I'm going to build a small insulated heated and cooled storage building for my daughter's mice and rabbits. She can't successfully bread them in the winter outside the offspring freeze.

She will quickly out grow the building in a year or so but it will buy me time to save up to build a heated barn for her. Once she I'ds not using it I will turn part of it into a walk in cooler.

I'm debating 2x4 or 2x6 walls 2x6 alowing for more insulation and how to insulate the floor. I was thinking maybe some blue board sandwiched between 2 layers of plywood in the floor. Then there is what type off insulation in the walls.

What do you think, do, and why?

what are you using for footings?

portable shed or on piers or cement floor?

The difference between 2x4” and 2x6” construction when I built my house in 2010 was only $300 . I don’t know how much more the blown in insulation was . I would bet it has paid for itself many times over. But the insulation you pick can make or break your project. Rolled fiberglass insulation is almost worthless by today’s standards. Contractors without equipment will swear it’s just as good because they don’t want to loose the job. You will be the looser if you don’t use blown in cellulose or spray foam. That being said if your going to turn this into a walk in cooler the spray foam would be the way to go simply because of the moisture associated with a cooler.

2x6 hands down. Also, if you are thinking of using the space as a walk in cooler some day............I would spray foam the whole thing. Far more efficient insulation than glass or blueboard

Portable shed on rased gravel pad

Bi was thinking a floating vinyl on the floor.

given the moisture from a walk-in cooler I would say spray foam

an expanding foam to fill under the floor

Seen somewhere lumber prices are going up soon don’t dally on the supplies if that prediction is correct.

Next week once I get a material list together.

Spray in is great unless there you are going to run wires in the walls. The spray on is double even triple price of batted insulation. MOST companies will charge you for the entire drum even if you only need 1/3 of it. If you use 2x4 you can still use r-19 in walls. I did on both sides of my building and she shed.... ceiling fan is a big help. But in heat remember it pushes hot air down.My building cools better if I leave ceiling fans off in really high temps..

Spray foam would be nice if I could do it myself but probably over kill on a 10x12 yard barn to have someone come do it.

And you will pay extra for rolled insulation for the life of the building. Used to be you could rent a machine for blown in , you can add water and or glue for easier application.

Lot of Amish around here with the spray foam business...very reasonable prices compared to their 'English' counterparts. Not sure if you have those options in your area.

We have some Amish I wouldn't call their prices I have see "good" they seem to get a premium playing up the "Amish" craftsmanship, gardening, wholesome, gig. People seem to be bragging when they got it from the Amish or had the Amish build it. My electrician friend said their buildings well its not who he had build his.

Lots of good info online about building diy walk in coolers, which is basically what you’re doing. 2x6 only makes sense for the minimal extra it will cost. Don’t forget ventilation.

We have some Amish I wouldn't call their prices I have see "good" they seem to get a premium playing up the "Amish" craftsmanship, gardening, wholesome, gig. People seem to be bragging when they got it from the Amish or had the Amish build it. My electrician friend said their buildings well its not who he had build his. [/quote]

Yep, everyplace is different for sure. Ive had three close aquaintences go with Amish sprayer in my area as he was more than 30% less than anyone else. I was there at one of them when they were working. Did a fine job, but I dont think he was wearing adequate PPE....hope it don't bite him later in life.

For that size building I would recommend you spray foam it yourself. I put a lean to off the end of my shop a while back then ended up closing it in a few years later. It’s roughly 24x14 and I bought the touch n seal foam kit. I think it was the 700sf pack. Did it myself in a couple hours and turned out great.

I will look into to that. Didn't know something do it yourself was available. Thanks.


To address some of the other concerns here was some of my thought process and info I left out.
The only reason I was considering between 2x4 and 2 x6 was the price. Yes the price between 2x4 and 2x6 is small when standing at the lumber yard. But when I'm standing in my barn looking at the over 100 8' 2x4s I have that I salvaged from work as scrap that was built into cribbing inside train cars and got for free the price between the 2 goes up quite a bit. But they are 8' not studs and would all have to be cut down If I wanted 8' walls not 8'3" and the added insulation should save money in the long run so I was kicking around the instant savings vs time and long term savings. I could just make the part that would be a cooler have double thick walls and insulation when that comes into play after all.

Honestly I was considering just buying a yard barn to be faster and retrofitting it but besides that being more work I wanted to build one with the boys so they get the experience. But after how they talked and acted to and with their mom yesterday. The boys are not a concern and I should have a lot more time in October and November considering I could care less about spending my time taking them hunting this year. So I still may just buy one and spent the time saved doing something else. I have not has an available Oct or November in over a decade and all my vacation time to use then.

you can do an inner and outer 2x4 wall with a layer of foam board in-between if you have lots of 2x4 available on the cheap. you can still do any type of insulation , double 2x4 with a 1 inch fam board in-between was a thing for a while to get more R-value before 2x6 and spray foam.

He is putting rabbits in it. Don't think he wants to freeze them to death

What's the R value of spray on foam? that and 2x4's might be plenty good enough...