Cheap Ways To Insulate A Garage Door
Is your garage letting in too much heat or excessive cold? Standard metal doors do very little to regulate the temperatures inside the garage. An insulated door can set you back an upwards of $1400.
But, if you do not want to break the bank buying a new model, consider insulating your existing one with inexpensive foam board or fiberglass batting. Below, we show you how to insulate a garage door cheaply plus recommendations on making the project a success.
Measure And Mark The Garage Door
The second step will have you measure your garage door panels. Measure the space vertically and horizontally between the frame. In the following steps, you will need these measurements to cut your insulation to size. Depending on your individual garage door, it can include anywhere from four to nine separate panels clearly defined by the interior garage door frame.
Also, mark out where you are going to install your retainer clips. Each panel will take two clips. These marks should be at least 12 inches from the nearest rail and be vertically centered for the best results. Use a pencil, pen, or marker. Make sure the mark is clearly visible, as you will need to reference it in the next step.
Set Up The Retaining Pins
The biggest advantage of pre-packaged batting kits is their retainer pins. Made of plastic or metal, these pins have a wide base with adhesive at the back so you can stick them on the garage door to hold the insulation in place when the door is open.
- Stick a retainer pin at the center of each panel. For correct positioning, measure the length of the panel, find the middle point then firmly stick the pin. Repeat this until there is a pin on all the panels.
- For a flat-faced garage door, simply install enough pins all over the door to support the number of batting pieces you will install. For best results, space out the pins evenly.
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Insulated Garage Doors Help You Save On Energy Costs $$
Unless you turned your garage into a spare bedroom, you probably didnt install a heater vent inside. Even so, the heat from your home can escape into the garage and get sucked right out through a poorly insulated garage door. This energy loss can keep your heater on for extended periods of time. The inside temperature wont reach the thermostat setting to trigger the automatic shut off.
The amount of heat escaping through your garage may not be enough to make a significant impact each month, but will add up over time. The key to saving on energy costs is to reduce your energy waste everywhere you can because it does add up. Consider that saving just $10/month on your energy bill saves $120/year. That money could be used for a home repair, taking your family out to eat, or paying off debt.
Best Garage Door Insulation Kit Summary
Now that youve read through this guide, you should know a little more about garage insulation and have a better understanding of the current kits available. Remember, there are pros and cons to using many of those that we have outlined before. And you should be able to find the best kit that suits your budget and your requirements.
As you can see, most of the kits are easy to install and require little to no maintenance. They will also fit a standard garage door, but you will want to ensure that your particular model will work with the kit.
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Nasa Tech White Reflective Foam Core 2
Another solid option to consider is the NASA TECH White Reflective Foam Core 2-Car Garage Door Insulation Kit.
Made in the USA, this option is great for anyone living in close proximity to their neighbors or busy streets, as it will help to reduce the amount of noise that enters their home.
This option comes with 4 rolls of 2 x 18 reflective white foam core insulation, which is enough to insulate two average-sized garage doors.
Its also very lightweight and easy to install, which is great if youre not very handy.
The NASA TECH model benefits from having a Class 1 Class A Fire rate too. You will find that it does in fact meet all US and international fire standards. The Class 1 fire rating means that this product is less flammable than other options on the market, and is, therefore, safer to use.
Alongside the kit, you will find that it comes with a new and improved heavy-duty double-sided tape that is used within the automotive industry.
This kit is great for use in both hot and cold climates. In very hot climates, the reflective white foam core will deflect heat away from the garage door, helping to keep it cooler. In colder climates, the insulation will help to keep heat in, making it more energy-efficient.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
- Customers have struggled with previous tapes, yet the new tape supplied has great reviews
- Installation needs to be done correctly in order for the benefits to be received. Ensure the instructions are followed correctly
Insulated Garage Door Cost
From size and style to material and color, theres a lot that goes into selecting a new garage door if youre buying a brand new one. According to HomeAdvisor, the typical insulated garage door cost can be around $800 on the low end to upwards of $10,000 on the highest end of the spectrum. The more custom options and features that you put into your insulated garage door, the more expensive it will get. High-end features include things such as insulated garage doors with windows or insulated, glass garage doorsa garage door style that is commonly found in modern home designs.
Keep things like style and functionality in mind when considering your budget for an insulated garage door.
