subject: Garage Insulation Saves You Money [print this page] Garage insulation is probably not something you think about very often. Most homeowners keep their attics and walls well insulated because they know it saves on energy costs. But, since garages are hardly ever conditioned or heated, insulation doesn't seem important.
But is it really not important? The temperature in an uninsulated garage is, roughly, the same as outside. It does, however make a difference if the garage and the rest of the house share an uninsulated wall or ceiling. And don't forget toxic fumes such as those from car exhaust, paint and fertilizer entering your home.
By simply insulating the walls and ceiling shared by your garage and home, you can keep out harmful elements. It is important to choose the right way to insulate your garage.
One of the most popular ways of insulating is using batt insulation. While the R-values (the rating of insulation performance) for batt insulation may be similar to other insulating materials, it is not the best choice for garages.
Batt insulation is installed in rolls, or batts. The rolls do not insulate gaps and spaces between ceiling and wall. The result is that fumes can enter your home, and energy escape. Damage from moisture is also a problem.
A better choice are foam-board, and solid sheets of molded polystyrene. The gaps between ceiling and wall are not, however, always properly insulated by foam board.
To reduce energy loss and fume seepage from your garage as much as possible, you need insulation that fills every gap and covers your garage walls and ceiling with a tight seal. Spray foam insulation allows you to fill in all the gaps. R-values are the same as similar thicknesses of foam-board insulation and spray foam insulation is resistant to moisture damage.
