Guide To Garage Door Insulation
Guide to Garage Door Insulation
The heat and energy that are floating out your garage can be saved--thanks to the installation of garage door insulation. It's one of the most effective things you can do to save on energy in your home.
Homeowners install insulation in the garage door for lots of different reasons. Depending on what your reasons are, there are several choices for you to select. For instance, you might be someone who wants garage door insulation to help keep noises from making it out into the yard--or vice versa. Some men turn their garage into a workshop area, and noise-proof insulation can help you drown out things that are going on out in the yard.
The more common reason for installing insulation, and one that is probably at the top of your list of reasons, is to turn your house into a more energy-efficient home. With money getting as scarce as fuel, saving energy is becoming an important consideration. And it' s been proven that installing insulation into the garage door helps reduce your winter heating costs ad your summer cooling costs.
Whatever your reason is for wanting insulation in the garage door, you need to make sure to research the subject thoroughly, so that you select the right choice for your situation.
There are two different kinds of insulation available for including in the garage door. These two are spray insulation and fiberglass. Historically, fiberglass was the most common. It comes in rolls which can be put up against the garage wall. However, there are known health risks with fiberglass, so if you use this kind, be sure you understand the type of protective wear you need to use while installing it.
Whether you choose the fiberglass or spray insulation, it's important that you find out the insulation rating. These insulation ratings are known as "R" values; they determine how effective the insulation will be.
There are two types of insulation options available when deciding to insulate your garage. The two options are spray insulation and batts of fiberglass. The batts of fiberglass are most common and come in rolls that you can put up against the wall of your garage. For inexperienced people, spray insulation can pose a much bigger obstacle than the batts of fiberglass. Whether you choose to use the spray insulation of batt fiberglass insulation, the most important thing to consider is the rating of insulation that you want and/or need. Insulation ratings are called “R” values and determine the effectiveness of the insulation.
When installing insulation yourself you must make sure to have the proper tools available to get the job done right. Put together a insulation kit that contains all of the necessary tools and supplies. The most important thing to have in your kit is your personal protective equipment. You will want to have gloves, eye protection, a long sleeve shirt, and a dust mask. You may prefer not to have a long sleeve shirt on if you are installing the insulation during a summer month in the South where temperatures can get very high and you may sweat a lot, but I can assure you that the heat and sweat you will be enduring is much more preferable to the affect that insulation can have on you when you get it on your skin, in your eyes, or in your mouth. A few other tools you will need are: an exacto knife, a staple gun, straight edge, tape measure, marker, wood shim and insulation knife.
There are a few more things to consider before you begin installing your garage door insulation. The first is to make sure you clear the garage out completely to make things easier. No matter how much time you think you will save by working around things, in the end you will save more time by having a clear area to work in. The second tip is called “The Rule of Three”. This is a simple rule to follow and states that you must not install any insulation within 3 inches of any heat generating device (i.e. anything that will produce heat while on). The last tip is to make sure you use caulk around any doors or windows in your garage. Caulking around doors and windows will add extra insulation to help control the climate in your garage. And isn't that the whole purpose of this project in the first place?
