Your How-to Guide for Insulating Your Outdoor Storage Shed

Living in Maine, the reasons for and benefits of insulating your outdoor storage shed are endless.

But there are also many things to consider:

What’s the best insulation to use when insulating your storage shed?
Can you insulate a pre-built shed?
What’s the best way to insulate a shed?
How to insulate the floor of your storage shed?

This is your how-to guide for insulating your storage shed. Throughout this post, we’ll help you discover:

Should you insulate your shed?
Which insulation material should you use?
Do’s and don’ts of insulating your storage shed

IS IT WORTH YOUR TIME TO INSULATE YOUR SHED?

Before we get into how to insulate your outdoor storage shed, let’s talk about why (and if) it’s important to do so.

If you don’t know if you need to insulate: Before assuming your shed needs to be insulated (or re-insulated, in some cases), we recommend taking the time to perform a thorough inspection of your shed. You might determine 1) you don’t need insulation and need other repairs instead, or 2) investing in a new shed is the better option.

If your shed is old: Insulating an old shed may not actually be worth the time, money, or effort it will take to insulate. Instead, it might be better to use that investment for an updated shed or to repair other areas of your outdoor shed.

If you’re resistant to the project: If you’re not interested (or not able) to install insulation yourself, then investing in a new shed may be the best solution for you.

WHAT MATERIAL IS BEST TO INSULATE YOUR OUTDOOR SHED?

First things first, you’ll want to decide what material will suit your unique insulation needs. While we can make that decision for you, there are plenty of options below to choose from, each offering their own benefits and downfalls.

Breathable membrane: improve ventilation (by allowing air inside), but provide water resistance
Bubble wrap: basic and least expensive option, but less effective than others listed
Fiberglass roll: able to keep its form over time, cost effective, and easy to install; but can be dangerous when inhaled and ineffective if it gets wet
Hardboard: inexpensive and long lasting, but not water resistant
Plasterboard insulation: practical and inexpensive, but will give the shed the look of unfinished plasterboard until painted or finished
Polyisocyanurate (PIR) or Celotex boards: popular insulation made of rigid, closed-cell foam and easy to install; but can be more costly than other options
Rockwool or Mineral wool: made from volcanic rock and industrial slug, this option is great for heat and humidity control, as well as sound insulation

5 DO’S AND DON’TS OF INSULATING YOUR STORAGE SHED

While simple in theory, insulating your outdoor storage shed can be more complicated than you suspect. Since every shed and every location has specific needs, it’s important to get a better sense of the do’s and don’ts of insulating your storage shed before you get started.

1. Plan ahead

When possible, plan ahead when it comes to insulation. During shed installation, map out any electricity, plumbing, and A/C or heating. That way, you won’t have to work around anything inside or past what you’ve already installed (like drywall inside).

2. Climate matters

We’re no strangers to good insulation, living in Maine. Without it, we’d be freezing our buns off 6 months out of the year. However, if you live in a part of the country that has relatively mild weather, you may not need to worry about as much (or any) insulation. In some cases, it’s actually helpful for your outdoor shed to be able to “breathe.”

3. Heat transfer

In multiple ways, insulation keeps your shed from losing heat in the winter or becoming overheated in the summer. Heat transfer is a concept that applies here because when air temperature differs in two spaces (outside of your shed and inside your shed, for instance), it will naturally want to equalize.

4. Consider air tightness

Insulation isn’t a one-time fix when it comes to regulating the temperature in your shed. If you have other issues — such as cracks or holes in the walls, gaping doors or windows, etc. — your shed will still let in the elements. Be sure to seal any cracks or holes to keep cold air out and warm air in.

5. Don’t forget the floor and ceiling

More heat is lost through the floor and roof than through the walls, so don’t forget to pay attention to these areas. Starting with a thermal barrier in the floor, you’ll be able to save precious heat loss through the colder months. Combined with your efforts to insulate the roof, you’ll be far more protected than simply insulating the walls alone.

Insulating your shed may or may not be the right choice for you. If it is, follow this guide for finding the right material and the do’s and don’ts of installation.

And for a high quality outdoor shed in Maine, check out our selection!