Insulated storage that isn't heated in the winter good or bad?

[Erik E]

Hello

we are going to build a storage shed for our cottage and originally it was meant to just be a cold storage, we got the suggestion from the carpenter who will help us why not insulate, it doesn't cost much extra... good idea we thought but our question is...

we will not want to heat the house in the winter (if we insulate, it would only be to potentially use it as a guest cottage in the future if needed)

are there insulation solutions that won't deteriorate if left unheated? moisture etc...

in the cottage, we have a diffusion barrier in the form of plastic film and what I have understood about this construction is that it would deteriorate if left unheated... am I wrong?

 

[alen]

In practice - I have been inside many isolated summer houses that have been unheated over the winter, and they have not shown any signs of mold damage.
In theory - if it is to be unheated, it gets tricky with moisture migration if you have a vapor barrier on the inside, as during the cold season it can be warmer outdoors than indoors, and vapor that enters the construction from outside can then condense against the cold inner wall and remain there.
If I were to build something similar, I would use semi-permeable materials (windproof fabric + e.g., linulls insulation) to be sure not to have problems in the long run with moisture migration.

 

[Bror]

Skip the plastic if it is to remain unheated, otherwise, you can use all types of insulation, mineralutt, ekofiber, etc.