Garage insulation is a smart way to transform your garage into a more comfortable and energy-efficient space. It helps provide an extra layer of protection, making it a more usable and eco-friendly part of your home. Here at Insulation Express, we have all the tools and products you’ll need to insulate your garage in no time.
How Does Garage Insulation Work?
Garage insulation involves adding specialised materials to the walls, ceiling, door and even the floor to create a barrier that helps regulate temperature. This not only makes your garage more comfortable throughout the year, but it can also reduce your heating and cooling costs.
What Are The Benefits Of Garage Insulation?
There are many benefits when it comes to insulating your garage space.
- Helps regulate the temperature inside the garage. In cold climates, it keeps the space warmer during winter, while in hot climates, it prevents excessive heat from entering during the summer.
- Reduces heating and cooling costs.
- Money saved on heating and cooling bills can offset the initial investment in insulation materials and installation.
- Increases useability of space.
- Dampens noise coming from inside.
- Protects temperature-sensitive items.
- Can add value to your home.
Types Of Garage Insulation
When insulating a garage, several types of insulation materials can be used, depending on your specific needs and budget. Here are some common types of insulation used for garage insulation.
Fibreglass
- Most commonly used type of insulation
- Inexpensive and easy to handle
- Vulnerable to moisture
Cellulose
- Used for cavities and holes
- Environmentally friendly and fire-resistant
- Expensive and requires drywall
Rigid Foam
- Good for thin walls and garage doors
- Affordable and reduces noise
- Cut-to-fit makes it a less flexible option
Spray Foam
- High-end and energy-efficient
- Airtight, mould and insect-resistant
- Expensive and best installed by professionals
Garage Door Insulation Kits
- Comes in kits for standard door sizes
- Adds durability, stability, and noise reduction
- Added weight may wear out older springs
How To Insulate A Garage
The issue with garages is that most in the UK are not insulated at all, and consist of breeze blocks with nothing to either retain the heat in the winter or keep the area cool in the summer. If you are looking to insulate your garage, then there are a few things you’ll need to consider. One such factor is whether the garage is attached to the house or if it’s separate.
If it is attached to at least one wall of your home, heat transfer can cause any rooms that are directly attached to the garage wall to lose heat rapidly. This can cause further issues too, such as increased heating bills.
The steps you need to take to insulate your garage will depend on how it’s made up.
Cavity Wall Garage Insulation
For garages with brick walls and an air gap, you’ll need to hire a specialist for these cavity wall insulation jobs. If the cavity is empty, the specialist will fill the space with insulation spray foam through small holes in the brickwork.
Unfortunately, this is the only way to properly insulate a cavity wall garage after the initial building stage. The only other thing to consider would be if the breeze blocks are in poor condition, to which an expert could, in theory, take the breeze blocks down, insulate against the bricks, and then build another breeze block structure in its place.
Breeze Block Garage Insulation
Unlike the cavity wall garage style, you can do this yourself. One option is to attach wooden battens to the inside walls before filling the spaces with insulation and adding a damp proof course strip to prevent moisture. Then, fix insulation boards to the battens using screws, with the heads sitting just below the surface. It can then be decorated after applying a skim to the surface.
If retaining as much space as possible is important to you, then using a much thinner insulation product may be the way to go. These can often be applied with a strong adhesive rather than nails or screws. Some products can be pasted onto the wall in the style of a classic wallpaper, with a coat of primer underneath.
Garage Flat Roof Insulation
Now that the walls are taken care of, you need to make sure that the garage roof is also insulated properly and thoroughly. If you have a flat roof, which most UK garages do, you have the choice between a warm roof construction (above the roof deck) or a cold roof construction (below the roof deck).
Warm Roof Construction
- Allows you to keep all of the current space in your garage, while also keeping the deck construction warm.
- Make sure the roof is clean and free of any damage.
- Insulation boards can then be laid down in a break-bond pattern and bonded to the surface using a strong adhesive.
Cold Roof Construction
- Make sure there is an air gap between the insulation layer and the roof deck to allow any moisture to be ventilated out.
- Screw 50x50mm battens to the side of the rafters below the roof deck, making sure the air gap is maintained.
- Measure your insulation boards and cut them down to size using a saw, to fit between the rafters.
Garage Floor Insulation
If the floor is solid concrete, lay a damp-proof membrane before cutting and laying the insulation boards. Then, add rigid insulation boards to insulate your garage floor. This can help make it a lot more habitable if you’re undergoing a renovation. After that, you can decorate over the top with either underlay and carpet or a timber deck.
With solid floor insulation, you can save a lot of money on your energy bills, making it a great long-term investment.
Garage Door Insulation
Some homeowners also consider adding a thin layer to the garage door with multifoil or glass wool to further increase insulation in the garage.
Now that the garage is taken care of, if you are ever in need of any products such as building supplies, Insulation Express can help you with our expert range.
Which Products Can Be Used To Insulate A Garage?
When you’re undertaking a garage insulation project, you can benefit from using some of the following products to help:
- YBS ThermaWrap: This self-adhesive reflective insulation option can be applied to garage doors, walls and ceilings. It works by reflecting radiant heat back into the garage space, thus retaining warmth and saving money on heating bills.
- YBS BreatherQuilt: Made to be used in conjunction with ThermaWrap, the BreatherQuilt product can help prevent moisture from building up and improve the overall air quality of the garage area.
- YBS SuperQuilt: A high-performance product that’s massively effective in keeping out heat and cold where necessary, and is another option from the experts at YBS.
- Thermal laminate board: These versatile boards are made by combining plasterboard with insulated solid foam and paper facing. Simply cut the boards to size, add adhesive to the back of the board and attach them to the walls and ceiling of your garage.
- Plasterboard: If you require a board that you can decorate with paint to look a lot more visually appealing, then plasterboard products are certainly worth considering. This will mean that your garage can still look great and be well insulated at the same time.
- Celotex GA4000: These general application boards are really popular as they’re easy to install, offer moisture resistance and provide exceptional thermal performance. When using it in your garage, make sure you select the right size for the job.
- Celotex CW4000: If your garage is attached to your home, it's likely that you'll have a cavity wall in your garage. If that’s the case, CW4000 is a great choice which is easy to install and incredibly durable.
Buy these products today with Insulation Express and begin your garage insulation journey.
Garage Insulation FAQs
What Type Of Insulation Is Best For A Garage?
If you have cavity walls, consider blown-in insulation done by a professional. If you have solid walls like breeze blocks, you can insulate internally with stud walls and thermal insulation or externally with insulation boards and rendering for detached garages, preserving floor space and improving insulation.
How Thick Should Garage Insulation Be?
The choice of insulation method and quantity depends on how you plan to use the garage. A utility room or home gym usually requires less insulation compared to a garage becoming a living space or bedroom. In the former scenario, 50mm insulation should suffice, but for accommodation purposes, it's advisable to increase the insulation thickness to 100mm for optimal results.
Can I Insulate My Garage Myself?
Yes, you can insulate your garage yourself, as long as you have the required tools and know-how to carry out the task safely and efficiently. When insulating a garage, it’s important to adhere to recommended guidelines and local building codes to guarantee the insulation is installed accurately and delivers the expected advantages.
How Much Does it Cost To Insulate The Garage?
The basic cost for insulation materials, including polystyrene and fasteners, for a single garage, starts at around £350. This will give you 50mm of polystyrene, but you'll also need to cover it with a waterproof finish, either by cladding or rendering.
Even though a skilled DIYer might consider tackling this, it's a complex task and likely better suited for professionals. In this case, plan for a budget of about £100 per square metre for the entire completed project.
