Do you have garage door insulation?
The garage seems like it would be a warm room of the house in winter. After all, it’s fully enclosed and under the same roof as the home. So why is it that the inside of the garage is as bitterly cold as the Wisconsin winter outside?
Bare concrete floors amplify the cold, and frost clings to the inside of the metal garage door. These warnings give notice that winter is creeping its way into your home. And when the temperature inside the garage closely matches the outside, it can damage items and supplies you are storing that are not meant to be exposed to extreme temperatures.
Bitter inside cold can make it difficult and unpleasant to do any work or hobbies in the garage. Worst of all is the damage that extreme temperatures can do to your vehicles, such as splitting leather seats and plastic dashboards.
A typical unfinished garage is not designed to stay warm during winter. The warmest you can hope for is a few degrees more than outside. But there is a solution to help bring some warmth to this valuable space inside the home. If you would like to make the temperature in your garage more comfortable year-round, the answer is insulation.
Garage Door Insulation and Why You Need It
The reason why the garage gets so cold in the winter is that cold air is coming in. And if there are gaps in the seals of the door, it also lets in moisture, snow, ice, and even pests who may be seeking refuge from the cold, wet outside. One solution is to install insulation on the inside of the garage door.
Insulation is a material made of fiberglass or foam board used to stabilize a room’s temperature. The material reduces heat flow by reflection and absorption. It adds an extra layer of durability and protection to your garage door to keep the cold outside air from transferring indoors. It is the best way to keep your garage cool in summer and warm in winter. A well-insulated garage door can make the garage up to 12 degrees warmer in winter. Insulation saves you money on energy bills and reduces your carbon footprint.
What to Know When Getting Started with Garage Door Insulation
Before installing insulation, do some simple maintenance on the garage door. The first step to warming up the garage is to eliminate drafts by sealing gaps and replacing damaged parts of the door. Examine the garage door to locate places where outside air is entering.
The door frame has weatherstripping around it to seal the small gaps between the door and the house. Inspect the weatherstripping for cracks, brittle pieces, and missing sections. Fill in any missing sections and replace disintegrated pieces. Inspect the gasket along the bottom of the door and replace it if it is brittle or cracked.
If you are ready to install the garage door insulation yourself, the type you should use on your garage door will depend on the kind of door you have. Insulation is rated with an “R-value,” which refers to its ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the material’s insulating power. It’s also important to note that if you add weight to the door by installing insulation, the door should be rebalanced and may require new springs.
Garage Door Insulation Types
Blanket (batt) insulation is the most versatile and easiest to use for a steel garage door. This type of insulation is typically made from fiberglass, comes in pre-cut, flat pieces, and is backed with foil or paper. It also comes in a roll, which you can cut to the size you need. The insulation should be placed into the frames around the door’s panels and can be secured with glue. Stores also sell a kit that includes pre-cut panels and the tools required for installation. Batt insulation comes in a variety of R-values and can be layered to achieve higher insulation levels.
For wood-frame paneled or flat garage doors, rigid insulation such as foam board works best. Foam board is sold in rigid panels that can be cut to size and layered for extra protection. Please place them in the recesses between the frames of your garage door.
Before you purchase any items, take precise measurements of your door to know how many feet of material you need. Be sure to wear gloves and protective eyewear and clothing when working with fiberglass.
Insulated Garage Doors from Joe Wilde Company
Joe Wilde Company offers an extensive line of garage doors that come with built-in insulation. Our garage doors come in three product lines: Classic, Modern, and Carriage House. We also have all the replacement parts you need for any brand of door.
If you are ready to upgrade your door to a beautiful, new insulated door that will keep your garage warmer this winter, reach out to the pros at Joe Wilde Company. Our staff is prepared to recommend the right garage door for your home and budget. For more information about the garage doors we offer, visit joewilde.com/residential-products/garage-door-lines.