Is insulating a garden shed a must? Well, if you’re looking to maximise the functionality of your wooden building, and also want to ensure the interior and exterior of your shed continue to look great year-after-year, then we strongly recommend investing in insulation. 

For those that are keen craftsmen, artists or enjoy dabbling in DIY, insulation can make all the difference in ensuring your garden shed is a usable and enjoyable space. This can be even more important for individuals using their shed for storage solutions and business premises. Whether your garden shed is for recreational purposes or work commitments, insulation will further enhance your garden shed’s functionality.

If you want to avoid damp, moisture and mould growth in your shed, follow our simple tips for insulating your wooden garden room.

What are the benefits of insulating your garden shed?

Firstly, let’s start with the benefits and why you should be insulating your shed. 

Insulating your shed can:

  • Effectively retain heat during the winter months and colder summer evenings.
  • Prevent mould, damp and moisture build up.
  • Absorb and retain noise.
  • Provide additional protection for valuable equipment such as tools, machinery and technology. 

How to insulate your garden shed

Firstly, is your garden shed in good condition? Insulating your shed is a non-effective exercise if your structure is already in poor condition. 

To check whether your shed is in poor condition, examine the windows for rot and decay or areas which require sealing, study the wood to identify breakages or splits, and inspect your roof to check whether the felt needs replacing and for general signs of wear and tear.

If you consider your shed fit for insulation, let’s continue…

What material should you be using for insulation?

There are a variety of materials you can choose from when insulating your shed. For example, bubble wrap, fibreglass wool, foil backed insulation or polystyrene boards.

Insulating a shed with bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is a cheap alternative for insulating your garden shed. Simply measure sheets of bubble wrap according to the size of your panels allowing for a slight overlap, and staple where appropriate to your shed walls and ceiling. 

It is important to note bubble wrap is not an appropriate insulation material if you’re considering or already have electrics or heating installed in your shed. 

Insulating a shed with fibreglass wool

Fibreglass wool is a more expensive insulation alternative, however, this is reflected in the quality and performance of its insulating abilities. Fibre wool is measured to fit between the shed panels and frames, and then secured into place using sheets of MDF. To ensure the fibre wool performs effectively, we recommend adding a layer of membrane to improve air circulation and prevent signs of damp. 

Insulating a shed with foil backed insulation boards

Foil backed insulation boards, also known as thermal insulation foil is the most recommended material to use. The material is highly effective, easy to work with and relatively inexpensive if only being used for the purpose of shed insulation. 

If you’ve purchased your shed from Ace Sheds, you won’t need to worry about treating your shed before insulation. After treatment, cut your foil backed insulation boards to size and simply slot them into place against your shed panels and secure. These can then be covered with boards of MDF for a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Insulating a shed with polystyrene

If you decide to insulate your garden shed using polystyrene, then the same method can be adopted as used for foil backed insulation boards.

How to insulate a shed roof

If you’re also considering insulating your shed roof, the same process used on the shed panels can be adopted for the roof panels regardless of the material used. However, it is important to note that warm air rises so to ensure adequate ventilation and to prevent against damp, mould and moisture, allow for at least a 2-inch gap between your wall and roof insulation. 

If you would like further advice and guidance on how to insulate your garden shed, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us online or via phone on 01322 822042.