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How To Insulate A Garage Door Yourself The Right Way
If you have never attempted a do-it-yourself home improvement project, insulating your garage door would be a great place to start. The installation process requires only a few hand tools, with the methods we will describe here, can be a very cost effective project that pays more dividends the longer you own it.
Well break down the basic steps, but youll want to follow the manufacturers instructions for your particular materials. Well also toss in a couple of pro tips here and there to make your project more professional looking.
How To Glue Insulation Board To Garage Doors
Related Articles
Most people remember to insulate house walls and roofs, or around windows and entry doors. Garage doors tend to get overlooked, however. That’s fine when the garage is separate from the home. But when your house spills directly into the garage, so will your heat in the winter and your cool air in the summer. Simply put, an uninsulated garage door, no matter what it’s made of or how thick the material, will cost you money. Retrofitting your garage door with sheets of foam insulation will keep a little more money in your pocket instead.
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Owens Corning Garage Door Insulation Kit
If you want to make sure that you are able to keep heat in or allow a room to stay cool, you need insulation that performs well. When you turn to the Owens Corning Garage Door Insulation Kit, youll find that your garage door enjoys five times better thermal performance. You may also experience up to a 20% reduction in the noise levels. Best of all, youre going to find that you are able to install the insulation in under an hour if you have a standard single garage door.
The kit will allow for you to attain insulated garage doors for a unit of up to 9 ft wide. The panels are made out of R-8 fiberglass but also come with a vinyl facing to help you ensure the room looks great too for whatever your intended use is.
Key Features
- Durable panels with a tough outer core that is also visually pleasing.
- Easy to clean vinyl surface if youre using a mild detergent
- Quick to install and no specialist tools are required
- Safely and swiftly insulate your garage door using just a tape measure, utility knife, straight-edge and marker
- Intended for an uninsulated metal garage door
Pros
- Customers have found that the garage door insulation kit makes the operation quieter and smoother
- Reduces the heat by up to 10 degrees
Cons
- Some customers have noted that the pins supplied do not hold the panels securely
- Using glue or tape to keep them in place can really help to make it last
What Kind Of Insulation Is Best For A Garage
The most common insulation used in a garage is fiberglass insulation, which consists of extremely fine glass fibers with a paper face on top of it. It is often sold in rolls or bags and looks fluffy.
Fiberglass insulation comes in different R-values, which measure how well certain building insulation materials resist heat. The greater the R-value, the greater the ability to insulate.
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Everything You Need To Know About Insulated Garage Doors
Every aspect of your garage should be properly insulated, including your walls, the ceiling, and your garage door. There are plenty of ways to insulate your garage to make it more energy efficient.
You may not spend a lot of time in your garage, but having it properly insulated protects your cars, tools, and stored belongings against weather and temperature-related damage. An insulated garage also prevents heat loss that causes your monthly energy bill to rise.
Quality Residential And Commercial Garage Door Installations And Products
Markham Garage Doors provides the largest selection of residential and commercial garage door products and accessories throughout the Markham area. Our team of friendly and experienced garage experts provides individualized attention to all of our local customers recommending the highest-quality products from leading manufacturers like Clopay® and LiftMaster and finding unique solutions that suit your specific needs, improve your daily conveniences and fit your budget.
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Choosing The Right Insulation
Before learning how to insulate a garage door, its important to know about insulation R-values. R-value measures the effectiveness of a type of insulation. Typically, a higher R-value means better climate control and better energy efficiency for your home. Insulation R-values vary based on the type, thickness and density of the insulation material. The total R-value of your insulated areas can increase as you stack layers of insulation.
A high R-value for your DIY garage door insulation will keep your garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. High R-value insulation, however, is often more expensive than low R-value insulation. To best insulate your garage and stay within budget, choose your insulation type based on the type of garage and garage door you have.
Follow these tips to choose the right insulation for your garage door:
Insulate The Rest Of The Garage Instead
Garage door insulation is of limited value anyway, given the other areas of the garage that are equally problematic in terms of energy loss. The floor of your garage is probably built on a slab, which means that it isn’t insulated and is an ongoing source of energy transference. If your garage has concrete walls, these, too, are constant sources of transference. If you do take the time and spend the money to insulate garage doors, you may well be disappointed by seeing a very minimal improvement on your energy bills because thermal energy is still lost in other areas.
