Dear Tiffany,
Thank you for accompanying me walking around the neighborhood.
You asked me to show you different options for keeping your shed cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Here are the perspectives on how I approach this issue.
How can we apply insulation?
In the old days, the maximum resistance to heat flow (R-value) was limited by the depth of studs and ceiling joists when building a platform framing house. It wasn't until the mid-1970s, the desirable R-value could be reached by simply filling the available voids in the framing.
There are three general ways of insulating masonry walls: on the outside face, within the wall, and on the interior face.
What choices do we have?
Option 1: The outside face of the wall
Your shed uses CMU blocks (concrete masonry units). In many cases, the EIFS (exterior insulation and finishing system) is used for insulating the existing masonry structure because that method is easy to apply without altering the existing building elevation. EIFS are panels of rigid insulation covered by thin layers of polymeric stucco reinforced with glass fiber mesh. You can often see this material at a suburban shopping mall.
Option 2: Within the wall
We can use a polystyrene foam inserted inside the CMU cavity. Korfil insert, for example, is the proprietary concrete masonry system designed with polystyrene foam inserts to provide a high degree of thermal insulation.
We can also insulate the CMU core by pouring dry-fill insulation, such as vermiculite. The insulation is noncombustible, inorganic, non-settling, and treated to repel water. So that can prevent the CMU block from condensation or leakage.
Option 3: Interior side of the wall
On the other hand, this shed is located at the corner of the backyard, abutting the fence of the south and west ends' neighbors. It seems challenging to access the southwestern corner and install the insulation panels.
We can insulate the shed by attaching wood or metal furring strips to the interior side of the masonry wall. Metal furring strips are ideal because they isolate clips that minimize thermal conduction through the metal. The furring strips also created space for electrical wiring to be easily concealed.
Thermal Insulation and Vapor Retarder
The property is in the climate zone 4A. It is considered a cold climate, and condensation occurs when the interior temperature exceeds the exterior.
The batt insulation panels mentioned above are often furnished with a vapor retarder layer of treated paper or aluminum foil. These membranes are placed on the warm side of thermal insulation to prevent water vapor from entering the insulation and condensing into liquid.
With proper insulation, the shed would likely maintain a consistent humidity level and avoid moisture buildup, and you do not need to worry about your collections inside.
I hope this helps.
Your affectionate friend,
Hepburn
Oh, by the way…
By the way, if you think all these options are too costly. Try to keep your shed well-insulated by adding insulation at the roof level.
There are two common types of thermal insulating materials for wood light-frame structures. Glass fiber batts are the most popular type of insulation between rafter cavities, and loose-fill insulation and sprayed-on foam insulation are also gaining popularity in the market when there is platform underneath roof structure.
Last update: 8/25/2024