Hey everyone it’s been quite awhile since I’ve been in here as life has taken me in a million different directions but it still looks the same and I hope everyone is doing well. I’m currently converting a 12x20 shed into my woodworking workshop and I need some help. I want to insulate the shed and put up some paneling to help keep it comfortable in there while I’m working. I’m planning to use the R15 faced insulation and I’m not sure if I need a vapor barrier between the insulation and the outside walls? I’m also looking to insulate the ceiling but is there something special I need to do for that? The building has two vents in the peak one at each end and there are four windows and a set of double doors. I won’t be heating/cooling except for when I’m inside. I’m not trying to make this a live able space but more so comfortable and without mold building up I’m the walls from condensation. I’m open to any all ideas so feel free to throw them at me.
Don’t need a vapor barrier. I’d do my best to keep the ceiling insulation from touching the roof sheeting just to help prevent ice buildup
I’ll be using some Roxul that I have too I don’t know if that makes a difference? Also how do I put insulation batts in the ceiling without touching the roof?
In a house with soffit vents, these are needed to hold the insulation down above the exterior wall where space can be tight. The gap allows cold soffit air to flow through and cool the underside of the roof. Not sure it’s as beneficial in your case without having soffit vents, but at least the insulation wouldn’t be touching the sheeting. That air gap would at least slow the heat transfer and slow the ice buildup. Either way, it’s just a shed. If you we’re heating it up several times per week I’d try and do it a little better than if it were only 2-3 times per month
vapor barrier on the heated side - even if you had no heat an enclosed building tends to be warmer inside than out just from solar gain and heat retention Where you are further south I would NOT add an additional (thin film) vapor barrier between the wall and the insulation as is common further north due to the A/C and potential condensate build-up on the barrier. Use a vapor barrier paint on the wall finish if you want a better vapor barrier for the A/C, in fact some people recommend this as the only vapor barrier where A/C is used more frequently than heat.
