Can I insulate an uninsulated storage building myself?

We often receive inquiries at Kroftman about whether it’s possible to insulate an uninsulated storage building yourself. For example, because you want to buy an E-500 storage building, which is only available as an uninsulated storage building. Or because you already have an uninsulated storage building and are going to use it for other purposes, for which insulation is necessary. Whatever your reason, we’re happy to tell you more about what’s possible. But also whether what’s possible is the best option.

1. Can I insulate the storage building myself?
2. What should I consider when insulating a storage building myself?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of insulating a storage building yourself?
4. Our advice on insulating a storage building yourself.

Can I insulate the storage building myself?

If you want to keep your storage building frost- and (as much as possible) condensation-free, then you can potentially insulate it yourself. However, we honestly say that it’s not an ideal solution. The construction of the storage building consists of box profiles, in the case of the E-series storage buildings, or C-profiles, in the case of the H-series storage buildings. These profiles are huge “thermal bridges.” The metal of the profiles conducts all the heat to the outside. These thermal bridges cause significant heat loss, requiring more heat to keep the storage building warm. To prevent this, you need to not only install insulation between the trusses of the structure but also around the trusses themselves. Don’t forget about the roof either. A lot of heat is lost here too and will also need to be insulated. If you have uninsulated light panels, you will need to replace them with insulated light panels or closed, insulated roof panels. Using only closed roof panels will result in loss of daylight. Another significant thermal bridge is the roller door. If you have a roller door, you will need to replace it with an overhead door. Insulating a storage building yourself is possible but very laborious. Additionally, you will always have gaps and holes that are difficult to seal. For the H-series storage building, there is another option. Namely, to replace the entire uninsulated shell with a new, insulated shell. This lies on the outside of the structure. You won’t have to deal with gaps in this case.

What should I consider when insulating a storage building myself?

To insulate the storage building yourself, you can mount insulation panels (e.g., EPS, PIR, Styrodur®, Isover®, Fastfixx®, sandwich panel) snugly between the steel tubes of the frame. The ideal panel thickness is equal to the depth of the steel profiles. The construction drawing of your storage building indicates the depth. You can finish the insulation material with wooden or gypsum boards. Do not use metal to finish the insulation material, as it creates another thermal bridge. After installing the insulation material and cladding, the seams must be properly taped or sealed with caulking. For better insulation value, it’s preferable to insulate the steel profiles as well. Due to the remaining “thermal bridges” and the uninsulated roller door and light panels, the storage building is less suitable for strong heating. If you also want to insulate the roof, two things are important:

1. Snow load: The maximum permissible snow load must be reduced by the weight of the roof insulation. You can calculate this in this blog.
2. Condensation: If you apply insulation material to the underside of the uninsulated metal roof panels, the dew point shifts. It moves inside the storage building, just below the roof panels and in the insulation material. The dew point is the temperature at which the air can no longer absorb moisture and the moisture will condense. If this occurs between the roof cladding and the insulation material, the moisture cannot escape. The insulation material becomes wet and can mold. You can prevent this by covering the insulation material on the inside of the storage building with a vapor barrier. This prevents the moisture in the (warmer indoor) air from reaching the insulation material and the roof panels. This prevents condensation.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of insulating a storage building yourself?

The advantages and disadvantages depend on the situation. Below, we outline some situations.

1. You already have an uninsulated H-series storage building that you want to insulate
You bought an uninsulated H-series storage building from us in the past. You now want to use the storage building for a different purpose and need an insulated storage building for that. In that case, it’s more cost-effective to replace the old wall and roof panels with insulated panel material instead of buying a new insulated storage building. If Kroftman still sells the same type of storage building, you can order the insulated wall, roof, and light panels from us in the correct size. We also recommend replacing the roller door with an overhead door. You can also order this from us. The big advantage of this approach is that you can reuse the storage buildings’ structure. The downside is that you’ll need to replace all the panel material and the roller door. You’ll also need matching finishing profiles and screws for the thicker, insulated panel material.

2. You have an E-series storage building and want to insulate it
You have an E-series storage building or are considering buying one and plan to insulate it yourself. An E-series storaeg building is only available in an uninsulated version. We buy these storage buildings in large quantities at a very competitive price. You can see this reflected in the low purchase price of these storage buildings. It may be a financially attractive option to choose this cheap storage building and invest in insulating it yourself. The downside is that it’s a big job to insulate all the thermal bridges in the storage building and seal all the gaps and holes properly. You’ll also need to replace the roller door with an overhead door to retain heat effectively. The advantage is that it’s likely cheaper to insulate the E-series storage building yourself than to buy a (small) insulated H-series storage building. We advise you to research this thoroughly beforehand. Building materials are not cheap, and the result is less than if you buy an already insulated storage building. Consider whether an insulated H6-series storage building, which is only 30 centimeters wider than the E-series, might be a better alternative for you.

3. You want to apply a thicker insulation layer
At Kroftman, we sell insulated wall and roof panels that are 40 mm thick. We do not (yet) sell other thicknesses. If you want a thicker insulation layer, you can consider applying it yourself. You have several options here. You can apply the insulation material to the outside of the storage buildings’ structure. In this case, you replace the 40 mm thick insulated cladding with thicker cladding. Another option is to apply thicker insulation material to the existing insulated wall cladding. You need to make sure to insulate all the thermal bridges properly. You’ll also need new finishing profiles to seal the gaps properly. The disadvantages are that the thick walls reduce the interior space of the storage building. It’s also an expensive solution and of lesser quality because it’s very difficult to make airtight connections.

Our advice on insulating a storage building yourself

Our advice is, if you want an insulated storage building, preferably order it in the insulated version. The quality of an insulated storage building is better than if you insulate an uninsulated storage building yourself. All components of an insulated storage building are designed beforehand to fit together seamlessly (with correct installation). With the E-series storage building, you don’t have the option to order it in an insulated version. You can insulate it yourself, but the quality will be lower than with an already insulated (H-series) storage building.

In that case, consider an insulated H600-series storage building, which is only 30 centimeters wider than the H-series storage building. This may be a good alternative for you. Compare the price differences between an insulated and uninsulated storage building in our quotation tool, completely without obligation.

We hope the above information helps you make a well-informed decision. If you want to know exactly what the storage building of your choice costs, fill out our quotation tool without obligation. In the last question, enter your postal code and select the option “add assembly” if desired. You will receive a quote by email showing the assembly and transport costs for your storage building at a glance. You can create multiple quotes and select different options to compare.

Do you still have questions? We’re happy to help further.