Are you wondering if it makes sense to insulate your garage? Are you looking for a process on how to properly insulate your garage? A garage is a good thing because it offers your car protection against wind and weather and secures it against theft. But not all garages are the same. Some were built by professionals, others by their owners. There are wooden, metal, concrete or brick which give them all a certain specificity. Some garages are attached to your home, others independent, still others completely integrated into the whole building.
Is it worth insulating your garage?
Of course, it all depends on each case. There is no single answer. The insulation of your garage is always recommended when you heat it because you occupy it regularly as a workshop, recreation room or if it is directly linked to your home. In these cases, professional garage insulation saves energy and the resulting heating costs. On the other hand, it is not worth insulating wooden garages: the building material naturally has very good insulating properties, so that insulation is no longer necessary. If your garage is made of metal, more than the insulation, what is important is the ventilation. Because garage insulation would cause moisture to build up, which would lead to rust on the metal and mold on the insulation
Insulate an existing garage
Almost all garages can be insulated after construction. Be sure to create a dense layer of insulation. Because in the event of thermal bridges, heat is unused and lost uncontrollably to the environment. This increases your heating needs, your energy consumption and your heating costs. So what are the key points not to be overlooked to best insulate your garage? First, it is best to use double-walled garage doors. They insulate effectively, retain heat and thus reduce energy losses. Be aware that 20 to 30 percent of heat can be lost when your garage door is not insulated. Second, see if a smaller opening – gate type, is worth it. Assuming you just want to get your bike out of the garage, you save energy because you don’t have to open the biggest door and the heat stays in the garage. Third, if you are insulating your garage ceiling, you should also run the insulation slightly down from the ceiling along the walls. This will avoid unwanted thermal bridges.
How to insulate your garage?
Assuming you have a concrete garage that you want to insulate. Here’s what you need to do step by step.
Start by insulating the door. If your door consists of a single piece and is made of sheet metal, you can use polystyrene insulation panels that you attach from the inside. Clean your door beforehand, removing dirt, especially dust and grease. Use a cloth and an appropriate cleaning product containing alcohol or acetone. Carefully measure your garage door and note its dimensions. Cut the insulation boards to size. They should be applied over the entire surface. Then coat one side of each of the precisely cut insulation boards over the entire surface with commercially available glue. The layer of glue should be very thin. Finally, stick the insulating panels on the door of your garage. Let everything dry for at least 24 hours.
Regarding the ceiling of your garage, it is also possible to use polystyrene panels to insulate it. You can also use mineral foam insulation boards. The important thing is that your ceiling surface is stable, dry, clean and flat. Again, carefully measure the ceiling area and note the dimensions. Cut the insulation boards to fit the required dimensions. Smooth the edges of your insulating panels well by sanding them so that they are perfectly placed against each other and thus create an insulating layer of a holding salt without thermal bridge.
Next, mix the mortar. To do this, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the package or leaflet. Using a trowel, apply the mortar. Finally, attach the insulating panels to the ceiling of your garage. Tap on each of them. Ideally, to avoid unwanted thermal bridges, extend your insulation to the top of the walls of your garage.
Then proceed to floor insulation. Keep in mind that approximately 30% of heat is lost through an uninsulated floor slab. An insulation method is effective for insulating the floor of your garage: you can, if your garage is not yet built, place thermal insulation panels under the concrete slab. Gravel is also an option. Or a mixture of crushed stone and gravel.
Garage insulation: what is the health risk?
Are you worried that pollutants from insulating materials will be emitted into the ambient air and could harm your health? Increasingly, now that certain materials have been detected as carcinogens, insulation manufacturers are modifying their products so that the composition of the insulating materials is beyond reproach. If you insulate your garage yourself, remember to wear a dust mask. And ventilate your garage very regularly for the first few months following your insulation work.