10x20 Shed Insulation

[Adrenolin]

Hello,

I had a new 10x20 shed delivered earlier this year to house our motorcycles, lawn tractor, bicycles, etc. Floor is framed w/PT 2x6 12oc for a solid base and covered in what they called LP Smartpanels. The 7' walls are 2x4 12oc, sheathed in LP TechShield with vinyl siding. There is a 7x8 garage door, double 36" solid wood doors and 2 simply single pane windows. No ridge vent but 2 vents at each end and vented soffit. Diamond plate at both entries. Well built and solid little shed for the little guy and myself!

Currently I'm running a cheap HF solar kit for a few hours of lighting (4' LED fixture from HD) at night on evenings when I'm out there. Panels were free and I had a spare battery that works for now. If I need more power for tools, etc I have a heavy power cord I run and put away afterwards. I plan to have permanent power run next year.

With fall setting in and and winter coming soon I'd like to insulate a bit. Heating over this winter will be only be when I'm out there and most likely just using a small Mr Buddy or a Dr Infrared Heater to get me by since I have both already. Next year I'd like to put a more permanent heat source in to maintain a low degree of heat throughout the winters. A/C is not likely needed as I can deal with the heat but I like to stay warm! Haven't looked into any options yet.

I'll likely put up some dry-wall next year as well to finish it off inside.

No insulation around the doors so I need to pickup a weatherstripping kit to keep the wind out. Solid core and I have no idea what / if any insulation value they have.

The garage door I'm looking to use a Matador Garage Door Insulation Kit to insulate.


For the walls I'm thinking about ordering 10 4x8 sheets of Owens Corning XPS FOAMULAR 150 and cutting to fit between studs using some scrap wood to space it out away from the TechShield 3/4" per their specs. I need to leave enough room on the inside between the foam and any interior sheathing I put up later to allow for wiring a few light switches and a couple power outlets.

* If I use 1" thick sheets with an R5 value this leave a 1 3/4" space for wiring. If I use 2" sheets giving R10 it only leaves 3/4". Would this be enough room?

For the ceiling I was thinking of using the 2" for R10 and having it flush to the inside edge of the 2x4s providing 1 1/2" between it and the TechShield.


Since I'm NOT a contractor I'd like to hear if this would be decent for my use or if something else would be better? Suggestions and opinions are more then welcomed and much appreciated.

 

[sal_flip]

I bought a similar prefab garage 12x22 and want to insulate it also. Let me know what you go with!

 

[OldSoldier]

Looks like you have radiant barrier all around. That stuff works best with an air gap. I'd say your idea of 2" of the pink foam will work well but you may want to keep the foam away from the outside wall and against the drywall when you put it up. That might complicate your wiring a bit but no one ever said you couldn't dig out a wiring channel out of the foam. Or you could run two 1" panels and sandwich the wiring between them in the small areas where your wiring runs. Personally i think 3/4" should be plenty of room for a couple of strands of romex here and there.

 

[BearsFan315]

TO keep it spaced away you could try some of the rafter vents out there. they are cheap, easy to install.

install a vent channel, like this one ADO Products Durovent 22-in x 48-in

also several other options

 

[Adrenolin]

I bought a similar prefab garage 12x22 and want to insulate it also. Let me know what you go with!

Nice size.. I wish I had gone a bit wider.. say 12' as with the 2 bikes on each wall its just large enough to work on the bikes and walk through. Still, I'm very happy just to have the new shed. Its been needed for the past 5 years.
I'll post up what I decide to do though still not sure if it'll happen this year or next.

Looks like you have radiant barrier all around. That stuff works best with an air gap. I'd say your idea of 2" of the pink foam will work well but you may want to keep the foam away from the outside wall and against the drywall when you put it up. That might complicate your wiring a bit but no one ever said you couldn't dig out a wiring channel out of the foam. Or you could run two 1" panels and sandwich the wiring between them in the small areas where your wiring runs. Personally i think 3/4" should be plenty of room for a couple of strands of romex here and there.

Yeah the LP TechShield radiant barrier is nice for sure and yes it requires 3/4" air space between it and the insulation per the manufacturer.
I was in hopes someone would say "yeah that 1" w/R-5 should be enough" to cut the cost in 1/2 but I know better. The local Home Depot only has the 2'x8' sheets in store so I'll have to order 20 full sized 4x8 sheets for less waste at $36 bucks a sheet.. Damn that's expensive!

Any less expensive insulation options without going fiberglass bats or a fill requiring drywall up beforehand?

 

[OldSoldier]

I found some used polyiso for mine. Works similarly as the xps but for me was quite a bit cheaper. Used stuff might be hit or miss though. Barring that I think you will have to just **** it up.

 

[Adrenolin]

TO keep it spaced away you could try some of the rafter vents out there. they are cheap, easy to install.

install a vent channel, like this one ADO Products Durovent 22-in x 48-in

also several other options

I might use these in the ceiling.

I was planning to rip 1/2" x1/2" strips from a few 2x3s I have a stack of and simply pin those to the wall cavity 2x4s 3/4" from the exterior TechShield. Run a bead of glue (such as PL300) along this then cut the XPS to fit the cavity and press it in tight to the spacers. The glue should secure and seal the XPS in place. I have quite a few 2x3x so its a free option.

I found some used polyiso for mine. Works similarly as the xps but for me was quite a bit cheaper. Used stuff might be hit or miss though. Barring that I think you will have to just **** it up.

I've been looking at local and online bulletin boards such as Craigslist just for a used deal. Even stopped by a couple of the commercial construction sites where they were using it on the exterior of the buildings and no luck unfortunately.

For my usage I'd use either XPS or ISO if one came by at the right price. If I wind up buying it retail I'll go with the XPS. I agree that I'm going to have to just **** it up however..