with the thought the chickens couldn't figure out a pilot light, so you had to go electric. Touch sensitive thermostat, obviously, so they can adjust the temperature via pecking.

Yes, that's seriously how my mind works. Or doesn't. Your call.

There isn't much that I could walk into that coop and find that would surprise me lol.

 

[DadSmith]

For heat these actually work good.
It would be nice and warm in your shed.

 

[JTKelly]

Use the closed cell spray foam to glue the hard foam board right to plywood. then spray foam around the hard board to seal it and keep moisture from inside causing mold on the wood.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Tiger Foam | Spray Foam Insulation Kit | TF-200FR

Tiger Foam™ Fast Rise Formula - 200 Bd/Ft. Premium Spray Foam Insulation Kit

tigerfoam.com

And

View attachment 324682

Thought about that kit for under my camper.

 

[shootersix]

Well if you don’t start conversations with the phrase “your dumb ass mother” you won’t have to worry about sleeping in the barn!

 

[24Carat]

Cheap, easy and fast ? 1" bubble wrap and 3M type of spray adhesive. I did our garage door with this and it's now 12 years later.

 

[Hoosier Carry]

Thought about that kit for under my camper.

That would help with cold floors most likely.

 

[Michigan Slim]

That would help with cold floors most likely.

I'd like to winter camp during late deer seasons. Maybe ice fishing too. Brrr feet

 

[tmschuller]

Cheap, easy and fast ? 1" bubble wrap and 3M type of spray adhesive. I did our garage door with this and it's now 12 years later.

HVAC suppliers have foil bubble duct wrap that’s thin and is I believe R6/7?? Comes in a big roll Bugs don’t eat it and it’s tough stuff. I don’t remember the dimensions but I think 4’x100 feet

 

[phylodog]

Website says this is for garage doors, any reason it wouldn't work in a shed?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-1-i...ded-Polystyrene-Foam-Board-Insulation/3365576