Even if you are on a tight budget, there are numerous ways to insulate your shed economically using various types of insulation. Each type offers unique benefits and can be tailored to your specific needs. Some of the methods require the cheapest cost but can still offer great offers.
The following list shows you how to insulate a shed for free using easy-to-find and budget-friendly materials, along with their benefits and drawbacks.
5 Free materials for Shed Insulation
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap insulation is not only the most basic and cost-effective option on this list but also remarkably effective when applied properly to the walls and ceiling of your shed. Although achieving perfect efficiency with free materials is a challenge, bubble wrap stands out as a surprisingly viable option to reduce heat loss, especially when paired with other materials.
That being said, it doesn’t provide as effective insulation in isolation as other materials listed here. That being said, it’s still quite effective, especially if you use it conjointly with fabric with a harder texture like hardboard.
Polyisocyanurate (PIR) Board
The PIR board, known commercially as Celotex, serves as an excellent spray foam insulation alternative for sheds. Made from rigid, closed-cell foam, it excels in insulating floors, roofs, and walls, ensuring your shed remains well-protected against the elements. Though it may be on the pricier side among free materials, its availability and effectiveness make it a worthwhile consideration.
As it is a popular material, you won’t have a hard time finding a PIR board, but you still need to find one with a suitable size as the frame of your shed. It does carry advantages, but it falls into the more expensive side of this list.
Breathable Membranes
Also known as breather membranes, this material has water-resistant yet air-permeable qualities. This material is commonly used for roofs, external walls, and even around doors and windows, as it can prevent moisture from seeping while improving ventilation inside the building.
Fiberglass Roll
Fiberglass roll, made from recycled glass, is environmentally friendly and an efficient form of fiberglass insulation for sheds. Its installation is straightforward and rapid, appealing to those looking for quick insulation solutions.
Read also: What Is Roof Sheathing?
The intrinsic air pockets within fiberglass rolls prevent it from shrinking, maintaining its form and effectiveness over time, although it should be kept dry to retain its insulating properties.
This means fiberglass roll is a cost-effective material investment. However, it has a drawback, where its ability to provide insulation is reduced when exposed to water. The micro-glass slivers it contains are also potentially damaging if inhaled.
Plasterboard
Plasterboard can be an ideal insulation material for a small shed because it enhances the walls’ thermal performance without eliminating plenty of space inside. It can be installed by using simple materials and tools like glue, nails, and screws.
Despite being practical and inexpensive, plasterboard offers aesthetic value to the shed because it looks like plywood.
If you ask what ideal insulation material to use on your shed, it depends mainly on which section of the shed you plan to insulate and your budget. It may also depend on the current insulated condition of the shed. However, the material options provided in the list above will suffice just well.
