Do I Need Insulation in My Structure?

What is Insulation?

Insulation is a common method to slow down heat transfer, making your structures stay warmer in colder weather and cooler in warmer weather. The main goal of insulation is to keep you comfortable in your space, without the need for an electrical conditioning unit. If your space does have a conditioning unit, insulation helps keep the heat or cool air inside, preventing drafts and hot or cold spots.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

To keep you comfortable in your structure, insulation aids in keeping your inside surfaces close to room temperature and controlling condensation, which in turn will prevent rust, rot, and mold. When your space is temperature-controlled with insulation, it can reduce heating and cooling costs when your area has a conditioning unit, as well as improve the temperature to be more suitable for year-round use. Insulation can also reduce drafts and hot or cold spots in living or storage spaces.

The best part about insulation is how it can cut heating and cooling costs and save energy because it helps trap the heat or cold inside, giving your conditioning unit a break from running – if you have one in your structure.  Finally, having your space insulated will reduce noise from the outdoors, like rain, wind, or neighbors. If your space is used for relaxation, work, or a hobby, this can be a huge plus since your space will be quiet from outside noise, letting you relax or focus more. Look at the inside of this home gym below, letting you relax inside without the loud outside noise once the glass doors are closed.

As many advantages insulation has, there are a few disadvantages to be aware of before making any decisions. For starters, insulation isn’t always necessary, such as a basic storage shed that is holding tools and outdoor equipment. Insulation is recommended more often for structures that you will be inside of for some time, rather than quickly running into a storage shed to grab a tool. Although, depending on what you plan to keep in your structure, insulation may be a great choice to keep your valuables in better shape and less prone to damage or mold. Some insulation types may also reduce your interior square footage slightly. Considering the cost of insulation and interior wall finish will add extra costs and labor to your project, which will be highlighted below in the types of insulation Stoltzfus Structures offers.

Types of Insulation

We offer two types of insulation, Spray Foam and Fiberglass. There are benefits to each, but our staff feels that Spray Foam has a few more than Fiberglass, due to its overall quality and ability to slow down heat transfer. Fiberglass has a lower cost – $2.50 less per square foot than Spray Foam – and is most common for frame walls. Although this insulation needs great air sealing, as air leaks can reduce performance. This insulation is also very easy to replace if any air leaks were to occur.

Spray Foam insulation offers better air sealing, great moisture resistance, better fire resistance, and doesn’t sag over time. Check out this post to see this insulation and what temperature-controlled spaces you can create with insulation included in your structure. This insulation is considered closed-cell, which has a superior air and structural seal, rather than less effective open-cell insulation types.

Insulation is measured by its amount of R-value, which measures how well insulation resists heat flow. This Spray Foam insulation that we recommend has a high R-value per inch, making it a strong and reliable type for your structures. The downfall of Spray Foam insulation is the higher cost, although this can easily be justified by the saved energy and money from not running your conditioning unit as much, if one is present in your structure. Watch this video to see what our spray foam insulation looks like right after it’s been applied to a structure.

Both options are great for insulating a space. If you wish to keep your costs down, consider going with the Fiberglass insulation, although if you would like a higher quality insulation, look into our Spray Foam insulation for your structure.

Which Structures Need Insulation?

Deciding whether to add insulation to your structure is ultimately up to you, but our recommendation relies heavily on what structure you are looking to purchase. If you are looking at our Outdoor Retreats, a temperature-controlled environment will leave you more comfortable and make your interior furniture or valuables less likely to mold or rot from unwanted condensation. Our Home Office, Home Gym, She Shed, Man Cave, Sauna, Sunroom, Star Gazer, and Golf Shed are all structures that most will spend some time in, besides just going to grab something from a basic storage shed, so having a comfortable space for all seasons is recommended. Contact us to see what other structures you could possibly add insulation to.

One of our clients wanted a temperature-controlled space for her she shed, which she had made into a craft and sewing space. Check out her gorgeous space below and what her experience was working with Stoltzfus Structures.

Check out more images of the exterior and interior of this featured project.

If you have any other ideas for a space you would like to create with one of the structures, don’t hesitate to reach out about insulation questions. We strive to create your dream structure and are always open to hearing new ideas!

Contact us or call our team – 610-593-7700 – to connect about outdoor retreats, insulation, or any other structures where you are looking to get more details.

About The Author

Jada Morris

Recently graduated from college, I take advantage of having more free time and spend those moments catching up on my love of reading, brainstorming ideas for design projects, and spending time with my family, friends, and furry companions. I have two Golden Retrievers that are complete opposites, one who has enough energy to run three marathons a day if he could, and the other who would be happy to stay in bed all day! I might relate a bit more to the later but am always up for an adventure.