Wondering if it’s really worth it to insulate and heat your garage? Are there building standards that force us to do it? Not really… Some government organizations will tell you that for a house with an attached garage, the common walls must have a certain R‑value, and if there is a room over the garage, a certain R‑value for the ceiling. And for the other walls? The garage door? Nothing! And for a detached garages, there are no rules to follow whatsoever.
Well, so what’s the point in insulating your garage? The word heard most often is “comfort”. It doesn’t seem to make sense to tackle a DIY project in a humid, almost freezing garage. Or to place a space heater, if all that heat will just seep out the walls.
So here are six great reasons to insulate, and maybe heat, your garage that just might convince you to take action.
The garage is an extension of your house
In the last few years, garages have become extensions of houses. They are no longer just a place to park cars. Now, they can be workshops, fitness rooms, even spaces where kids can play freely.
With a well-insulated garage, heated to a comfortable temperature, you are ensured of using it all year long for working, having fun, staying in shape or just spending time in perfect comfort.
Cold it transferred from the garage to the house
The door that separates your house and garage is very often insulated and equipped with efficient weatherstripping. However, you have to remember that each time you open this access door and your garage isn’t insulated or heated, you are transferring the cold and humidity of the garage into the house.
Don’t forget that this temperature exchange goes both ways. As well, heat is transferred to the garage that is then lost in a few minutes. As it’s said, heating the outdoors is certainly not something you want to do.
Sometime, we don’t have a choice
Even if you don’t care if your garage is cold and humid, you may still need to insulate it. A garage where there is plumbing, where you’ve installed your washer and dryer, must be insulated. A frozen pipe is most certainly nothing you want to deal with.
More than that, if you have a room over the garage, especially a bedroom, and you haven’t insulated the garage ceiling, you’ll find it difficult to keep this room at a comfortable temperature for sleeping.
Protect your personal property
With a well-insulated and heated garage, you can confidently store your personal property, whether it is seasonal articles or recreational equipment. Humidity breeds rust.
Guard against carbon monoxide
What if you accidently start your car in the garage with the remote starter? The fact that the walls and ceiling of your garage are well-insulated and your access door has good weatherseals protects you from carbon monoxide fumes spreading into your home.
For even greater safety and protection, get a carbon monoxide detector and place it in the house, near the access door to the garage.
Reduce noise transmission
An insulated garage provides a sound shield both ways, from exterior noises entering and from your noises traveling outside. For instance, around 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning when you decide to use your circular saw. Your neighbors will certainly appreciate your insulation. You won’t only be warm and comfortable, but producing less racket while at your workbench. The same goes for that garage band your teens started.
Don’t forget your garage door!
Your garage door is sort of like your fourth wall. If you insulate your walls and ceiling according to the standards recommended by energy conservation agencies yet your garage door isn’t insulated, you haven’t gained anything.
Contact us at 815-657-8173. We will give you advice on the best choice to make in terms of insulation for a garage door. You can also send us a request for a free online quotation.
Finally, if you are planning on changing your garage door in the near future, take a little time to use our Design Centre, and create your very own garage door. Also view our image gallery.
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