Insulation exists in the main living space of most homes from the get-go, but only the minimum required by law. NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association) reports that 90% of homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. That’s why so many homeowners find great energy savings by adding additional insulation.
However, one of the most neglected spaces in most homes is the garage. Failing to properly insulate the garage allows air seepage and heat to flow in and out throughout the year, cooling your home in winter and heating it in summer.
Homeowners Don’t Consider the Garage a Room
One of the reasons the garage is so neglected is because many homeowners don’t consider the garage a room. People think about insulating their attics, their walls, and even their basements, but the lowly garage many times goes unnoticed. This is usually because homeowners see this area as just a place to park the cars and store the trash cans and lawn mower.
Insulate the Wall the Garage Shares with the House First
One of the most important places to insulate in your garage will be the wall it shares with your home. This is the point where most of the heat transfer occurs between the garage and interior of your home. Heat transfers into your home during warmer months and out during the colder ones. Insulating this wall can start saving you money right away by reducing the amount of time you need to run your furnace or air conditioner.
Related Read: Surprise! There Are No Big Surprises During Our Insulation Installation.
Garage Doors Don’t Provide Much of a Temperature Barrier
The second place you’ll want to take care of is the garage door. Most garage doors are thin, and the many joints create spaces where air can freely flow. More often than not, air that moves through the thin garage door is what heats/cools the garage, and eventually ends up heating/cooling your home. That being said, insulating the garage door is a must!
Garage Insulation Options
When it comes to garage insulation, you have a few different options:
- Fiberglass – If you’ve ever seen that pink, cotton candy-like insulation in a home, then you’re already familiar with fiberglass insulation. It’s relatively cheap and widely used, though the installation is tough to do yourself. To be effective, fiberglass insulation requires walling-in.
- Blown-In Insulation – For those who already have drywall installed around their garage, but don’t have any insulation, then blown-in is what you need. To install it, we will come in and open up a hole in the wall, pump in insulation, and then patch up the hole. Blown-in insulation is quick and easy, and we can often complete the job within a few hours.
- Spray Foam Insulation – Spray foam insulation must be installed by professionals with specific equipment. Spray foam goes on wet and both seals and insulates for better airflow reduction and a higher R-value overall.
Insulating the garage is not an easy job; there are several building and safety codes that exist regarding installation and removal that must complied with. At A+ Insulation, we have a OSHA certified supervisor on the team who ensures the work we do is safe and complies with all regulations. We’ll give you all of your options and let you know which ones make the most sense for your home and your budget.
