To insulate or not to insulate

I'm getting a new shed so hopefully the 'cat can have a permanent home.
I'm thinking of insulating it and boarding the walls, however I'm concerned it may cause more problems as I think it would create more moisture.
Any scientists among us who can advise!!!!

I don't know about more moisture etc but it sure will cost a bit haha. I keep mine in a shed, I carpeted the floor to catch any leaks, and covered the walls in 3mm ply to keep wind out.
When it's damp out I just have a king-size quilt cover to throw over it. Has been there through 2 winters so far with no problems

Already got the insulation. 8'x4' sheets ain't that expensive if you know the right people

I'd say do it.

It's not cold temperatures as such that give problems, it's when there's a rapid change in air temperature from cold and dry-ish to warm and damp that you get condensation on the bike, because the bike stays cold for longer.  So anything that slows the rate of change of temperature, which insulation will, has to be a good thing.

But you also need some ventilation to allow moisture to get out.  It may be a bit counter-intuitive, but leaving the door or window open on a cold but dry day will mean the shed is full of air that is cooler than the bike, and has a relatively low moisture content, so no condensation.  I could cite my bathroom experiment as evidence, but I don't want to bore everyone with theoretical thermodynamics. :!:

Thanks bobh.
Ventilation is the secret so I may leave a couple of inches free of insulation on opposite sides top and bottom. But not on the side where it gets battered by the rain.
Sound good!!!!!

I would also throw a couple of old blankets over the bike and then a dust cover.

My cat is kept in a cold detached garage and i find this works wonders.

I got the bike cover from Aldi for £8.99 a few years ago

All good replies so far, it really does depend on the building that you are insulating too, my current single skin brick garage which is insulated & dry lined seems to work well, when I used to keep my bike in a wooden shed it was a nightmare due (as Bob rightly says) to rapid temperature changes & timber sheds get very hot in summer, I didn't insulate my shed but placed four vents in pairs opposite each other, a very quick cheap fix which reduced the condensation by about 90%.
Had I not got a divorce from my lovely shed I probably would have added more vents or gone for the insulation route.
I did lots of homework when building my current garage & I was going to fit a small tube heater (greenhouse type) to keep damp out of the air but everyone said not to add heat in any form at all, seems to work too

Think I'm going to insulate and blankets first off see how it goes. Then maybe add vents if I get a problem . Once holes are drilled that's it. At least I can remove the insulation

You won't need to remove the insulation even if you do vent it,
If you do decide to cover the bike over its important to use a breathable cover.

As Radar said. I'll probably use an old duvet I've got

Yeah as all above, for gods sake, never get a metal/tin shed to keep a bike in.

As they are a condensation magnet, even with ventilation.

Linz's ninja is in a wooden shed now, did have 2 quilts and an oxford cover over it. Brilliant combo but then we had mice come to visit.
Well they just S*&^ and P%$££"! between the 2 quilts so they ended up being skipped. Ruined an expensive tent too they did. Grrrrrr.

Hi,

Just my tuppence worth, but, if you have power in there, you could always add/install one of those inexpensive (did you see what I did there ?), kitchen extractor fans to assist with condensation/ventilation.
Just a thought . . . . I'll get me coat . . . [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I can get power to it but only via an extension lead. Have to rip up floor boards upstairs right through if I wanted to hard wire it. Don't think so!!!!

Catnapper wrote:.............Have to rip up floor boards upstairs right through if I wanted to hard wire it. Don't think so!!!!

I did mention it was just a thought didn't I ?. .Did I say that, Anyone, huh, huh, Anyone hear me say that ?[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Don't worry. I've been playing around with ideas on how to get power to it. Other option is to run around 50m of SWA cable around the outside of my house or over the roof!!!!!

Well, whatever you do, have fun. That's one lucky pampered pussy [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Keep looking at Daytona 675. But when there's nothing wrong with the Cat why bother.

I have one of those tube heaters near the bike in the shed. Only use it when it's around the freezing point though just to help out and the bike is all good. Tiss a 16ft x 10ft shed though. 

Mixed feelings about Triumphs I have. I know where there made but they are only assembled over here. 

Lots are good though but you do get quite a few problematic bikes.

How about something like this?

Having read through these messages I feel I'm not treating my bike with respect.

It gets a heavy duty rain coat and sits outside.

TT_mark wrote:Having read through these messages I feel I'm not treating my bike with respect.  

It gets a heavy duty rain coat and sits outside.

Radar wrote:How about something like this?

I'm going to wire up lights and sockets with a garage consumer unit but then run it temporary off an extension. A bit like a tourer caravan set up