The garage is different from other rooms in one’s home. It is a versatile space whose utility is defined by the user. To insulate one’s garage is an important decision to make. Hence, one must consider all possible pros and cons before deciding, especially to insulate the garage. The garage is a room if you can call it that, like none other. It might be just a parking space for your vehicle, and some might be a storage space.
There are many reasons for one to insulate their garage. In some places, it is a norm for shared walls of buildings to have a minimum R-value and thus require insulation. Also, insulating a room can prevent heat transfer and drastically drive down energy bills in the process. But, it’s not necessary to insulate a garage because it depends on the utility of the garage for the user.
In this article, we will be looking deeper into whether one should insulate the garage and analyze the pros and cons of insulating the garage. We will also discuss whether it is appropriate for you to opt for insulation and look at the pricing of the best options available in the market currently.
Pros and Cons of Insulating Garage
There has been a steady change in the way people perceive a garage nowadays. From vehicle storage to a children’s play area, a garage can be anything you want it to be, including your gym. It can be said that whether you should insulate your garage depends on what you use for your garage.
If the only thing you use your garage for is to store your vehicle, insulating it will be a waste of resources and money. But, on the other hand, if you have installed your heating devices such as furnaces in the garage or use the garage as an extended living/working/playing space, it might be a good idea for you to consider insulation and create a protected space, which would ensure comfort.
Pros | Cons |
Can reduce energy costs | Can be expensive |
Can maintain ambient temperature | It can take years to reach breakeven |
Reduces the exposure to moisture | Can increase the temperature in the garage |
Good for soundproofing | Can cause problems for the garage door |
Provides extra living/working space |
|
Now, let us look at the pros and cons of insulating the garage to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
Reduces Energy Bills
This is one of the biggest motivations to insulate your garage. Garages often have the least insulation and are prone to changes in the immediate surroundings. This can cause leakages in the heat produced by the heating system and the air conditioning inside your home, causing inefficiency and thus increasing working hours of the appliance, thereby increasing energy costs. Adding insulation to your garage can essentially prevent heat transfer and save you money in the long term as reduced energy bills.
Regulate The Temperature in the Garage
This is the primary focus of adding insulation to any walls/ceiling in your home. Adding insulation on the garage walls can help keep the outside temperature outside. This adds comfort to your home and reduces reliance on heating and air conditioning systems.
Without proper insulation, you will continue to lose heat, resulting in uneven temperature in your home.
Reduces Moisture Content
Adding insulation to your garage is to trap the heat inside and keep the moisture content outside. If your garage is not insulated, it is prone to moisture problems and causes damage and corrosion to sensitive contents inside. This includes metals, electronics, seasonal decorations, lights, etc. Metals can easily erode after prolonged exposure to moisture, and organic materials are more likely to develop molds and mildews.
Provides Sound Insulation
Most insulations available in the market currently are excellent sound insulators in addition to heat insulators. This provides your garage with the much-needed privacy from the noisy next-door neighbors or soundproof the loud instrument you have in your garage. Garages are common places to store and use heavy equipment. To protect your loved ones from the noise, you can opt to insulate your home with good-quality insulation.
Gives You Extra Space
An insulated garage provides you with extra space that is almost similar, in terms of security, to the other rooms in your home. An insulated garage can provide you with temperature regulation and safety, and it doesn’t have to be the place where you only park your car.
An insulated garage provides you with room for a homel gym, a workshop, or even a play area for kids. It can also provide storage space for delicate objects. In conclusion, insulating a garage lets you use the garage as you would any other room in your house.
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Cons
We have seen that insulating a garage has its advantages. But, like every good thing in life, it isn’t one without problems. Now, let us look at the cons of insulating your garage.
Insulation Can Be Costly
This is one of the biggest red flags for most people looking to insulate their homes. Insulating garages can be costly. But, this is subjective as it depends on the level of insulation you are going for and the material used to insulate the walls and the ceiling. One can also factor in the cost of insulation.
Insulation costs increase according to the size of the garage, but one thing to consider is that insulating bigger garages can help you save money in the form of energy bills.
It Can Take Years to Reach Breakeven
We have already established that installing insulation in your garage can turn out to be costly. Even though we can gain from the lower energy bills, it can take years to reach breakeven and even more profit. This can take even longer if you don’t use your garage much often. This is preferred for users who frequently use the garage and want to maintain an ambient temperature in the garage.
Issues with The Garage Door
It has been seen in many cases that improper or careless installation of insulation solutions in garages can cause problems with the functioning of the garage door. Also, the giant door is one of the biggest leaks for the air to travel through. To achieve higher efficiency insulations, one also has to insulate the garage door.
It Can Increase the Temperature in the Garage
We have mentioned that insulation can help you trap heat inside the garage, which can be quite beneficial in situations. But, on the other hand, if there’s heat in excess inside the garage, it can trap the heat and thereby increase the temperature.
Consider the scenario where you park your car inside the garage after a long drive or use heavy equipment for prolonged periods inside the garage. In both cases, additional heat is being added inside the garage where there is no place for the heat to escape. This can cause quite a problem, especially if you live in a hot, humid climate.
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Should I Insulate My Garage?
This is one of the important questions we are trying to answer in this article. Is insulating your garage worth it? We have already presented detailed information about the pros and cons of insulating one’s garage. Knowing this should enable you to make an informed decision.
Now, to the question at hand. The need for insulation of your garage depends on what you use your garage for. If you’re a regular user of your garage, you can go for an insulated garage. This is also applicable for people who have converted the garages to living/working quarters.
If you wish to save and store objects prone to corrosion or any form of degradation inside your garage, it is best to do so after installing insulation. This is because garages are most prone to such external stimuli and can easily damage the equipment.
But, if you’re someone who rarely uses your garage or uses it only to park your vehicles, it is better not to insulate your garage as it can cost you money for minimal change. We don’t want our hard-earned money to be wasted on bad investments now, do we?
How Much to Insulate a Garage?
If you’ve decided to install insulation in your home garage, now let us look at the available options. One of the most important aspects one should consider while choosing insulation is the material and installation costs. By default, the installation costs of insulation solutions vary according to the material used, the ease of installation, and the layers of insulation required.
However, it costs about $1.48 – $ 1.95 per square foot to insulate a garage. This is a median value and can vary according to the place of residence. There are several insulation options available in the market for you to choose from. This includes fiberglass, cellulose insulation, rigid foam insulation, spray foam insulation (open and closed foam insulation), garage door insulation, etc.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have pondered whether it is good to insulate one’s garage. We have seen that insulating a garage has its benefits, including reduced energy bills, stable temperatures, increased work/living space, etc. But, it isn’t without flaws and can be quite expensive and, in some cases, an unworthy investment. It can take quite a few years to recoup the investment cost from reduced energy bills.
We have also seen the pros and cons of installing insulation in the garage so that the readers can make an informed decision whether it is worthwhile to install or just a waste of money. The need for insulation in one’s garage depends on its utility and the user’s requirements.