Insulate the garden house: this is how you insulate the floor, facade and roof

A garden shed on the property is exposed to all sorts of weather conditions throughout the year exposed, from snow to wind to temperatures over 30°C, which really affects the building can clog. Depending on use, it may be necessary to insulate the cottage to prevent weather damage. It is important to equip the floor, facade and roof with insulation for all-round protection.

preparations

Insulating your garden shed provides numerous benefits, from storing heat to protecting against excess moisture and the consequent mold growth. In order for the insulation to be applied efficiently, some preparations are necessary, which will facilitate the entire process and lead to the desired result.

insulation

One of the most important elements for this is of course the selection of the right insulation material that is to be used here. The following insulating materials are suitable for use in the garden shed:

foam boards

Rigid foam panels are the classic among insulating materials. They are made in different thicknesses and fabrics, of which the following are the most suitable for the garden shed:

• Styrodur
• Jackodur

These are not only water-repellent and thermally insulating, but also durable and can be cut perfectly to the size of the walls and floor. Although these materials are a bit more expensive to buy, they are only recommended due to the specialization in thermal insulation and weather resistance, even soil moisture. In addition, they are not harmful to groundwater. Perfect for people with little knowledge in this area.

• Costs: 50 – 60 euros for 10 m² x 30 mm

perlite

This substance is natural volcanic rock that is offered in two processing forms:

• groundfill
• plates

A big advantage of the fabric is the combination of effective thermal insulation and fire resistance. You get the necessary amount for the floor fill from the width x length x height of the necessary insulation. This means that with a summer house with a length and width of 500 centimeters and the height of the foundation wood of 5 centimetres, you will end up with a total volume of 1,250 litres.

• Costs: around 13 euros for 100 l fill, around 35 euros for a slab measuring 2 m² x 5 cm thick

natural substances

other natural substances that are firmly established as insulating materials can also be used:

• wood wool
• mineral wool
• hemp fibers

These are offered either pressed as a board or filler, but it is not as easy to lay as, for example, the insulation boards.

• Costs: between 5 – 13 euros per m²

You can find all of these insulation materials at hardware stores, online, or in specialty stores. Before ordering, be sure to measure the dimensions of your garden shed so that you don't order too much or too little insulating material.

Necessary tools and materials

• Sealants, for example silicone
• sealing strips for windows and doors
• vapor barrier
• foundation timbers
• jigsaw
• face mask and work gloves
• Cordless drill and suitable screws
• Director
• staple gun
• Angle or wood connector
• styrofoam glue

Before you start installing the insulation, you should check the summerhouse for possible damage that could allow moisture or cold to get in. Depending on the degree of damage, the area in question must be touched up before you start installing the insulation. Remember: the thicker the panels, the more effective the insulation, but the more work and the potential loss of a few centimeters of space in the greenhouse. It can also happen that the floor is raised by the insulation.

isolate ground

The floor is the most important part of the entire garden shed when it comes to insulation, as the cold and dampness of the floor greatly affects the integrity of the garden shed. In addition, a lack of floor insulation is the biggest cause of cool temperatures in the garden house. Before you can lay the insulation, you have to remove the formwork, i.e. the floorboards or boards. Insulation boards or granules are used for the floor, not the natural materials. Proceed as follows:

1. Most often, after dismantling the formwork, you will come across a foundation made of wood, which raises the floor from the earth. If you have one Garden house without a foundation you will have to install it yourself before you can start with the insulation. These are often garden houses with a concrete or stone floor.
2. To do this, cut the foundation wood according to the width of the garden house and lay them at regular intervals. This is also necessary when using perlite granules. Fix them with a stainless metal angle connector and check that the wood has been laid straight.
3. Then lay the vapor barrier. To do this, spread them out over the entire floor and press them firmly onto the wood at every corner and ledge. Leave as few gaps and creases as possible as this will increase the effect. More than one pair of hands is much better for this. Now staple the foil thoroughly to the wood.
4. The insulating material is now cut to size. To do this, use the space between the foundation timbers and cut them 2 – 3 mm shorter. This prevents the insulating material from bulging. Use a jigsaw for this and don't forget to wear a face mask and work gloves. Also make sure that the height of the panels must have a small gap to the floorboards so that the air can circulate better. About two centimeters are ideal here.
5. Any gaps between the insulating material and the wood are then sealed with silicone or another sealing material. Then let it dry completely.
6. If you use granules, this is simply poured between the wood. Make sure to leave as few gaps as possible.
7. You can now apply a second vapor control layer, but this is not necessary.
8. Finally, assemble the floorboards.

insulate the roof

There are two insulation options for the roof:

• inside over the rafters
• outside with over-rafter insulation

Depending on what kind of garden house roof you have, one of the two methods is better. In the case of flat roofs, it is usually recommended to install over-rafter insulation, as insulation is even more important on these. Insulation boards are preferably used for roof insulation, since ground fill is only possible on flat roofs outdoors.
Proceed as follows:

With internal insulation

• Line and fix the rafters with a vapor barrier
• Measure the panels, cut them to size and glue them to the inside of the roof with styrofoam glue
• Fill gaps with sealant
• then line it with a second piece of foil
• Depending on your wishes, the roof can be designed decoratively from the inside

With external insulation

• first lay the foundation timber as a frame around the roof and fix it with screws
• then the intermediate timbers follow
• now follow the same steps you used to insulate the floor
• glue the plates to the foil
• then the insulation is covered with foil
• don't forget the pages
• finally you can finish the roof as you wish, for example with attractive shingles

Insulate facade

Insulating the facade is time-consuming and exhausting. A multi-layer system is used for this:

• isolate inside with natural materials
• Insulate outside with insulating boards

This stores heat and improves air circulation in the interior. For the outside area, proceed as you would with the roof or floor and then cover the insulation with plaster, wood or even stone, whichever you prefer. Of course, don't forget the vapor barriers and the elimination of thermal bridges. Insulating the interior walls is basically the same, except again you need to be careful to leave an air gap between the formwork and the insulation. This is the only way the room can breathe and better regulate humidity.

Windows and doors

If you are tackling the interior facade, it is important to pay attention to the cut-outs for windows and doors when cutting to size. Measure them precisely and cut them out. After attaching the insulation layer, proceed as follows:

• Joints are repaired with silicone
• Sealing tapes provide additional protection against the cold

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