Garage Door Insulation

[FarFire70]

For those considering insulating your garage door - Do it!

Aluminum garage doors are a serious heat/cold sync!

I insulated all the walls in my garage and held off on the garage door for a year or more. I still felt a chill in the garage - even though the insulated walls made a big impacts.

I went with 1" Polystyrene Board Insulation for the garage door. Lowes #15358

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-1-i...ded-Polystyrene-Foam-Board-Insulation/3365576

Installed this a couple years ago and it make a huge impact to the overall garage temp!

——

Today:

40*F outside

Temp on the insulation:

Used the laser on the print to minimize reflections.

Temp on the aluminum door that is carrying/radiation temp from outside:

About a 5* difference radiating into the garage.

I've felt a difference with the door insulated compared to just the bare doors.

—-

I did re-calibrate the garage door springs for the added weight but it was maybe 0.5-1 turns on the spring so not too much added weight.

Encourage anyone with an insulated garage to think about this. Aluminum garage door is a huge weight radiator into the room...

 

[Rubiconned]

How much weight did it add to the door and did it strain the motor? Some people use mylar bubble wrap because it's lighter.

 

[FarFire70]

How much weight did it add to the door and did it strain the motor? Some people use mylar bubble wrap because it's lighter.

I bought 5 4x8 sheets and used about 4.

Like I mentioned - be sure to re-balance the springs. Mine has the springs over the double-wide door. If you went with a single door with springs along the track - I suspect you'd need to up them, but I can't speak from experience.

I've see the other kits with filler in a bag — they just didn't seem consistent in their insulation.

My motor runs just as smooth as it did before after 2 years. Springs really carry the weight so a quick balance gets that right.

 

[JustDandee]

Absolutely makes a difference!

I spent the $$ this summer and put another r13 worth of insulation in the attic. And then to boot I have a newer home that insulated the foundation wall and has always on fan that pulls air from a vent to the condition house. That fan exhausts that up and out the roof. I found that air to be about 67 degrees. Self said I, 67 is warmer than 20 degree winter days AND 67 is cooler than 90 degree summers…I am going to open that up to vent to my garage. Seems to be helping modulate the temp swing but Also the benefits of positive pressure to offset some of the gaps around the garage door.

 

[FarFire70]

Absolutely makes a difference!

I spent the $$ this summer and put another r13 worth of insulation in the attic. And then to boot I have a newer home that insulated the foundation wall and has always on fan that pulls air from a vent to the condition house. That fan exhausts that up and out the roof. I found that air to be about 67 degrees. Self said I, 67 is warmer than 20 degree winter days AND 67 is cooler than 90 degree summers…I am going to open that up to vent to my garage. Seems to be helping modulate the temp swing but Also the benefits of positive pressure to offset some of the gaps around the garage door.

Garage door gaps (at the walls) are important! I had to replace all mine (10 years old) as they were letting in light — so also letting in weather.

Bottom seal was also lazily installed where edges were not cut but pushed inside so they created a hard edge that didn't let the middle of the door seal. Like your home - your garage needs good sealing.

Awesome if you can re-use the attic to heat your garage!

 

[Zorba]

I installed insulation on my garage door here in Florida as it faces west. It made a noticeable difference for sure. Yes, the door had to be re-balanced.

 

[FarFire70]

** For the below, weather reported outside is 31* and the garage door has been closed since about 5pm. Garage door faces away from the sun setting **

Now that the temps have really dipped, I figured I'd post some additional data.


Temp of the garage door (interior metal parts):

Temp of the insulation:

Temp of my Jeep's rear corner (closest to the door):

Temp at the Jeep's door (about mid-garage; maybe 10-feet from the door):

Temp of my vehicle outside:

More data to add to how useful garage door insulation can help - hot or cold temps!

 

[ColoJeep]

Absolutely makes a difference!

I spent the $$ this summer and put another r13 worth of insulation in the attic. And then to boot I have a newer home that insulated the foundation wall and has always on fan that pulls air from a vent to the condition house. That fan exhausts that up and out the roof. I found that air to be about 67 degrees. Self said I, 67 is warmer than 20 degree winter days AND 67 is cooler than 90 degree summers…I am going to open that up to vent to my garage. Seems to be helping modulate the temp swing but Also the benefits of positive pressure to offset some of the gaps around the garage door.

Sounds like the " always on fan " is for Radon mitigation , you might rethink venting that air to the garage .

 

[JustDandee]

Sounds like the " always on fan " is for Radon mitigation , you might rethink venting that air to the garage .

Right?!
No, it’s a part of a crawl insulation system that gets you higher on the HERS index….but I did take that that into consideration before I made the mod. Other consideration to not do this would be moisture. Since the garage is like 1400sgft with 16’ ceiling- in our region, mold should not be an issue.

 

[ColoJeep]

Right?!
No, it’s a part of a crawl insulation system that gets you higher on the HERS index….but I did take that that into consideration before I made the mod. Other consideration to not do this would be moisture. Since the garage is like 1400sgft with 16’ ceiling- in our region, mold should not be an issue.

Interesting , What is your homes HEAR rating , and did you perform a radon test? Thanks.

 

[JustDandee]

To get certified you need to do the blower door test I think, this home was a builders spec house.. good builder… just using best practices. Example When I went upgrade my insulation I had the original installer bid the work and he pulled records and told me my garage walls were r13, attic was R-13 over the garage and R42 on the house- all above code already. Ultimately used him to get r26 garage and R 55 house. No randon test - never had cause for concern in this community- bonus I have a lot out of state retires in my sub-carnies in the coal mine approach. I am sure I would have heard chatter on the neighborhood FB page if something turned up… okay maybe not best approach but it’s low on my concerns.

 

[ColoJeep]

To get certified you need to do the blower door test I think, this home was a builders spec house.. good builder… just using best practices. Example When I went upgrade my insulation I had the original installer bid the work and he pulled records and told me my garage walls were r13, attic was R-13 over the garage and R42 on the house- all above code already. Ultimately used him to get r26 garage and R 55 house. No randon test - never had cause for concern in this community- bonus I have a lot out of state retires in my sub-carnies in the coal mine approach. I am sure I would have heard chatter on the neighborhood FB page if something turned up… okay maybe not best approach but it’s low on my concerns.

Ok thanks.