Rather than serving only as a storage place, wooden cabins can become rooms in their own right to create a workshop, an office or a leisure area. But to tinker, work or relax all year round, it is still necessary to properly insulate this type of shelter in order to limit the temperature drop during the cold season. This will also protect your tools or belongings from moisture, cold and even heat in summer.

Insulating walls

Several materials can allow you to insulate your shed. Glass wool or rock wool are suitable solutions, both quite economical and easy to install. Linen wool or hemp wool are ecological and efficient. Let's also mention polystyrene, which insulates effectively while being quite thin (so ideal not to lose too much space).

For more practicality, choose insulation in the form of rolls or panels.
Measure, cut to the right size and place them between the poles of the shelter. Then add a vapour barrier, which will prevent moisture from seeping into the insulation and making it moldy. On top, finally lay the chosen interior cladding (wood panels, paneling, metal plates, etc.).

Good to know: leaving a small layer of air between the insulating layer and the coating reinforces the thermal insulation.

Insulate the roof

The roof is the surface most exposed to the weather and the sun. It can be isolated during or after the shelter is built.

During assembly, start by placing a vapour barrier film on top of the plates that form the roof. Then insert rock wool between the rafters, always starting at the bottom of the roof. If you have opted for thin insulation, unroll it on the roof, then staple it, simply.

Then install an under-roof screen that will protect the interior of the room against water ingress, snow infiltration, dust, etc. Finally, affix over OSB (oriented wood slat board) or chipboard plates, which will accommodate the roof covering.

Insulate the floor

Cold and humidity also pass through the soil. If your wooden garden shed is not yet built, consider raising it to improve insulation. If you already have a concrete slab, attach joists (pieces of wood that are similar to a cinder block, rafters or cleat) in a spaced and regular manner, build your shelter and insulate the space between the slab and the floor of the cabin. For good performance, select a coating that is at least 50 mm thick.

If the shelter is already in place, you can use hard insulation (such as extruded polystyrene or biofibre tiles), to be placed directly on the floor, which will then be covered with a floating parquet floor for example.

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If you prefer a fixed and more stable floor, install joists in a grid and insert the insulation between them. The floor can then be fixed directly on the cleats.

Tips to improve insulation

Apart from the structural work, a few tips can maximize the insulation of a wooden shelter. For windows and openings, consider double glazing or overglazing film. Check the windows and door tightness, and caulk drafts with expansive foam. Finally, do not forget to install shutters for periods of extreme cold or rain.

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