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Many homeowners need to insulate their garages. They view their garage as not an extension of their home but an extension to the outside. Therefore, they choose not to install insulation.
However, attached garages are notorious energy wasters. The heat generated by the adjacent room can leak across the shared wall in the garage. This transfer of heat could get reversed, meaning that garages can draw in heat from outside and back into the home. These two scenarios make the HVAC system twice as efficient and result in higher costs for energy.
It is crucial to protect your garage from the elements. The effects might not be apparent immediately, but your electric bills will appreciate it over time.
In the case of garage insulation, the very first step is to examine the different kinds of insulation materials available.
The Different Types of Garage Insulation
The primary insulating materials are fiberglass, cellulose, rigid, and spray foam. Each has its own set of benefits and applications.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is the most popular garage insulation material. It is available in pre-cut rolls, batts, or blankets. However, it gets typically used in unfinished attics. It is also known as loose insulation.
Fiberglass insulation is relatively inexpensive, and that’s why it’s popular. This type of insulation is perfect for floors, walls, and ceilings. You can create a DIY project using the installation when using fiberglass batts, as it is easy to put in.
Rigid Foam Insulation
Rigid foam insulation, also known as foam board insulation, is available in wooden panels made of polystyrene, polyurethane, or polyisocyanurate. Despite its thinness, it has a high R-value and can get cut to fit almost any space.
The most significant benefit of foam board is that it’s the only insulation that can block heat transfer through structural elements.
The rigid foam insulation is an excellent choice if you’re looking to transform your garage into an area for living. The foam can get positioned beneath a wallboard, plywood, or subflooring.
Check the foam’s rating for fire. Certain kinds of rigid foam aren’t fire-resistant. That is to say; they’re not suitable for use in exposed areas.
Cellulose Insulation
Cellulose insulation typically comes in the form of loose fill. It’s made of recycled newspaper and is treated with a fire retardant, making it a green option.
The contractor will employ a specialized blower machine to blow up the insulation and then blow it into the area. Leasing a blower from the rental shop is possible if you wish to install your insulation. Some home centers will lend the equipment to you at no cost if you purchase the cellulose they sell.
But cellulose insulation is only suitable for garages that need to finish ceilings and walls, as it’s a loose fill. When your Garage gets completed, the contractor will make holes strategically into the walls and spray the insulation between those framing elements. They’ll then patch the gaps.
Spray Foam Insulation
The spray foam insulation option is ideal for homeowners due to its excellent insulation value and air-sealing capability. Contractors spray the insulation material, which forms an opaque barrier that blocks the air and moisture gap.
Spray foam insulation is expensive, so there might be more economical options to protect your Garage from the elements. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to transform your garage into a living space.
If you’re considering garage insulation, you should talk to a professional to ensure you choose the best one that meets your requirements. Then describe your garage and how you intend to utilize the space to assist your contact and make a straightforward suggestion.
In addition to the walls, ceiling, and floors, you need to protect your garage door. Garages with doors that aren’t insulated will reduce your heating and cooling system effectiveness, especially because garage doors get typically made of steel.
Garage Door Insulation
The decision to protect your garage door from the elements is dependent on how you utilize your garage. If you can open and shut the door frequently throughout the day, there’s no need to insulate it. The repeated movement will release the heat you’re trying to hold within the space. Furthermore, the repeated movement could cause the insulation material to break and tear.
However, an insulated door is worthwhile if you use your garage as a workspace.
Insulated garage doors store less heat than uninsulated ones and are, therefore, more efficient in regulating temperatures in the space. Additionally, insulation can help lower the amount of noise. It’s an effective soundproofing material and is the perfect choice for transforming the Garage into a workspace or studio.
How to Insulate Your Garage Door
The most efficient method to protect your garage door from the elements is to purchase an insulated one. It will save you the hassle of putting in the installation. But, if you’d like to install insulation on your garage door, You can buy an insulation kit from the home center.
Kits for garage door insulation are available in two varieties: fiberglass batts or Polystyrene foam rigid panels. The first one has the insulation of R-8. All that is required is for you to fasten the material to the door’s outside.
A rigid foam product, however, is insulating with an R-4 value. These panels can get cut into lengths, so you have to snap them in their place between the rails that run horizontally on the doors.
Like other home rooms, the insulation in your garage should be airtight for maximum efficacy. Your insulation may perform less effectively if air gaps allow heat or drafts to enter.
Steps for Air-Sealing Your Garage
Garages get designed to be airtight, so if you still need to insulate them, you’re likely to have air leaks. These gaps can allow cold air to enter the attached rooms.
Use these guidelines to seal your garage with air.
1: Weatherstrip the Door That Connects the Garage to the House
Air-seal the door frame on both sides. Switch on the garage’s lighting and exit to check for air leaks. Before checking the door’s edge to determine whether any light is coming through, turn off the lights in the following garage area.
It is possible to seal significant air gaps with adhesive foam or felt. If you have small leaks, you can apply caulk guns to cover them.
2: Fill Up the Joints Where the Walls and Floor Meet with Caulk
The garage’s soil can shrink due to the way it gets constructed. As this occurs, the floor shifts and shrinks or expands, altering the joints between the floor and the walls. It causes gaps to feel the joints, wallowing outside the garage.
Fill in the cracks with silicone- or latex-based caulk and a foam sealant. The floor never stops moving; therefore, at least inspect for gaps between the bed and the walls yearly.
3: Insulate the Outlets and Light Switches
The holes in your garage wall that house the outlets and light switches are sometimes perfectly cut. You’ve got tiny cracks in the lighting components. You may think the damages will not cause any harm since they’re little. However, even the most minor cracks can hurt your home.
In addition to hot or cold garage air getting into your home, you also risk poisoning by carbon monoxide. The exhaust from your car may pass through tiny spaces in the walls of your home without knowing.
Insulating outlets, wall switches, electrical boxes, and outlets is possible using rigid or spray foam. Cover the button or container with the caulk you used to seal the floor-to-wall joints.
4: Weather-proof the Garage Door
Weather-proof your garage door is necessary to improve the insulation’s energy efficiency. You could use a strip of rubber or vinyl to secure the door. Around the bottom, top, sides, and even door threshold, openings may let air in from outside.
5: Fill in the Cracks on the floor
Garage floors are susceptible to cracks. The cracks can occur caused by improper installation, inadequate drainage, or shrinkage, no matter why these cracks in the cement may let cold air out of the soil. If the water continuously gets into these cracks, they can be frozen and expand, leading to foundation instability.
If you have tiny cracks for small cracks, you can apply an epoxy crack filler. However, if the damage is too significant to fill with a filler, you must remove the damaged concrete and cut to the edges of the cracks. Make use of sand and an adhesive additive to fill the gap. Next, utilize a trowel for leveling the floor. When it’s dry, grind it until it’s even with the base.
The best way to ensure that you properly insulate your garage is to conduct an energy audit before. The audit will reveal the areas in your home which use up energy. It will also provide solutions for each area of concern to help you cut down on your monthly utility costs.
You Can Insulate Your Garage by Spraying 613 Foam
613 Spray Foam offers various insulation options for multiple areas of your garages. Our skilled contractors will ensure the garage’s insulated and air seal for maximum efficiency. Call us today at (613) 319-8422, or email us at info@613sprayfoam.ca for more information.
