garage INSULATION
R-Value. Doesn’t it sound like something out of a physics textbook? And, in some ways, that would be a reasonable place to look. Should it be stated somewhere else? Garage R-Value is something you should be aware of.
Unlike measuring the density of states for electromagnetic radiation, which you’re unlikely to be interested in unless you’re a physicist, R-Value has an influence on your house and you should be aware of it.
R-Value of Your Garage
When it comes to your garage, there isn’t just one R-Value worth of insulation that you should be concerned about. Rather, your garage is made up of many component pieces that will require varying quantities of R-Value.
Exterior Garage Walls
Let’s start with the external walls, which will make up a big section of your garage. Typically, they will be built using ordinary 2-by-4 studs, which will limit the amount of insulation that can be put.
To fully maximize your insulation in this application, you should aim for an R-Value of R-13 or R-15 in these locations.
Garage Ceiling
Then it’s on to the ceilings of your garage. The degree of R-Value you apply here will be primarily determined by whether or not you have a completed space over the garage.
If you do, this will be sitting on joists and will provide you about 10 inches of play in which to install high-density R-30 insulation.
If, on the other hand, your ceiling just reaches up to the rafters, you’ll have more room and can use thicker R-38 insulation between the rafters and the roof.
Why worry about insulating a garage?
Garages, which were originally designed for automotive storage, are today utilized for a variety of functions, many of which having nothing to do with motorized vehicles. When properly built, a garage may be an excellent location for a workshop or handicraft room, a washer and dryer laundry center, and secure storage of objects that are not always required in the main house. Because garages are seldom, if ever, incorporated in a home’s main heating and cooling system, many of these extra functions may be severely impacted by shifting seasonal temperatures. Additional or improved garage insulation is an excellent approach to ensure that your new garage will be able to provide a suitable climate for whatever purpose you intend.
The walls of your future garage may be completed with drywall or sheetrock, depending on the new home builder you choose. While drywall or sheetrock is not required for insulation, it does give extra insulating characteristics while providing a more polished visual appeal by covering the insulation materials attached to the garage’s walls and ceiling. To fulfill conventional construction requirements, the ceiling area in garages with attics or bonus rooms above is normally finished with drywall or sheetrock.
Even if your new home builder has said that drywall and insulation are included, it is essential to inquire about the type and quantity of insulation utilized to verify that it will be enough for your future requirements. As with most new house improvements, including them during the initial building of the home is always faster, simpler, and more cost efficient than having to retrofit them afterwards.
The Perks of a Properly Insulated New Home Garage
While a new constructed or custom made house should already feature insulation levels that fulfill all local and federal building rules, there are times when a new homeowner may reap even greater benefits by adding additional or improved insulation to the mix. This is especially true in one of the least insulated areas of most homes: the garage.
Taking the effort to correctly design the insulation of your new garage before construction may result in significant savings on utility expenses as well as a more useful, multi-purpose garage area for you and your family.
Energy Savings from upgraded garage insulation
Additional insulation in attached garages can result in significant utility cost reductions, especially in more harsh climates.
A connected garage will have at least one wall in common with the main house. A poorly insulated shared wall will allow hot and cold temperatures to readily flow between the main residence and the garage, requiring the home’s primary cooling/heating system to work more than necessary to maintain a defined temperature range within the home.
A homeowner can cut utility bills year round by building a better-insulated barrier within the shared common wall. Even if you never use your garage for anything other than automobile storage, upgrading the insulation within the shared walls of your garage and home can result in significant future cost savings.
Additional insulation will require homeowners heating or cooling a detached garage with a space heater or separate AC system to run less frequently by retaining more of the heated/cooled air within the garage, resulting in decreased utility expenditures.
A garage with improved insulation will perform a far better job of keeping temperatures consistent within the area while preventing outer temperatures from flowing through, but it will not be capable of heating or cooling a room on its own. If you want to adjust temperatures throughout the year, you will need to incorporate some form of HVAC system in your garage blueprints. This is especially true if you intend to place a laundry center within the garage in an area where temperatures may drop below freezing.
5 types of insulation for your Garage
If your garage as a whole, or your garage door in particular, is not insulated, you are wasting heat by venting it into space. One of these forms of garage insulation might help you keep your heating expenditure under control.
1. Fiberglass insulation
Fiberglass insulation is by far the most common kind found in American houses. It comes in rolls that are meant to fit between wall studs as well as floor and ceiling joists. It is also available as loose-fill insulation. Fiberglass insulation is inexpensive and widely accessible from a variety of merchants. Rolling fiberglass is easy to cut into panel-sized pieces for garage doors, which can then be snuggled up against the panels and kept in place with duct tape. Kits that include pre-cut panel-size pieces of insulation as well as the tape to keep them in place are also available. When dealing with fiberglass, make sure to wear a mask, gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt.
2. Cellulose insulation
With cellulose insulation, a series of holes are made into the walls, floor, and ceiling, and the loose cellulose insulation is blown into the voids between the studs and joists. Many people choose this form of insulation since it is frequently constructed from recycled materials. It is not, however, the easiest material to deal with because it requires a special blower to press the material into the walls and floor. It’s also useless for garage doors or the unfinished walls seen in many garages. Furthermore, cellulose tends to settle with time.
