While it is natural for homeowners to pay more attention to the insulation in the attic and the basement, another major culprit is often the garage attached to your home. It is because there are a lot of gaps letting let the cold or warmth escape. Insulating the garage is not only beneficial if you want to use the space as a workshop but it also keeps the adjoining rooms of the house cool or warm, increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
Signs That Tell You Your Garage Needs Insulation
You know you have got to do something if you find the rooms adjacent to the garage feeling cold in the winter and hot during the summer. Other signs to watch out for include crumbling or flaking insulation on the garage walls or all garage noises being audible from inside your house. You can also seek a professional opinion if you have not upgraded or sealed the garage insulation in the last 10 years.
Compelling Reasons to Consider Insulating Your Garage
The most important reason for insulating your garage is to keep your home more comfortable during winter and summer by limiting the heat loss or gain. The garage insulation helps keep the rest of the house at a more comfortable temperature without your HVAC system working overtime. According to Forbes, you should resist the temptation to insulate only the garage door and instead consider insulating the entire garage for the best results.
If you go to stellrr insulation & spray foam for garage insulation, you will benefit from reduced energy bills and less repair and maintenance costs for your HVAC equipment. Additionally, you will enjoy a more calming environment inside the house as the insulation will filter out the outside noise. Moreover, insulating your garage also helps to protect the structural integrity of the building as it keeps your home drier and reduces the chances of ice dams forming and causing roof damage.
R-Value and Different Insulation Materials
You must know the importance of the R-value before deciding the way forward. The R-value of insulation is its resistance to the flow of heat through it. The higher the R-value, the better it can insulate your home. Professionals recommend using insulation with an R-value between 13 and 21 to create the desired thermal boundary between the garage and your home. Often you will find insulation experts recommending insulation material with an R-value in the 30-40 range for garage ceilings.
Some of the popular garage insulation materials include fiberglass and rock wool. However, fiberglass may not work well everywhere because it absorbs moisture, but rock wool, available in large batts, is fire-resistant and durable. Spray foam has excellent insulation and moisture-resistant properties but is more expensive. You can also choose polyurethane foam boards or cellulose insulation, typically made from recycled materials, and thus eco-friendlier.
Conclusion
Given the importance and expense of insulating your garage, you will do well to ask for a professional inspection and recommendation to get the bang for your buck. A professional will also be able to do the job with better finesse and give you better and more enduring results.