There are several advantages to insulating your garage, regardless of whether you use it as a workshop, storage space, or vehicle parking lot. Homeowners must understand garage insulation for several reasons, including protecting vehicles and valuables from high temperatures and reducing energy expenditures.
Here, we’ll explore garage insulation in great detail, giving you a how-to and some great pointers. Ensuring your garage is a pleasant and functional environment all year round requires proper insulation, which we will discuss in detail, along with the various techniques, materials, and best practices.
Come along as we uncover all the secrets to properly insulating your garage wall, whether you intend to do it yourself or want to hire a specialist. Now that you have the tools to make your garage more liveable and energy efficient, you can finally say farewell to sweltering summers and frigid winters there.
Why Should A Garage Be Insulated?
Is garage insulation necessary? Putting insulation in an uninsulated garage will significantly change how you heat or cool it. Insulation will only improve the garage if you intend to use it for additional heating or cooling.
The shared walls and ceiling between your living rooms and the garage in an attached garage have probably been insulated. Insulating the outside walls of your garage may make it work as a buffer, reducing the rate at which heat escapes from your house. Nevertheless, if you don’t plan on heating or cooling the unattached garage, insulating it won’t help and could potentially cause problems with moisture.
Even though house insulation is improving, outside garage walls must be insulated more often. Insulation in a garage is unnecessary if its primary use is to house a vehicle. Insulation isn’t only sometimes necessary, but it might be a great investment if you want to use your garage as an extra room, as many homeowners do.
The Benefits Of Garage Insulation
No one likes to tackle a do-it-yourself job in subzero conditions or oppressive heat and humidity, so most people insulate and heat their homes for comfort reasons. Even if the space heater does the trick, it’s a waste of electricity because the heat escapes through the walls.
In addition to making your garage more comfortable, the following advantages may persuade you to upgrade the insulation and heating system.
Your Garage Is Usable All Year Long
You can utilise a garage for much more than simply storing your car inside. Typical modern amenities seen at such places include exercise machines, project workshops, playgrounds, and more. You may enjoy the room for any activity, regardless of the weather, with sufficient insulation and heat.
Reduced Heat And Cold Transmission
Insulation and weather-stripping are standard on entry doors to homes with attached garages. On the other hand, in extremely hot or cold weather, those precautions won’t work. Your HVAC system has to work harder to keep your house at a constant temperature every time you open the door, letting in those outside temperatures. If the garage has insulation, you won’t have to worry about battling the heat or cold.
Limited Options Due To Pipes And Shared Ceilings
Insulation and heating are necessities if your home has a utility room or pipes pass through the garage. Repairing frozen or burst pipes is a pain, takes a long time, and is often filthy and expensive. Furthermore, any space above the garage will experience the same temperature fluctuations as the area below.
Because of this, it may be hard to get a good night’s rest or keep the room at a reasonable temperature without spending more money on heating or cooling the space.
Insulation Safeguards Your Personal Belongings
Humidity causes rust, and temperature variations can damage, drastically reducing the value of all the things stored in the garage, whether they are seasonal decorations, products, or collections.
Safeguard Your Family Against Carbon Monoxide
It’s easy to activate the remote start feature on most vehicles nowadays, which is great if you have little children. If your garage does not have enough insulation, any carbon monoxide that builds up inside might easily leak into your house, endangering your and your family’s health.
Reduced Transmission Of Noise
Is your neighbourhood one of close quarters? Those who live nearby may find your teen’s band practice or early morning workshop sessions quite bothersome if this is the case. If your garage is well-insulated, you won’t notice the noise from outside activities, including kids playing or people using heavy machinery.
Your Garage Door Is A Crucial Factor To Consider!
You may think of a garage door as the room’s fourth wall. All the effort you put into insulating the walls to the recommended requirements and adding heat will be for nothing if you use an uninsulated garage door.
Types Of Insulation For Your Garage
Insulation Made Of Fibreglass
This is the go-to insulating material for most homes, particularly for garages. Insulation made of fibreglass is ideal for do-it-yourselfers since it is inexpensive and simple to install. Various forms of fibre insulation are available, including:
- Bats and blankets that will fit your garage’s floor and ceiling joists and wall studs.
- Fibreglass loose fill may be blown into position to close up openings in walls and ceilings. For instance, it may be used to fill any vacant area above the ceiling in the attic of your garage.
You may hire specialised equipment to blast it in or pour it in by hand, but it will be laborious.
To make the insulation seem more polished and prevent dust accumulation, you may wrap the fibreglass with plastic film and use it for the walls of your garage.
Pros: Do-it-yourself and inexpensive
Cons: Skin, lung, and eye irritation. If built incorrectly, moisture can build up and provide a fire danger.
Rigid Foam Insulation
The R-value of this insulation is rather high. A sheet measuring 4 feet by 8 feet with a half an inch to four inches thickness is available. It will not break or split even in very humid environments since it is moisture-resistant. Insulating garage doors and thin walls with rigid foam is a great idea. Thick walls and floors, nevertheless, will not work. Also, anyone can do it themselves. If you plan a renovation, it would be an excellent place to begin insulating your garage.
Pros: High R-value, easily installable, rigid foam, and effective noise reduction
Cons: Too tight, allowing insects to get through
Systems Of Reflective Insulation And Radiant Barriers
In the summer, these insulation techniques may keep the area cool even without air conditioning by reflecting heat. Their efficiency cannot be measured by an R-value, though, because they are distinct from other forms of insulation.
