Unsure of whether you need to insulate your garage? Well, there are no regulations for detached garages, but if you have an attached garage some government organizations state that shared walls and ceilings with a room above must have a certain R‑value. As for non‑shared walls… well there’s no set regulations.
But why would you bother insulating if you don’t need to? Ask anyone and they’ll give you the same response: for comfort. If you’re going to be using your garage for anything other than parking and storage, you’ll probably want to be comfortable in there, and there’s absolutely no point using a space heater if the walls are not insulated!
Have a look at these six reasons why you should insulate your garage:
1. Think of your garage as part of your home
Garages used to be used solely for parking cars and storage, but now people transform them into additional rooms: gyms, play areas, workshops, craft rooms… you name it! If you insulate your garage, you’ll be able to comfortably spend time in it all year long!
2. Insulate to stop cold entering your home
Insulated shared walls and weather‑stripped access doors only protect your home from the cold when the door is closed, each time you open that access door the cold air from the garage seeps in to your home, and the warm air from your home exits into the garage.
3. You simply need to insulate
If you have plumbing in your garage, maybe a sink for cleaning up after DIY and crafts projects, or you might even have your washer and dryer hooked up in there, you simply must insulate. If not your pipes will freeze in colder weather.
We’ve already mentioned that ceilings should be insulated if there’s a room above, if you don’t you will probably find it difficult to warm that room to a comfortable level.
4. Avoid humidity‑caused damages
Humidity causes rust and mould, so if you store your expensive recreational equipment or your treasured possessions in an uninsulated garage they may become damaged.
5. Protect your home from the dangers of carbon monoxide
Imagine you accidentally press the button on your remote starter and the car is closed away in the garage… What’s your first thought? It was probably about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, right? Protect your home from the dangers of carbon monoxide by insulating your garage and weather‑stripping your access door. Installing a carbon monoxide detector next to the access door is also a good idea.
6. Reduce noise
Well‑insulated garages reduce the level of sound entering your home from the outside and the level of sound emanating from your home to the outside. Imagine being able to work on DIY projects with power tools early on a Sunday morning without your neighbours complaining, or letting your kid practice the drums without everyone in the house (and neighbourhood) rushing to find ear defenders…
Don’t forget about your garage door!
Your main garage door is large and acts as a fourth wall, if you forget to insulate your garage door the efforts you’ve taken on the other three walls and the ceiling will be in vain, as the heat will seep out and the cold will seep in through the garage door.
If you’re thinking of changing your garage door call us at 1-800-696-1926, so we can help you make the right choice, or request a free online quotation.
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