For many homeowners, a garage is so much more than just a place to park your car. It can be extremely useful acting as a place for storage, a DIY lover’s workshop filled with all their tools, maybe it’s where you work out or perhaps you’ve turned it into a bit of a man cave and added some comfortable seating. To make the garage even more usable and comfortable, garage door insulation can and should be installed.
Here we’ll take a look at why garage door insulation is so important, as well as how you can install it so you can tackle the project yourself.
Maybe you’re on the fence about whether or not your garage door even needs insulation, after all, you’ve gotten by this long without it. Here’s the thing, insulation can provide several benefits that make it well worth the work.
Some of the top reasons people choose to insulate their garage door include:
● It helps to reduce your home’s energy bills by keeping the garage warmer during the cold weather. In the winter, it’s common for heat to escape from the garage, which can then negatively affect the indoor air temperature in your house.
● In the summer months, the opposite is true in that the garage can remain cooler and more comfortable, without as much heat seeping in.
● Studies have shown that you can keep your garage door 12 degrees warmer in the winter and 25 degrees cooler in the summer by installing garage door insulation.
● Because the temperature is maintained better in the garage, it means the items stored in the garage are better protected.
● It helps give the door more durability and strength.
● It helps make the operation of the door (opening and closing it) quieter.
As you can see, insulating the door helps to make the space more comfortable overall – and extend the lifespan of the garage door.
The next question you may have is whether or not this is a project you can do on your own. The short answer is yes, insulating the garage door is completely possible on your own, even if you’re not a skilled handyman. It’s all about having the right tools on hand, the right materials/products, and following the steps carefully.
In terms of the cost to insulate the door, it’s a very cost-effective project. You can expect to spend around $200 on the materials – which includes the insulation, the seal, and weather stripping. It’s much cheaper than replacing the door altogether and opting for a new one that comes insulated.
The best way to go about this project is to purchase a garage door insulation kit. This means all the work has been done for you in terms of collecting the right materials in the correct size. There are two common kits to choose from, which are R-4 EPS (Expanded Polystyrene panel foam) or the R-9 (fiberglass) kit. Keep in mind if you have a standard garage door, you will most likely need two kits. Be sure to read the measurements on the kit.
The R-8 will offer better insulation but depending on what kind of climate you live in – lesser insulation may be adequate. The higher the “R” value, the better the insulation will be.
Besides just installing the panels of insulation on the door, you will need to install vinyl weather stripping. This is what gives you the seal around the edges of the door, so it plays an extremely important role.
It’s a good idea to watch some tutorials online to get an idea of the installation process, but the main steps can be broken down into the following.
● Start by measuring where the retainer pins will go and then install them. These need to be 12 inches from the edge of each of the panels, at the halfway mark between the door’s horizontal rails.
● Next, it’s time to measure and then cut the batting. The kit you bought may not require much if any cutting.
● Insulation needs to be lined up exactly on the door, and then push it into the retaining pin enough that it comes out the other side. It is then locked in place with the retaining cap.
● Now it’s time to install the fresh weather stripping to ensure a proper seal is created. Make sure it fits tight while still allowing for a bit of movement from the door (this is to allow for movement in high winds).
● You may also need to replace the bottom seal.
As you can see, insulating your garage door is a relatively simple project that just requires you have the right materials on hand.
