Bubble wrap insulation

Just thought to let you know I insulated my summerhouse today with bubble wrap. I have seen the large bubblewrap at �£4 per individual metre, but I got two rolls of small bubble wrap from Focus - �£15 for a 30 metre roll 75 cms wide (ie 50p per metre). I used less than two rolls for an 8ft x 10ft shed - 4 walls and ceiling.

It is the gap between the wall and bubblewrap that created the insulation like secondary double glazing in a house. I do not think the fact that it is bubble wrap makes much differance. The optimum gap for insulation is about one half or three quarters of an inch. Even double glazed windows, I believe, are below the optimum width. And bubble wrap itself is way below the optimum gap. I suspect that sheets of plain polythene would be almost as effective and cheaper. But I could not find any plain reasonably thick polythene at the time and I wanted to get on with it.

With fears of a cold winter I am keeping some of my dubiuosly hardy plants - Lobelia, Penstemon, Agastache etc in the summerhouse. The seriously tender plants Pelargonium, Heliotrope, Felicia etc I am keeping in the house itself.

 

Sounds as if you're well prepared Peter. Will have to get a move on with sorting our greenhouse out!

[ 23. November 2005, 07:46 PM: Message edited by: jjordie ]