Insulating My Shop
How I Insulated My Shop: A Winter Project to Keep the Cold at Bay
We recently moved to a new property, and with it came the perfect space for my workshop—a 22x30 shop that I get to spend a lot of time in (Check out the gallery to see why!). While I love the space, there’s one thing that’s not so enjoyable: the winter cold. Living where we do means freezing temperatures, and I knew I had to make the shop more comfortable, especially during the colder months.
Why Insulate?
When I first assessed the shop, I realized that while the ceiling had a condensation barrier insulation, the walls were bare. It gets cold here, and the metal walls can cause a lot of condensation over time. Not only does this make the shop uncomfortable, but it can also lead to rust and other long-term problems if left unchecked.
The goal isn’t just to keep the shop warm—it’s about preventing condensation and stabilizing the temperature to keep everything in good shape. The insulation I chose has an R-value of 7, which is a great start. But ultimately, I'm aiming for a higher R-value once everything is finished. This step is about building a solid foundation for the insulation, and making sure the metal siding doesn’t lead to bigger problems down the road.
Getting Started: Picking Up the Insulation
The first step in this process was picking up the insulation rolls. It's a bit different from traditional wall insulation, as it's mainly meant to address condensation rather than temperature control. But still, every bit helps when it comes to keeping the shop more comfortable.
Prepping the Insulation
Before I started tearing down the siding, I wanted to get the insulation ready to install. For each wall section, I pre-cut pieces to match the height of the space I was working on. For example, the south wall of the shop is 30 feet long and 10 feet high, so I pre-cut 5 pieces at 10 feet long each.
Removing the Siding
Once the insulation was prepped, I was ready to begin removing the metal siding. This is where things got a little labor-intensive, but manageable. I used my trusty DeWalt Impact Driver with a 1/4” Nut Driver bit to remove hundreds of screws. As I was taking the siding off, I made sure to keep track of the screws and washers so I could reuse them. Unfortunately, I lost a few washers along the way, but thankfully, I had some extra lying around the shop.
Tip: When working solo, start with the top screws first (the hardest to reach). Then, work your way down to the bottom rows, and finish with the middle rows. This way, you can hold the panels in place while unscrewing the remaining screws, avoiding the risk of having the panel fall on you.
Inside the Shop: A Peek at the Work in Progress
Once the siding was off, I couldn't resist snapping a quick photo of the view inside the shop. It was definitely a strange sight! I briefly thought about adding a window right there in that spot, but I have bigger plans for that area down the road. For now, I’ll just enjoy the view while working on the other parts of the shop!
Installing the Insulation
Now it was time to install the insulation, and honestly, I was surprised at how easy the process was. I don’t know what the “industry standard” is for this step, but I have to say, the method I used worked like a charm.
Here's what I did:
I started by holding the piece of insulation against the top of the wall and stapling it into place along the top 2x6.
Once the top row of staples was in, I worked my way down the wall, making sure each piece of insulation was square and flush with the edge or the adjacent piece.
As I went along, I stapled into each 2x6 to secure the insulation, ensuring it was as flat as possible.
The result? A clean, professional-looking install that I’m really proud of.
Reinstalling the Siding
Once the insulation was all in place, it was time to reinstall the siding. I decided to switch things up a bit during this part of the process. Instead of waiting until all the insulation was installed and then putting up the siding, I started doing it in stages—installing a piece of insulation, then putting up one or two panels of siding.
This method had a couple of benefits:
It made the process feel faster for some reason.
It helped hold the insulation in place, especially when the wind picked up (and trust me, it picks up!).
One Wall Done, Three to Go!
With the south wall complete, I could already feel the difference inside the shop. And that’s just from one wall! It’s going to be a game-changer once I get all four walls done and move on to adding more insulation. But for now, I’m very happy with the results.
Here’s a quick look at the insulation from the inside of the shop.
Key Takeaways from the Project:
It’s not as hard as I thought. While time-consuming, the process was relatively straightforward. The hardest part is really just removing the siding and getting everything prepped.
Cut the insulation an inch or so short at the top and bottom. This makes it much easier to install the siding panels afterward.
Buy extra screws and washers. You will definitely lose some during the process, and having spares on hand makes life a lot easier.
If you need to insulate a metal-sided shop, go for it! It’s well worth the effort and will make your space more comfortable, especially in the winter months.
Next Steps:
Now that the first wall is done, I’ve got three more to go before I start framing and adding even more insulation. Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll dive into the next phase of this project—framing and upgrading the insulation to create an even more comfortable workshop!
Final Thoughts
Insulating a metal shop may seem like a big job, but with a little prep and patience, it's totally manageable. And the benefits—less condensation, more comfort, and a workshop that's better suited for cold winter days—make it all worth it. Thanks for following along with me on this project.
Check my YouTube Chanel for a full video on this project!