Rather than attempting to insulate the garage door and other components of the garage itself, a much more effective solution is to focus your attention on the boundary walls between the main house and the attached garage. By doing so, even if the temperature fluctuates inside the garage, it won’t significantly affect the temperature inside your home or raise your energy bills. Here are the best ways:
- Put insulation into the ceiling of the garage so it helps stop the loss of energy to the space above, where it may connect to the house attic or a room above the garage.
- Add plenty of insulation on the interior wall of the garage that’s shared with the house itself.
- Eliminate air gaps before insulating by taking a can of low-expanding spray foam around the garage to seal all the gaps and cracks to the outside, especially along any windows.
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How To Insulate A Garage Door In 7 Steps
Is your garage too cold in the winter and hot and stuffy in the summer? This is a common problem that makes using the garage uncomfortable during bouts of the most extreme weather throughout the year. Fret not, there is a solution. Garage doors can be insulated to keep the temperatures milder when the thermometer is eye-popping.
Insulating a garage door is actually a simple process that can be completed in just a few hours by most homeowners. Here is how you can insulate your garage door in seven easy steps.
Benefits Of Garage Door Insulation
As I mentioned above, an insulated garage door will keep your indoor garage space warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
However, these are far from the only benefits. You will also effectively:
- Energy Savings: If you live in a warmer climate, this might not be a factor as much as it would in the northern states. However, you can generally save around 12% on your total energy costs by installing insulation to your garage door.
- Increase Your Property Value: Since garage door insulation will save you money in energy costs, it can also increase your overall property value. According to a Remodeling Value Report issued in 2019, you would recoup some 95.2% of your investment when selling your home. . Again, if you live in a warmer climate as I do, you might not enjoy as much of a benefit from insulation as other parts of the country. However, it will help when it comes time to place your home on the market nonetheless.
- Cuts Down on the Noise: If your garage track system is anything but quiet, insulation can help reduce the grinding noise you hear when your door moves. It helps dampen your doors vibration sounds as it raises and lowers. It also helps drown out the noise from your neighbors lawnmower or the party down the street. In short, it keeps outside noises out or inside noises in, which might be a factor if you have grumpy or loud neighbors.
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B What Are The Insulation Options
Your garage door can have insulation added to the cavity of the door panels, inside the rails and stiles , and in the windows.
Solid Panel Garage Doors can be insulated with sections of polystyrene or liquid polyurethane , which is the better choice. Liquid foam expands into every crevice for better coverage. Its light so it doesnt add much weight, and it contributes to the stability of your garage door since it bonds to the front and back panels.
Doors padded with polystyrene, such as Models 8100 and 8200 of our Classic Steel Doors, offer a moderate R-Value between 3.5 and 7, whereas Models 8300 to 8500 feature liquid polyurethane insulation with R-values of 12.12 and 16.22.
NOTE: Our Premium Steel Doors are made with heavy 24-guage steel, lending even more thermal protection. uses this, plus gives the option of double insulation and a second layer of steel for an R-value of 14.
Glass Panel Garage Doors, such as our Modern Glass Doors, are insulated by filling the grid rails and stiles with liquid polyurethane. This will bring the R-Value to just over 4, which is perfect for mild year-round temperatures in places such as Kelowna.
Windows can also insulate the windows on your garage door, which is handy if you live in an extreme climate or if youve opted for a door with lots of . Double-pane windows already ups the R-Value. In some cases, you can even fill the space between the panes with argon gas for an extra wallop of insulation.
Choose The Best Garage Door Insulation
Before heading over to the home improvement store to pick up supplies, consider which type of product is best for insulating your garage door. The best choice depends on your climate, garage location, and type of door. Insulating capability is measured in R-values the higher the R-value, the more resistant it is to changing temperatures. Therefore, those in colder regions should use insulation with a higher R-value.
- Wooden and uninsulated metal garage doors insulate poorly relative to modern steel garage doors. If you have either of those types, insulating them should be a top priority for home energy efficiency.
- For wooden doors, rigid insulation panels work best, but you can use virtually any type of insulation for metal doors.
- Detached, unheated garages will be fine with low R-value insulation anywhere between R-0 and R-6. As long as you dont use the space for lounging, you dont need to insulate it extremely well.
- Attached, unheated garages need R-7 to R-9 insulation, since climate control in this space affects the homes heating bill.
- Use R-10 to R-13 for heated garages to prevent costly heat from escaping.
- Any garage with living space above it should have R-14 insulation on the door.
- Garage door insulation kits include pre-cut insulation and fasteners. Some also include gloves and utility knives.
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