Garage Insulation Project, from 2005

[Energy Conservation in Housing]

Garage Insulation Project, from 2005

When we moved into our house in 2005, the garage was uninsulated, with bare studs visible all along the exterior walls of the garage.

I found the garage got exceedingly cold during that winter.

The garage had just standard 2x4 studs in the walls.

The attic space above the garage also had no insulation.

I installed the standard R-11 insulation between the wall studs.

Then I covered the wall with 4 mil polyethylene.

Then I sealed the vapor barrier at the floor and ceiling, as well as around the electrical boxes.

Around the window and door area I used aluminum tape to seal the vapor barrier to the framing.

Above the garage door, I was able to fit in a small amount of thermal insulation, then I covered the area with a section of radiant barrier.

The garage door was made with insulated panels.

Then I covered the walls of the garage with sheetrock, and painted the walls and ceiling.

In the attic space, I used R-11 insulation, with the vapor barrier facing down, and I attached a radiant barrier to the underside of the roof rafters.

The effect has made the garage much more comfortable, especially in winter.

In summer, there’s not much help, because we park a couple of cars in the garage, which transfers the heated car temperatures to the slightly hot garage.  The cars make the garage even hotter.  I recently added a screen door next to the external door of the garage, and can I ventilate the garage through the screen door, when it gets too hot.