Why Should I Insulate My Garage?
Q: Why should I insulate my garage?
A: Most people don’t think about insulating their garages - but without insulation, the temperature in the garage will be about the same as it is outside. So, if it is hot, your garage will be hot. If it is cold, your garage will be cold.
These fluctuations in temperature in your garage could potentially damage items you store in your garage. Plus, they can increase risks of certain hazards, like storing spray paint, gasoline, and other chemicals at extreme cold or hot temperatures.
Not to mention, the changes in temperature inside the garage can also affect the temperatures inside your house. Each time you open the door to your home, all that hot or cold air gets sucked inside causing your air conditioner or furnace to run.
Also, in some homes, the interior wall of the garage that’s shared with the main home is not insulated either. As a result, the cold air inside the garage can cause cold air transfer and the hot air inside the garage can cause hot air transfer loss as your cooling or heating system tries to keep up with the affected temperatures.
Hopefully, now you can start to see the importance of insulating your garage. So, where do you start?
Step 1: Upgrade Your Garage Door to an Insulated Garage Door
The easiest place to start is by getting a new insulated garage door. Insulated garage doors not only help maintain more even temperatures in the garage, but also can add to the curb appeal and value of your home - making it a great return on your investment.
Step 2: Upgrade Windows with Thermal Glass
If your garage has windows, verify they’re thermal glass. Thermal glass helps reduce cold air and hot air loss through the glass. There are several different types of thermal glass on the market. If you get an insulated garage door with windows, make sure to upgrade to thermal glass too.
Step 3: Add Insulation to the Exterior Walls of Your Garage
Depending on whether your garage is unfinished or finished will determine what insulation method will work best. For unfinished garages, it is easy to install rolled insulation in spaces in between the studs, which are called “bays.”
Don’t forget to also insulate the roof, if it’s not insulated or is poorly insulated. Afterward, you can install drywall to provide another layer of insulation protection.
If you have a “bonus” room above your garage, you may not need to insulate the ceiling as it should have insulation in it when the house was built. However, you may want your contractor to double-check this for you. If it needs insulation, spray foam is a good choice as it will limit the number of holes in the garage ceiling.
If your garage is already finished, you can add insulation inside the walls using spray foam insulation. This is one of the easiest options because you only need to drill minimal holes in the walls that aren’t difficult to patch over once the insulation is installed.