Advantages of Insulating Your Garage

June 16, 2016

For most homeowners, a home insulation project does not typically include insulating the garage. Not surprisingly, the average person does not recognize the garage as a "thermal boundary". But for the professionals at Great Northern Insulation, the garage space is actually a "boundary" that separates the outdoor air (unconditioned air) from the indoor air (conditioned air). Bottom line, for a residential home that comes with an attached garage, insulating the garage is important. Many homeowners start thinking about garage insulation when there's a finished living space on top. In fact, it's not uncommon for that living space to be overly hot in summer, and overly cold in winter. Essentially, it means that the garage is not a good "thermal boundary". Without a well-insulated garage, the space is neither airtight nor thermally protected. And because every garage allows for air leakage, the living space above the garage is affected, as is the rest of the house. An attached garage is part of the overall building "envelope". It should therefore be treated like the rest of the house - with proper air-sealing and proper insulation. Insulating the garage is actually worthwhile - basically, the space will be kept warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Depending on the amount and extent of the insulation, the now-improved "thermal boundary" should enhance the energy efficiency of the home, and provide energy savings as well. In general, any amount of garage insulation is going to be better than none at all. And while there may be budget considerations, it's not worth doing a half job - half jobs or quick fixes will only set the stage for additional repairs or retrofits in the future. Here, it would be good to have some professional advice - including what product to install and which installation method to employ. And although a DIY approach might save some money, the results can't compare with an expert. Whatever insulation product is chosen, insulating the garage will provide homeowner benefits. For one, the insulated space will be comfortably warm in winter, especially for those who make regular use of the garage space. As well, an insulated garage will prevent air-conditioned air from leaking out of the house in summer. Finally, when an attached garage is properly insulated, that living space above becomes more comfortable throughout the year, both winter and summer. For the professionals at Great Northern Insulation, one of the better approaches to insulating the garage is to include the under-side of the ceiling. This type of installation will greatly increase the R-Value of the space, and will assure optimum thermal insulation for the living area above the garage. Always acting as a "thermal boundary", a properly insulated garage does a lot: air leakage is stopped; moisture collection is prevented; and R-Values provide better energy efficiency. While some homeowners might opt for the DIY approach, garage insulation really requires some expertise. Professionals understand the different products and installations, and can suggest the best approach, based on the physical properties of the garage and home. Best of all, products and installations are guaranteed, and homeowners are assured of long-term performance.