For many homeowners, the garage occupies an odd, liminal space between indoors and out. It may accumulate unwanted objects, and be the site of quickly passing enthusiasms and hobbies like that old stair-stepping machine or the basketball hoop the kids never learned to dunk on before leaving for college. For others, it’s a thrilling little bonus room—an extra space to organize, design, and accommodate activities. In either case, if you have found yourself puzzling whether or not insulating the garage ceiling is worth the money and effort, we’ve got you covered.
Read on to find the information you need before deciding to insulate the garage ceiling.
Should You Insulate Your Garage Ceiling?
If you’re planning to heat or cool your garage, an insulated ceiling is essential to ensure that the climate-controlled air doesn’t rise and escape through the cracks. Insulation materials cost around $1 to $3.89 for every inch of thickness per board foot (i.e., 1 square foot of material, 1 inch thick).
An insulated ceiling is especially important if you’ve got a living space above the garage. During the summer, the heat’s inexorable journey upwards will find it creeping into the room above, undermining the air conditioning and raising its costs. Winters, in turn, will be cold and drafty.
The Benefits of Insulating Your Garage Ceiling
Insulation can also be a cost-effective way to dampen noise—a crucial bonus for a multi-purpose garage, offering a little distance from the racket of your daughter’s garage band practice.
Additionally, the right insulation can prolong the life of your garage roof, preventing drastic temperature changes that can distort wood and drywall.
Finally, it’s a low-cost job with a high ROI, making the project a no-brainer for anyone concerned with boosting the value of their home before a sale.
Add Another Layer to Your Home’s Efficiency
If you’ve already added insulation to the garage door and walls, insulating the ceiling is an obvious final step to ensure all that previous work doesn’t go to waste. The ceiling can also be the best place to start if you haven’t insulated other sections of the garage, making the single biggest impact of any section of the room in maintaining a consistent temperature. In the same way that a hat is essential to prevent heat from escaping your head on a winter stroll, an insulated ceiling will contain the heat you’re pumping in during the cold months—and ward against thermal transfer during the summer, when the sun’s rays are saturating the roof.
Installing Garage Ceiling Insulation
Depending on the material and method of insulation you choose, as well as the nature of your space, insulating your garage ceiling could be a relatively simple DIY job or something that requires the assistance of a contractor.
DIY Installation
On their own, many types of insulation—including fiberglass batts and rolls and blown-in cellulose—allow for accessible DIY installation across skill levels. Adding them to an existing garage, though, often requires the removal and reinstallation of drywall, so you may need to call in a pro if that’s not a task that you’re comfortable with. Also, keep in mind that the height and sometimes unusual spatial arrangement can add to the difficulty level.
There will be some variation in how you insulate your garage, taking into account the requirements of your space, the insulation you choose, and whether the garage is finished or not. There are some preparatory tasks and considerations to keep in mind that will apply to every install:
- Dress for safety: Wear goggles, a face mask, long sleeves, pants, and gloves to prevent insulation particles from touching and irritating your skin.
- Air things out: Maintain proper ventilation to make sure you’re not breathing in any insulation particles.
- Remove your belongings: Insulation installation can get messy, so move your belongings out of the garage while the project is underway.
- Take measurements: To purchase the right amount of material, you’ll need to measure the length and width of the garage ceiling and multiply the measurements to figure the area; then measure the distance between joists, as well as their depth.
- Prepare the space: If you’re using a material that comes in batts or rolls, you will need to remove any drywall before installing.
- Patch cracks: If your insulation is going to perform at its best, you’ll need to seal off and weatherstrip any cracks or gaps.
- Add a vapor barrier: You’ll first need to add a vapor barrier no matter what type of insulation you choose. Staple a plastic or foil sheet to the surface of the ceiling to prevent moisture accumulation and the mold and bacteria that can come with it.
Thinking about insulating your garage? We can help! At Alamance Insulation and Gutters, we’re a leader in the insulation and home performance industries. Serving customers throughout North Carolina, in Greensboro, Burlington, Elon, Mebane, Durham, and Raleigh, we can help with all your insulation and gutter needs.