I'm wanting to insulate my trapping shed this year. What I was planning on doing was just foam boards in between the studs, but I am not sure how good R-5 will do. My other option would be rolled insulation, but I was wondering if it is necessary to cover it with OSB or bead board. I'm just looking for recommendations on what I should do or what anyone else has done. Thanks in advance.

I am a big fan of spray foam.

Not much more than buying it by the sheet, is done in minutes, insulates and seals better, and does not leave any cavities of any kind for mice and bugs to live in.

I also feel like since it seals so well you can get away with using less and get just about the same performance out of thinner material. I have a guy with a tow behind spray foam trailer, and he is very good and fast.

Hutchy, what kind would you think is best/easiest to install? I forgot to mention that this shed is only 10x16.

You might find that no one wants to get their equipment dirty for such a small spray job. Personally, I think spray foam is the best but on a job that small you'll be better off with fiberglass IMO. Foam board, in order to be effective, must fit perfectly. Easier to do that with glass with a lot less waste and less labor. If the shed is framed with 2x6 you can get R21 glass batts or rolls

Thats the other problem I have ran into. Its framed with 2x4s on 24 inch centers, and I cant find fiberglass that size that isn't really expensive. This is why I was going to use foam board and seal it on the edges with spray foam. I would do complete spray foam myself if I didn't have to cover it, but I am not sure where to get it.

I’d go with the batt insulation, easy install, good r value. Cover with plywood, tin, paneling, whatever you have laying around.

Menards sells a spray foam kit that they claim covers 650 SQ feet 1" thick for about $750. That $1.15 a sq foot for 1 inch spray. I checked into having a shop sprayed fall and it was over twice as much as roll insulation cost. I was told that it gives you R-5 per inch. Pink foam two inches thick gives R-10 and is $1 a sq foot. Pink foam cut to fit would be a good option to me. I put in 1 1/2 pink and sealed with small cans of spray foam and 6" of glass over it. That will give me R-26.5 in the walls according to what they print. Being from TN I would not think you need that.

Manards has Guardian R-13 Kraft Faced Fiberglass Insulation Roll 23" x 32' (61.3 sq. ft.) for $19.99 a roll. You should need 12 rolls if it is a 8 foot wall. If you think that is expensive wait until you see the price of 13 sheets of plywood. Then you have to do the ceiling too.

MJM, the plywood is exactly why I want something on there that I don't necessarily have to cover. I checked prices on just 1/4 in plywood and its like 14 bucks a sheet.

I have also thought of just doing a radiant barrier inside if you guys think that would work.

If it’s for drying fur I would not insulate it a small kerosene heater will keep it warm enough to work fur. Insulated will keep the air very moist for drying taking longer to dry

bad time to build , good luck

Is the ceiling insulated ?? If not, I would do that before I worried about the walls in your climate

ROXUL would be my insulation of choice. It's made from mineral and won't burn and getting wet doesn't bother it like fiberglass. no vapor barrier needed. Fiberglass once it's gets wet it looses R value. 6" of ROXUL has an R value of R23.

I had 3 inches of spray foam on the roof and side walls, then I put OSB on the side walls. I put baseboard heat with a digital thermostat in and I think you could heat this with a match I can set it at 60 or 62 and it stays right there. I put ceiling fans in to move air when drying fur. I added a dehumidifier that only comes on when it needs to. I am very happy with the set up.

spray foam is great but see if anyone will do it in such a small job

then price out R19 fiberglass craft backed assuming your shed is 16 on center you staple it to the inside of the studs only tool you need is a staple gun and a big scissors to cut the roll

fit that in every where you can

I took the circular saw to a roll of left over house wrap and made it about 18 inches then I can staple that over the craft backing leaving a mostly white , extra layer of vapor barrier but yet still breathable some .
this is also stapled to the inside of the stud , when I can I am adding sheeting my walls

I used roll insulation on walls and up next to ceiling. My building is 28+30 with ten foot ceilngs and no finished ceiling up to peak . So attic is all open. I have a wall mounted propane heater but also have a heat/ air cond thru the wallunit. The wall unit is set on 58 to keep it warm in really cold temps and it runs very little. I turn on propane if I'm up therer much but a tank last (120 lb) 4 plus years. You can see in this pic how it was done. Took 1 guy and his 12 year old son about 7 hrs to do the entire building. Staple HAMMER and utility knife.

We used cardboard in ours like sheathing when I was a kid and it was free and seemed to do the job in a space about the same as you have. Always heard dead air is as good a insulation as you can get

I'd ask for a refund!

Buck77, if you can afford it, do spray foam.
You can buy a kit from menards or similar and do it yourself.
Easy to do but may not be real Purdy.
Mice and bugs are kept out if all other things are looked into.

Pink 2"