You put consideration into insulating you home, because you want to be comfortable no matter what the season. But did you know that you should also insulate your garage?
Here are some tips on how to insulate your garage.
“Why should I insulate my garage?”
Insulating the walls, ceiling and doors of your garage can help reduce the energy consumption for your entire home.
It will keep the garage cooler in summer, warmer in winter, and reduce outside noise. Insulation will also help protect the interior of your home from harmful fumes emitted by cars, gasoline and other chemicals stored there. It is an easy project that can reap many benefits.
“I want to know how to insulate my garage!”
Once homeowners realize they need to – or want to – insulate their garage, this is one of the first questions they ask. Let’s start with the garage door.
Garage Door Types
There are three main types of garage doors: steel, wood-paneled and flat (non-paneled). Each requires its own type of insulation.
Steel garage doors:
These are flexible insulation, like fiberglass insulation, can be inserted into the frames surrounding the panels.
Wood frame-and-panel garage doors:
These are rigid insulation, like foam board, can be cut to size and inserted into the recesses between the frames
Flat garage doors:
Reflective insulation or foam board can be attached with adhesive or tape to the inside of the garage door.
“What do I need to insulate my garage door?”
The tools and materials you need to insulate your garage are few. Mainly, you need:
- The insulation itself, whether in board panels or rolls, dependent upon the application
- A way to fasten the insulation to the door: tape or adhesive
- A utility knife to cut insulation to size
Garage door insulation kits are also available.
Insulation Adds Weight
Beware that installing insulation adds extra weight to your garage door, which may put an extra strain on lifting mechanisms or spring tensions. Once insulation is installed, your garage door may need a professional adjustment or springs repair.
Garage Insulation: How To
Insulating your garage is easiest prior to the installation of drywall, when the framing is still exposed.
- The first step is to air-seal the walls, blocking gaps, cracks or holes.
- Seal around outlets and switches with silicone caulk. Run silicone caulk around the garage where the framing meets the floor to seal out fumes.
- Once air-sealed, roll out fiberglass insulation, also called batt and blanket insulation, and attach it to the walls according to manufacturer directions. For the wall shared by the living space, install the fiberglass insulation with the vapor retarder called kraft facing with the paper side facing the wall and the fuzzy side facing you.
- For the rest of the walls, install the insulation with the kraft facing with the paper side facing you so that it will butt up against the drywall once the garage is finished off. Roll or blow insulation into the garage attic or ceiling.
Alternative types of garage insulation can be blown in or sprayed on. Sheep wool insulation offers an environmentally-friendly, natural option.
“Who Can Help Me Insulate My Garage?”
At G&S Garage Doors, we often get asked, “How do I insulate my garage.”
We can give you tips and resources on how to do it yourself, or we can do the job for you.
Check out our range of aesthetically-enhancing garage doorsand our array of garage door openers and accessories like remote controls, wireless key entry and smart home technology that can make your life easier.
If you have questions or need a new garage door, please contact G&S Garage Doors.
