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Greenhouse Insulation

Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
in Problem solving
I'm updating my greenhouse and I want to insulate the bottom half (which is wood) and have it there all the time. What are my best options?

Does this make any sense to anyone?
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  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    Is thinner celotex my best bet?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I'd be worried about ventilation and damp proofing for the wooden part to prevent it rotting over time.   Is your greenhouse on a base?   How do you keep the sides dry now when watering?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    Greenhouse is on a concrete base approx 4" thick. It is red cedar so should be pretty rot resistant! I keep the sides dry as everything is in individual pots.
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    Celotex is waterproof and doesn't absorb water at all. I was more worried about rodents!
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I recently used 30cm thick cork insulation panels in my poly - fairly rough surface, formed by pressure rather than formaldehyde glue so 100% natural. The surface does mean there are some air pockets, which, against wood, might be a good thing. It’s inert, doesn’t rot and is insect proof. High insulation values. Works really well. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    edited February 2021
    Nollie said:
    I recently used 30cm thick cork insulation panels in my poly - fairly rough surface, formed by pressure rather than formaldehyde glue so 100% natural. The surface does mean there are some air pockets, which, against wood, might be a good thing. It’s inert, doesn’t rot and is insect proof. High insulation values. Works really well. 

     I only have 2.5-3cm of void space available! :-)
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Sorry, typo - 30 Millimetres   😆  
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    Nollie said:
    Sorry, typo - 30 Millimetres   😆  

    I did think that was a lot!
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Thermodynamically it doesn't make a great deal of sense.  You would only be changing the U value of a small section of your greenhouse which would only have a minimal impact on the overall thermal performance of the structure.
  • Steve the Gardening VetSteve the Gardening Vet Posts: 1,630
    steephill said:
    Thermodynamically it doesn't make a great deal of sense.  You would only be changing the U value of a small section of your greenhouse which would only have a minimal impact on the overall thermal performance of the structure.

    I know that, plan is to insulate those bits as they are behind the staging and thus only have to bubble wrap the upper portions in winter without moving everything! :-)
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