Your garage is typically much colder than your home. Most garages don't have a heater vent in them, which accounts for part of this issue. However, most garage doors have very little insulation in them, if they are insulated at all, which accounts for another reason why this space may be cold. If you are looking to warm up your garage, learning about insulation and garage doors will help you determine if insulating your garage door is ideal for you.
What the Benefits to an Insulated Garage Door Are
One of the biggest benefits to an insulated garage door is that it helps to keep the space warmer. If you use your garage as a workshop or an extra bedroom, you will want the space to be warm enough to work or live in. Insulating the door helps to keep the warm air in your garage inside, while keeping the cold, outside air out. Another benefit to insulation is that it helps decrease noise. If you don't want to hear cars drive by as you are in your garage, or you use your garage as a band practice space and don't want your neighbors to hear, insulation is a great way to minimize noise.
What Your Options are When It Comes an Insulated Garage Door
When it comes to insulation and garage doors, you have two options. If your current garage door is nearing the end of its lifespan, and you are in the market for a new door, you may want to look at garage doors that are already insulated. It was rare that older garage doors came insulated, but it is becoming more common with newer garage doors. The insulation is placed within the panels of the garage door, providing you with the benefits of insulation, yet disguising it so no one can see it. This keeps the door looking aesthetically-pleasing, while still keeping your space warm.
The other option when it comes to insulation and garage doors is installing insulation on existing garage door yourself. The insulation is placed on the inside of the garage door so the elements don't destroy it. Unfortunately, the insulation will be visible and there is no way to disguise it if you take this route. However, if you simply want a warmer garage, the look of the insulation may not bother you.
How to Insulate a Garage Door Yourself
If there is nothing wrong with your existing garage door, there is no need to replace the door simply because you want an insulated door. Insulation can be added to the door and this is a project you can complete yourself. Follow these steps to insulate a garage door yourself.
- Determine which insulation type is ideal for your space. Garage doors can be insulated with batt, foam board or reflective insulation. There are pros and cons to each type of material, including cost, appearance and longevity. Batt insulation is typically your cheapest option, but it contains fiberglass, which can make it hard to work with. Foam board insulation offers a high R-value, or insulation value, but is generally expensive. Reflective insulation helps to reflect heat in the summertime, also keeping your garage cool. However, it is silver in color, and not everyone likes the way it looks. Do your research to determine which is best for you.
- Measure the gaps between your garage door panels. Be sure to measure all the way down into the grooves of the panel. If you measure incorrectly, there will be gaps that the insulation doesn't cover, where cold air can seep in, so measuring correctly is extremely important.
- Roll out your insulation. Using a utility knife, cut the insulation to the size of the gaps in your panels.
- Fit the insulation into the gaps. Once you have verified that the insulation fits within the gaps, you can adhere it into place using insulation fasteners or double-sided tape.
Insulating a garage door can help you decrease your energy usage while helping to maintain a stable temperature in the garage. However, only you can decide if an insulated garage door is worth the increased cost. Learning about insulation and garage doors will help you make this decision.