Bubbles constructed of polythene or kraft paper make radiant and reflective insulation. After that, a reflective barrier made of aluminium foil is applied by wrapping them. As a heat reflector, it is ideal for use on garage doors. When it comes to attic insulation, they shine in warmer climates.
Pros: Reduces cooling expenses by reflecting heat.
Cons: It might not function in colder climates.
Cellulose Insulation
Recycled paper is used to manufacture cellulose insulation, which is chemically treated to make it fireproof. After that, a blowing machine is used to blast it into gaps and cavities. Because it is loose-fill insulation, it should only be used in completed areas. It may be applied to the walls and ceiling of the completed garage.
Pros: Eco-friendly and resistant to fire
Cons: Expensive, may lose its effectiveness over time
Insulation Using Spray Foam
For air sealing, spray foam insulation works incredibly well. Although it is the least DIY-friendly, it has the greatest R-value. Because of its high cost, you should only install it in a garage if you want to utilise it as a living area. It may be used just to fill in cracks and crevices.
Pros: Elevated R-value, readily fits into voids and fissures, resistant to pests.
Cons: Expensive; this kind cannot be DIYed and can become smaller over time
How Can The R-Value Of Insulation Be Measured?
The heat in your garage will want to escape in the winter, and the heat from outside in the summer since the heat moves towards cold. An R-value rating is something you’ll see while looking for garage insulation. This represents the efficiency of the insulation in reducing the heat above transmission. Insulation with a greater R-value will perform better than choices with a lower R-value when done correctly, but the extra performance usually comes at a higher expense.
Even though it would be ideal, you may get away without using the maximum R-value insulation in your garage. A greater R-value indicates better insulating quality per inch of insulating material. When in doubt, consult the local construction codes to determine the minimum R-value of your garage insulation.
Considerations For Insulating Your Garage
Things like keeping the concrete floor from becoming too wet and ensuring the electrical boxes aren’t covered must be attended to before the insulation process begins.
- Scaffolding is an investment in your safety and the efficiency of your insulation job if you’re doing it alone.
- Use a vapour barrier to prevent moisture from building up on the insulating covering.
- Take care to avoid covering the electrical boxes mounted to the garage’s ceiling. Additionally, avoid tightening the insulation surrounding the boxes.
- The rapid absorption of water by concrete is due to its porous nature. Consequently, insulation can be compromised if a vapour barrier is not applied before insulating. This is because water can penetrate the concrete slab and impact the insulation.
- It would help if you took down everything that is hanging to protect your wall insulation.
- To stop moisture damage and the formation of mould, any cracks, holes, or gaps in the outer wall should be fixed before the insulation is installed.
- The floor can become noticeably thicker with foam insulation and plywood. So, there’s now an elevated space between the garage door and the entrance. For a more polished look, bordering strips might be useful.
- Before insulating the ceiling, ensure a 1 ½ inch gap between the bottom of the wood roof sheathing and the fibreglass insulation. This will aid in the dehydration process, which in turn will inhibit the formation of mould.
- Maintain a distance of three to five inches between the insulation and the lights. It can start a fire if put too near the lights.
- Pay attention to weather-stripping the bottom of the garage door and windows.
How To Insulate Garage Walls
Inadequate insulation is a common problem in garage walls, particularly in detached garages.
You should insulate the walls of your garage if you want to use it for anything other than parking your automobile. If it isn’t insulated, it might mess with your garage’s heating and cooling system. The walls of a garage would be better insulated with fibreglass foam.
Between R-13 and R-15, you’ll find most wall-fitting materials.
- Take off the hooks and screws from the walls. For that, you would need a screwdriver and a hammer.
- The area that has to be insulated should be cleaned and the wall covering removed.
- Look for any holes or fractures in the walls. Mould may form if water remains in the perforations.
- Coat these areas with a sealer.
- Before adding insulation, let the sealant fully cure.
- Fibreglass insulation is a good place to start.
- Rather than cutting the insulation to suit the space, properly cut it to fit the spaces between the wall studs.
- Once you have finished insulating, cover the insulation with a vapour barrier and fasten it with staples.
Preparation Of Garage Wall Before Insulation
Both interior and exterior solid wall constructions need meticulous preparation and attention to detail. Before placing an order, you should check the structure for any problems that might lead to insulation concerns. Walls that show obvious indications of wetness or dampness and problems that can cause this, such as broken gutters, missing points, or no damp-proof course, fall into this category. Before beginning any task, it is essential to evaluate them thoroughly.
What Thickness Insulation Is Required For Garage Walls
In most cases, the Building Regulations and Standards will consider a garage conversion to be an annexation of an existing structure. As a result, there is a minimal need for thermal performance (U-value) in the wall insulation.
In conclusion, garage wall insulation is essential for energy efficiency and comfort, protecting vehicles and valuables from temperature extremes and reducing energy costs. Insulating the garage can also help keep your home warmer by preventing heat loss, but if the garage is unheated, it may cause moisture issues.
Various insulation options include fibreglass, which is affordable and easy to install, and rigid foam, which offers high moisture resistance. Reflective insulation and radiant barriers are effective in keeping garages cool, while spray foam has the highest R-value but is expensive and less DIY-friendly.
When insulating, it’s crucial to maintain proper ventilation, avoid covering electrical boxes, and ensure a vapour barrier is used to prevent moisture buildup. For detached garages, consider the condition of the walls and follow safety guidelines. Proper insulation can improve your garage’s functionality and overall energy efficiency.
