In this blog entry our professional Charleston garage door installation and Charleston garage door maintenance service team will detail the most important tips to know regarding the process of insulating your garage.
Sealing Garage Door Openings
Almost all garages have a range of cracks and openings in the garage door itself, in windows, or on the floor. All of these can cause air to get inside your home and cause your garage to become less energy efficient. This will let hot air in your home during the Summer and cold air inside during the Winter, leading to you increasing or lowering the air conditioning or heat, increasing energy bills.
- Sealing Garage Windows
- Specialty glass windows have better insulation than traditional windows
- We recommend caulking windows to seal frames and make sure no air is flowing through cracks
- Caulk should be applied to the exterior and interior of the window frame
- Sealing Garage Doors
- We recommend making sure your garage door seal is in ideal condition
- Purchase a garage door with high quality weather seals that can prevent drafts and waters from coming into your garage
- It’s essential that your garage door weather stripping seals are highly flexible to ensure a high quality seal between garage door tracks, garage door bodies, and the flooring of your garage
- Sealing Garage Floor Cracks
- Seal garage floor cracks with caulk or concrete to keep internal garage temperatures consistent
- Install parking mats to soak up any moisture your car might bring in from outdoor weather outdoor weather like rain or snow
- Garage parking mats can also help prevent concrete floors from cracking or deteriorating
Garage Ventilation Improvements
While it’s not legally required to add ventilation in your garage, by adding ventilation you can make your garage more energy efficient as well as reduce toxic fumes like carbon monoxide in your garage. Garage windows are a great way to improve ventilation in your garage, as well as improve its general aesthetic appeal. If you don’t have garage windows, you can also install a floor fan or an exhaust fan.
Cleaning Non Essential Items
When you declutter your garage and remove non essential items, you can improve your garage airflow and general ventilation. Take a detailed inventory of what’s kept in your garage and how often you use it. If you have a fridge or freezer in your garage, consider how much you use it, as these appliances consume a lot of energy.
Adding Energy Efficient Garage Gratures
Consider adding energy efficient garage lighting, as new energy efficient LED bulbs can last 25 times longer than typical light bulbs while consuming almost 80% less energy. Adding a smart thermostat can also help you keep track of garage temperatures, and generally save money on heating and cooling. We additionally recommend installing a special energy efficient and insulated garage door made of durable, moisture resistant, and biodegradable materials.
Garage Wall and Floor Insulation
Consider insulating garage walls with a range of material that can help you maintain a consistent interior temperature. You can choose from cotton fiberglass batt insulation, which is cheap and easily installed, but will need to be walled up with drywall or foam board. You can also opt for cellulose or blown-in insulation, which is installed inside existing drywall through a hole, adding it between the drywall and the structural foundation. Another option is injection foam or spray insulation, which is allied to either enclosed cavities (like cellulose or blown-in insulation) or to open walls and ceilings; this is the most expensive, but the highest quality garage wall insulation on the market today.
Options for insulating your garage floor will depend on your general climate and what you use your garage floor for. These factors, among others, will determine how much insulation is wise to install, and what garage floor insulation material is best, as you want to install just enough (and the right type of insulation) to meet your needs without exceeding your budget.