Insulating Shed Roof Trusses

In addition to the lean to shed there is a gable shed roof.

Insulating shed roof trusses.

Each roof style has some different insulating challenges. You can insulate your shed roof to enhance more energy savings but make sure that you insulate the roof properly. A roof is like a hat. Because of limited space between the roof sheathing and ceiling joists a low slope shed roof can be difficult to insulate properly.

Insulating a shed roof is typically done using insulation below the roof deck and between the rafters. Care is needed to ensure that there is sufficient ventilation space between the underside of the roof deck and the top of the insulation. It keeps everything under it warm. The truss sides will be equal in length and width to fit equally on the shed walls.

This roof is more complex because of the two different angles with the roof. In this energy smart homes article senior editor martin holladay explains how to insulate a vented low slope shed roof using a combination of intake vents and cupolas. Hi they make thin foam pieces that you staple to the inside of the roof sheating before you put the insulation up. These foam pieces are as wide as the rafter spacing and form a channel for air to flow between the top of the insulation and the roof sheathing.

Cut batt or blanket insulation that has an attached vapor barrier an r 20 or greater value and a thickness of about 6 inches to fit the spaces between roof trusses inside the shed. In areas with a cold climate part of the year r38 is the minimum and r50 is recommended. Keep in mind also that the longest lasting shed roofs are usually made of such metals as aluminum steel or copper. The minimum rating of r38 in a roof requires some creative planning in the roof design of a new shed with 2 x6 minimum roof construction.