Insulating a Play House

[hbud]

I bought a play house for the kids a week ago. Wanting to insulate it and put some kind of paneling in it to finish it out. It has a cathedral ceiling and I am planning to insulate the ceiling between the joists with some fiberglass batting. I was wondering if this is going to damage the shingles or create problems (heat build up). I know attics are vented to let the heat escape in houses and garages, but would it hurt to insulate and panel the cathedral ceiling? Here is what I'm working with. thanks.

 

[Zeke]

No problem. Just do it. Attics are another subject. No attic, no worries.

But why insulate? Are you going to cool it? Insulation only slows down heat gain. It also slows down heat loss. If you unplug the fridge, it will equalize to ambient temp in 24 hours or less. Then it will take a lot of cycling to get to back to <40 degrees.

That little house will heat up by 11am on a hot summer day. And it will stay hot until night time. No insulation and it will more closely follow the temps of the day.

 

[KenB]

Try a roof/ridge vent at least.


Ken

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do thekids play in it during the winter ? Or are you sticking AC in it.

 

[hbud]

I'm putting in the insulation more for the winter time. Thinking about a small electric heater set at 50-60 degrees so the kids could get more use out of it in the winter time. I was told to not insulate right under the singles. Something about them getting to hot and buckling in the hot summer sun. No plans for AC, just opening the front and rear doors. If is to hot, they will only go out in the early mornings. Thanks.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What kind of venting does the roof have ? I would use that factor in deciding how to insulate it. If there is no venting, you could add some of these in the soffits or fascia.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...langId=-1&keyword=sioffit+vents&storeId=10051

Maybe stick a ridge vent on the top nut that would take replacing a few shingles.

 

[Zeke]

Shingles are designed to go over insulated cathedral roofs with no air circulation below the sheathing. This is not how you build if you can help it, but I've seen many. I've seen this in Las Vegas. It gets hot there.

However, if you wish, there are some pans you can install before the insulation. They are supposed to have an inlet at the eave and an exit at the ridge. This is ideal. As mentioned, not always done.
I suspect you only have 2 x 4's to install your insulation. If you are planning a finished ceiling, you can only get R13 up there. If you want to do a flat ceiling, you put the insulation on top of the ceiling, not on the roof structure. You can go as much as you want that way and have an open attic, vented or not.

 

[rsanter]

personally I would do the rigid foam panels and cut them for a snug fit and then panel over them. I would use the fiberglass in the walls

bob

 

[NUTTSGT]

personally I would do the rigid foam panels and cut them for a snug fit and then panel over them. I would use the fiberglass in the walls

bob

This is what I was going to get at for the ceiling. I wanted to make sure what he had for ventilation first. If I were doing it, I'd rip some 2x4 down to 1.5x1.5, screw them up inbetween the rafters. Then stick in 2" of rigid insulation to fit flush with rafters. It'll create a 1 1/2" gap to allow ventilation under the roof sheating.

 

[hbud]

I like the idea of the foam panels, leaving an air gap between the roof and the insulation. There is currently no ventalation on the bottom edge of the roof or the ridge cap. After the insulation is up, and if needed, I may add sofit vents and a ridge cap vent. Thanks for the replies.

 

[NUTTSGT]

No problem man, we're here to help.