3. Rigid foam insulation
This insulation is available in huge 4′ x 8′ sheets that must be trimmed to fit between studs and joists or onto the back of garage door panels. These stiff sheets range in thickness from 1/2 to 4 inches and have an excellent R-value. Rigid foam insulation is simple to install and may be adhered to a garage door panel with construction glue. There is a glue particularly intended for use with foam insulation, and it is also reasonably priced. Rigid foam on garage door panels frequently looks cleaner than fiberglass, which can have a puffy, unfinished appearance.
4. Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation offers several advantages. It has a very high R-value (usually R20+), acts as a vapor barrier, and helps to reinforce the structural integrity of the walls on which it is sprayed. Spray foam insulation, while highly effective, is more expensive than rolls of fiberglass insulation, and as a result, you won’t see many homeowners installing spray foam insulation in their garage. Unless they want to convert the garage into a residential place. This sort of insulation is more expensive since it must be done by professional garage professionals who have the necessary equipment and wear a hazmat suit while applying the substance.
5. Radiant barrier reflective foil
This is insulation at its most basic. The reflective foil insulation comes in rolls and is similar to the aluminum foil used to cover food, although it is thicker. This sort of insulation is intended to deflect heat rather than contain it. Installing this on the inside of your garage walls can assist keep any heat in the garage from escaping into the atmosphere. Rolls of radiant barrier reflecting foil, like spray foam and cellulose insulation, will not assist with the garage door, but you may address that individually with fiberglass batts or rigid foam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools are required for Garage Insulation?
The correct tools and equipment make your insulation process run more quickly, smoothly, and safely. Before you begin, use this checklist to ensure you have everything you need.
- Tape measure for determining the thickness of the insulation and the area to be insulated
- For cutting insulation, use a straightedge such as a yardstick or 2×4.
- Utility knife for cutting insulation
- Stapling tool used to secure facing insulation or a polyethylene vapor barrier to frame or studs.
- Putty knife or screwdriver for squeezing insulation into tight spaces
- Caulking gun and caulk to seal floor and ceiling plates, as well as any other spaces in which air can flow
- To reduce transient discomfort from breathing in airborne particles, wear a dust mask.
- Eye protection from airborne particles and other possible threats is provided by safety glasses or goggles.
- To assist reduce skin contact with insulation, wear a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, and gloves.
- Work boots that are tough enough to protect you from insulation dust and equipment risks.
What is the cost of Garage Insulation?
When considering how much to insulate a garage, there are several elements to consider. These are some examples:
Garage Construction and Size: The amount and kind of insulation required is determined by the size and structure of your garage. Larger garages, by definition, require more insulating material and will cost more to insulate than smaller garages.
Insulation Forms: There are several types of insulation available, including spray foam insulation, fiberglass insulation, injected foam insulation, blown-in insulation, and more. The prices for each form of insulation vary as well.
New Construction vs. Existing Structure: It is less expensive to insulate a garage in a house that is presently being built than it is to insulate one that already exists. To add insulating material to an existing structure, the contractor would have to tear down walls or ceilings.
What is the R-value of Garage Insulation?
If your outside walls are formed of 2-by-4 inch studs, the greatest insulation that can be installed while maintaining the R-value is R-13 or R-15, since they are both designed to accommodate a 3 1/2 inch deep hole. Because insulation is designed to match the width and depth of the cavity between the studs, compressing it to fit the space removes its insulating characteristics — the air trapped between the fibers.
The floor of a room above the garage is supported by joists and is supported by boards. If the joists are 10 inches deep, the cavity may accommodate high-density R-30 insulation that is 8 1/2 inches thick, which is sufficient for floor insulation. If the garage door is open to the rafters, which are the boards that support the roof, install R-38 insulation between the rafters at the roof if they are 10 inches deep. Install a ceiling and offer access to the area between the ceiling and the roof to increase insulation in the garage. This will enable you to add the necessary insulation.
How to insulate your Garage Ceiling and Garage Door?
Depending on the insulation material and method you pick, as well as the structure of your room, insulating your garage ceiling might be a very straightforward DIY project or one that requires the aid of a specialist.
To begin with, having the necessary safety equipment on hand is critical before beginning any insulation operation. Most people choose fiberglass batting for garage walls, but it may get dirty and even deadly if you’re not cautious. When dealing with this material, wear long pants and sleeves, safety glasses and gloves, and a fiberglass-proof mask. Gather all of your supplies, tools, and equipment before you begin so that everything is readily available as you work. Clear out the garage and relocate any junk.
Get in touch with Pacific Spray Systems for your Garage Insulation
Do you have any other questions for us? We would appreciate hearing from you. Contact Pacific Spray Systems right away!
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Spray foam insulation is recommended by Pacific Spray Systems for both new construction and upgrades to existing structures. It is especially useful for the latter purpose because, unlike traditional roll insulation, it does not require the removal of any walls or siding to install. If you’re curious about the advantages of spray foam insulation, give our team at Pacific Spray Systems a call.
Without proper insulation in your home or business, you could be losing money on heat loss, water damage and other unnecessary expenses. Turn to a foam insulation contractor to ensure that your property is fully insulated.
Pacific Spray Systems LLC is a preferred choice for spray foam insulation services in Poulsbo, Tacoma, Silverdale and Bremerton, WA. We provide our services to both homeowners and business owners. We use the highest-quality insulation to defend your property against the elements.
Contact us today to talk to a spray foam insulation contractor.
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