January 20, 2017

Do you really need to insulate your garage?

Worker insulating a garage

Have you ever considered insulating your garage, but wonder if it’s worth the time and the expense, or if there are any building standards in place that would compel you to do so? As to rules and regulations, there are none. Some government agencies do suggest that if your home has an attached garage, any walls that adjoin your house should have a specific R‑value, and that there are also recommended R-values for the ceiling of the garage. As to the remaining walls, and the door, there are no recommendations. And if you have a detached garage, you can essentially do what you please.

So, if you’re not required to insulate your garage, why should you bother? It’s basically a matter of comfort. If you use your garage for more than just parking your car, as many of us do, then you don’t want to be freezing in the winter or basting in your own sweat on hot summer days. You could use a space heater in winter, but realistically, the heat is just going to go out through the walls and door.

There are six good reasons to insulate your garage. Once it is insulated, you might want to consider heating it as well.

Today’s garage is part of the home

Hardly anyone just parks their car in the garage anymore. More likely, you use it as a “man cave,” a fitness center, a workshop, or maybe even an indoor play area for the kids.

If your garage is properly insulated, you can use it year-round in perfect comfort.

Heat and cold go both ways

Usually, the door that leads from the garage into the house will be weather stripped and well insulated. The thing is, though, whenever you open that door, if the garage itself is neither insulated nor heated, you are delivering cold, damp air from the garage into your home. You are also letting heat from your house into the garage, where it quickly dissipates through the garage walls and door. You are, essentially, heating the great outdoors.

You may not have a choice

Even if you are not troubled by the cold, it may still be necessary to heat your garage. For instance, if your garage doubles as a laundry room, then you will have plumbing leading to your washer and possibly a sink as well. The last thing you need is to have your pipes freeze and possibly burst.

If there is a room above the garage, and the ceiling is not insulated, another problem is that you will end up spending a lot of money keeping that room at a comfortable temperature during the cold weather.

Protect stored items

Many people use the garage to store seasonal items. The problem with an unheated, uninsulated garage is that anything made of metal can rust, and other materials can develop mold or mildew due to excess humidity.

Prevent carbon monoxide toxicity

If you should accidentally use your remote car starter to start your vehicle, insulation and weather stripping can prevent toxic carbon monoxide fumes from entering your home.

Since carbon monoxide can be lethal, ideally you should also purchase a carbon monoxide detector and install it inside the home, close to the garage access door.

Reduce noise

When you insulate your garage, you are creating a sound shield that keeps noise from getting in or out. You won’t be troubled by traffic noise if you’re working on a project in the garage, and if you’re one of those people who likes to get up and at it early, your neighbors will be happy that they don’t have to wake up to the sound of your power tools.

Remember the fourth wall!

That would be your garage door. There is very little point in insulating the walls and ceiling of your garage if all the heat is just going to seep out through the garage door. So make sure to include it in your insulation project, otherwise you won’t gain anything.

Give us a call at 508-563-5633. We can help you to make the right choice when it comes to insulating your garage and garage door. We will also be happy to provide you with a free online quotation.

Finally, if you are thinking about a new look for your garage, visit design center, and experiment with different colors, styles and accessories. Take a look at our image gallery as well, to see how other people have improved the look of their homes with new garage doors.

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