As the mercury starts to drop, it’s time to start winterizing your home. This handy guide will help.
There’s nothing simple about getting your home ready for winter. You need to make you’re your outdoor plants are prepared, that your heating system is up to the task, and so much more. We understand, which is why we created this handy guide to help ensure you get everything covered in the garage.
It’s not just about convenience, though. We’ve sorted through the options to help you find those that are the most cost-effective for you.
Is this your style? These garage doors are in Eastman E-21 Design, 9' x 7', Ice White doors and overlays, 8 lite Orion windows.
First Up, Garage Prep
Love this style? This garage door is in North Hatley LP Design, 9’ x 7’ size, Desert Sand coulor, and its windows are with Richmond Inserts.
Garage R-Values and Your Winterizing Efforts
If air leaks into your garage during the winter, temperatures can plunge dramatically. To keep this from happening, you need good insulation throughout the garage (walls and ceiling). This will help keep the warm air within the garage and the cold air outside. How do you tell how good your insulation is, though? It’s indicated in the R-value, which is a numerical expression of how well the material protects against the reductive flow of heat.
The higher the number, the better the protection it offers against the loss of heat. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to install the highest R-value insulation all over the garage. It will vary based on things like your climate and even the area of the garage where you’re installing the insulation. As an example, your floor doesn’t require the same R-value as the ceiling.
How Much Do You Really Need?
Your garage can affect how well your home can maintain its temperature. Many different factors affect the R-value you’ll need including the following:
● Insulation
A moderately insulated garage should have a rating of about R-12. On the other hand, a heavily insulated garage will have one around R-16.
● Attached or detached
Is your garage attached or detached? If it’s attached, you should have a minimum of R-12 in terms of insulation. If your garage is detached and not heated, you can go as low as you would like without it affecting your home.
● Usage
How you use your garage will also have an impact. For instance, is there a living room or bedroom above the garage? You’ll need an R-16 rating then.
Materials to Consider
While fiberglass is the insulation of choice for your walls and ceiling, garage doors can have different options. These include the following:
● Polyurethane foam is installed between the two layers of the garage door by injection. As it infiltrates, it expands, sealing every crack and then hardening to provide thick, solid resistance and protection.
These pictures illustrate the differences between polyurethane (left) and polystyrene (right).
● Polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam, polystyrene comes in sheets. It is flexible, not as strong as polyurethane, and does not offer the same level of protection, either.
Don’t Miss These Critical Areas
● Gap at the bottom
Can you see daylight under your garage door when it’s closed? If so, water, pests, and cold air can get in. You’ll need to replace your garage door weatherstripping. You may also want to check that the floor/doorway is even and doesn’t need to be repaired.
● Garage door opener
Did you know that you can adjust the distance from your garage door to the floor by using the garage door opener? Use your owner’s manual to do it correctly.
● Gap on the sides and top
You have a perimeter weatherstrip that should seal the gap on the sides of the door. You can also add stop molding to the top of the door if you want to further reduce airflow.
Check the Walls and Ceiling
Your garage’s walls and ceiling should be insulated but bear in mind that pricing can vary for different materials. You also need to have a higher R-value for the ceiling than the walls since warm air rises and you want to trap it in the garage. Note that working with a professional can help ensure you make the right choices here.
With that being said, it’s simple to install insulation on your own. These four steps from Dumpsters.com can help:
● Step 1: Clean the walls thoroughly
● Step 2: Gaps should be closed/sealed
● Step 3: Install fiberglass insulation
● Step 4: Add drywall to the walls
You’ll also benefit from learning more about the various types of insulation, as well as what each brings to the table. Make sure to follow their blog for a lot of valuable winterization tips.
The walls and ceiling should be insulated for maximum protection. Image from Pixabay.
Check the Windows
Windows offer a lot of natural light, but they can also be hidden sources of airflow you’re your garage. Luckily, there are simple ways to reduce that.
● Weatherstrip
One simple way to help reduce airflow in your garage is to use weatherstrip tape. All you need to do is add it to the frame and make sure it’s cut to fit to block air leaks.
● Caulk
Caulking helps to seal windows, but it will eventually crack and fail. Check your caulking and if it’s cracking, replace it. Not sure how? This article can help.
● Curtains
Window treatments like thermal curtains can help reduce airflow into and out of your garage. Don’t use blinds, though, as they don’t really do much good.
Seal Your Outlets and Switches
Have you sealed your light switches? What about your electrical outlets? It’s easy to miss them. However, as Conservation Mart points out, up to 5% of your air infiltration can occur through these gaps in your protection.
Not sure how to insulate your switches and outlets? This list covers 7 simple options. For instance, you can use foam gaskets to help prevent air from leaking around outlets. It’s never been simpler to stop even small leaks.
Consider Condensation
Have you spotted droplets of water on your garage wall windows or maybe the inside of the door? It’s caused by water coming into contact with a cold surface, which creates moisture. There’s a chance that you could have a water leak.
Preventing Water from Entering the Garage
First, check out the garage floor where the door comes down. Does the floor slope away from the door and toward the driveway? If not, you’ll need to change things. Cracked, uneven pavement can also cause water to leak.
Why worry about condensation? There are several reasons. First, it can lead to mold and mildew damage. Second, it can actually prevent the area from heating properly, driving up your utility bills without any return.
Here’s a great example of a garage door and floor that are both properly sealed and ready to go.
If you’re struggling with moisture, there are two options. First, you can use a floor coating. Second, you can install a dehumidifier.
Keep Your Garage Warm
You have a wide range of solutions to heat your garage, including space heaters, radiant flooring, and so much more. Why bother, though? Actually, there are quite a few reasons, including:
● Prevent frozen piping and other damage
● Protect your belongings from the cold
● Avoid moisture-related problems
● Keep your car’s battery at the optimum level
● Reduce thermal drag from your home to the garage
Still Need Answers on Garage Door Insulation?
By this point, you should be ready to handle insulating your entire garage door, from ceiling to walls. We’ve also provided some important information to help you reduce air leaks.
Garage Door Maintenance and Repair Services
Is your garage door in need of a little TLC? Instead of replacing it, let the garage door specialists at Upper Level Doors give you a hand. We can help ensure that everything’s ready for winter, from the weatherstripping to the windows, and everything in between. We can also replace any damaged hardware or accessories that might be required.
Why should you try to handle all the garage door repair and maintenance needs when our team is ready and able to do it for you? Whether you have a single or a double, a carriage style, or something more modern, our garage door technicians are here for you. Let us save you time and money.
What happens if your garage door actually needs to be replaced? We can help there, too. If the door is what’s keeping you from winterizing your garage, there are solutions! It might be time to invest in a new one.
Kingston: 613-547-4566
Belleville: 613-966-5655
Buying a new garage door is a big decision. There are lots of considerations to make – style, number of windows, materials, and more. Our garage door specialists are dedicated to helping you make an informed decision about your garage door replacement needs and will be happy to walk you through everything you need to know. Whether you’ve got questions about how to match your door to your home’s current style or you’re not sure about your budget, we can provide you with the guidance necessary to get the ideal garage door.
We recommend that you begin with a look through our image gallery. Here, you’ll find a ton of different garage doors to consider. These images can also provide you with an idea of our experience and expertise. Don’t stop there, though. Give our Design Centre a try and use it to design the perfect garage door for your specific home.
Ready to get started? Just request your free quote and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
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