Are you looking to convert your garage into a usable space? Maybe an extra room, a gym, or simply a workroom. Whatever your reasoning, maybe we can help with a few simple tips. 
Insulation is used to contain the temperature in a room. Meaning it will help keep the cold or hot in by preventing it from escaping through the walls and ceiling. If you are looking to heat or cool the room you will also need to look into additional resources to do this.
Types of Insulation
There are several types of insulation you can pick to use in your garage area. If you are going for a DIY install the easiest to work with will be the fiberglass insulation rolls and batts. They are easy to use and handle, they fit between framing and they can be used everywhere.
If you prefer using any other type of insulation including, loose-fill fiberglass, loose-fill cellulose, and polystyrene structural insulated panels it is recommended to leave that to the professionals. These types of insulation can be harder to find as well as pricier and harder to install.
What is Fiberglass Insulation?
Fiberglass insulation is often sold in bags or rolls. It consists of extremely fine glass fibers that have a paper face on top of it. It comes in different R-values. The R-value is a measure of how well the insulation will resist heat. So the greater the R-value the greater the ability to insulate.
If you are trying to figure out what R-value you should use in your home keep in mind:
- Most older homes were built using 2×4 studs and should use R-13 insulation.
- Most newer homes meaning they were built in the last 10-15 years were built with 2×6 studs. These homes should use R-21 insulation.
- For the ceiling, you should use R-40 insulation.
Getting Started
If you know what kind of insulation you are wanting to use you then need to determine how much you will need for your garage remodel. Some guidelines for figuring out all the materials and amounts needed are below.
- Fiberglass insulation- To find out how much you need you will have to measure the linear feet around the entire room and multiply it by the height of the room. This will give you the square footage of the garage. It is recommended you buy an extra roll just in case, you can always return if you end up not needing it.
- Garage door insulation kit- You do not have to buy one of these but it is highly recommended if you want to do the job right.
- Expanding foam- Should your walls have gaps and cracks in them you will want to fill these in before you put your insulation in. This helps ensure the outside temperatures are not creeping in.
- Drywall- You can use the same measuring technique you did for the insulation to figure out how much you will need. Measure the linear feet around the room and multiply it by the height of the room.
- Gloves and long sleeves- While this may seem like an odd thing to add to your list, it is not. Fiberglass can easily irritate your skin so long sleeves and gloves are needed for your protection.
Tools Needed for the Job
- Sharp utility knife to cut insulation
- Wood that can be used as a guide to help with cutting
- Staple gun and staples to staple the insulation into place
4 Easy steps to insulate your garage
Step 1: Clean the walls
- If your garage has drywall already in it remove it and trash it.
- Clean up any dirt and debris this leaves behind., as well as clear out all the stud cavities.
- Look for any mold and clean it up.
Step 2: Look for Gaps and Cracks in Wall
- Shake your expanding foam can for about a minute.
- Attach the straw to the can and hold it upside down to spray into all cracks and gaps.
- Only fill opening up about 50% full. The foam will expand.
- Give foam about 15 minutes to fully expand and about 8 hours to fully cure.
Step 3: Install fiberglass Insulation
- Staple the paper face of the insulation to the side of the stud. Do not staple to the face of the stud. You will need the face to attach the drywall to later.
- Put a piece of wood on top of the insulation to use as a guide to cut the insulation down to the right size.
- Use a utility knife to cut excess insulation so it fits the size of the studs.
- Tuck the insulation in to make it neat and easier to staple.
- Staple the insulation down the side of the stud on both sides.
Step4: Cover with Drywall
Screw and glue the drywall to the stud. Leaving the paper of the insulation exposed can be a fire hazard so this is an important step.
How to Insulate a Garage Ceiling
Insulating the ceiling of your garage is essentially the same as doing your walls. remember to use R-40 insulation and it is easier to measure between the framing in the ceiling then pre-cut the pieces you will need.
Insulating the ceiling is important because heat rises and can escape through the roof. Make sure the top of your garage is protected to trap all your heat in.
How to Insulate a Garage Door
Insulating a garage door can be more involved than doing the doors. The easiest option is to buy a door that is already insulated. If you are looking to do it yourself it is recommended you use a garage door insulation kit.
The process is fairly similar to doing the walls and ceiling. Just keep in mind this will add weight to your garage door so you may need to check your springs and balance when you are done. Call our office today to learn more about how we can help you.
New York Gates is the leading security gate and commercial garage door supplier and installer in New York City. We service all the 5 boroughs of NYC.
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