Are you curious about whether or not it’s worth it to insulate and heat your garage? Are you worried about building standards that would stop you? There really aren’t any. There are government organizations that will tell you that, if you want an attached garage, the common walls must have specific R-values, and if there is a second-floor room, the ceiling must have a certain R-value for the ceiling, too. As far as the other walls, though? What about the garage door? Nothing! And there are no rules whatsoever concerning a detached garage.
Of course, you may also be wondering why it’s even worth insulating your garage in the first place. Well, in a word, “comfort.” Your garage will be much more comfortable for tackling DIY jobs, for example, without having to worry about humidity or freezing temperatures.
That being said, let’s look at six common reasons people insulate – and, sometimes, heat – their garages.
Your garage is an extension of your home
More and more, you’re seeing garages existing as extensions of homes. They’re not just for parking cars, anymore. Now, they get used for everything from fitness rooms to workshops to areas for your children can play in.
With an insulated garage, the entire space can be heated to a comfortable temperature and used for work, having fun with the family, keeping in shape or just hanging out.
Cold can enter your home from your garage
Most of the time, the door that connects the garage to the home is very well insulated and made with effective weather stripping. However, every time that door gets opened, the environments from the home and garage begin to trade. The result is that your heated home becomes cooler or your air-conditioned home becomes warmer.
When your garage is insulated, this no longer needs to be a concern, no matter what season it is.
Sometimes, it’s essential
You might not care too much about the temperature in your garage. Nonetheless, it may still be vital that you insulate. For example, your garage could have plumbing. You may have your washer and dryer installed out there. The pipes absolutely must be insulated, or they could become frozen and burst.
Of course, if you have a room above the garage, especially a bedroom, a lack of insulation can make it unlivable when temperatures hit their extremes.
Protecting your personal property
If you’re like most people, you could use more storage space in your home. With an insulated garage, you suddenly will have no lack of it. Whether it’s seasonal articles, personal items, recreational equipment or just about anything else, insulation will keep humidity at bay and your possessions safe.
Guarding your home against carbon monoxide
Have you ever accidentally started your car with a remote starter? Have you ever started it and then returned to your home and forgot it was still running? If not, count yourself lucky, because the spread of carbon monoxide into your home that would ensue can be deadly.
Insulated garages with well-insulated access doors keep this deadly chemical from getting inside the attached houses.
It’s still smart to install a carbon monoxide detector for safety’s sake, though. This device should be mounted near your garage, too.
Noise buffering
An insulated garage will prevent sound transfer in both directions. If you want to play loudly with your kids, there’s no reason your neighbors need to hear about it early in the morning. Likewise, you can go ahead and start using your circular saw at whatever hour you like.
Remember your garage door!
As we touched on earlier, your garage door is a lot like a fourth wall. Therefore, make sure you insulate your garage door as well or all the benefits we mentioned above will be lost.
Need help with garage insulation? Just have some questions you’d like clarified? Then contact us today at 705-324-1005. One of our garage experts will answer any questions you have and happily provide advice about insulating your garage. You can also request a free online quotation from us, too.
Lastly, if you plan on replacing your garage door in the near future, our Design Centre will be a lot of help. We also have an online image gallery to give you some ideas.
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