Should I insulate the ceiling in my detached garage?

[bkerch]

I have a large detached garage that I turned in to a mancave/workshop. Its not climate controlled so it gets really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. It does have a large attic space separate from the main floor which has pull down steps.

Will putting batt insulation in the exposed ceiling on the first floor help with extreme temperatures in the summer and winter? I do use space heaters as well as window units which help a bit.

I live in NJ and my garage door and walls are already insulated. See photo

 

[The Cobbler]

most heat loss/gain is thru the ceilings, so yes, insulation will help

 

[bkerch]

most heat loss/gain is thru the ceilings, so yes, insulation will help

Would you say it’s silly to do though considering I don’t have AC or heat in there?

 

[The Cobbler]

silly? it will make it more comfortable If you spend anytime out there. you judge I guess

 

[bkerch]

silly? it will make it more comfortable If you spend anytime out there. you judge I guess

Well, I just read such mixed reviews on Google about it saying that you should never insulate something you don’t climate control. Idk I am thinking it would make it a little more comfortable

 

[The Cobbler]

any inuslation you add will help maintain temperatures , even without added heat

 

[jshillin]

It will help a lot. My garage walls and ceiling are insulated, it makes a world of difference. I even insulated my shed/wood shop to help control the temperature. I just deal with the wood shop heat in the summer, but I do heat it in the winter with a small space heater with no problem.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Having an insulated ceiling makes a lot of difference. It keeps the heat below it in the winter and above it in the summer. What do you store in the attic? is it vented to the outside?

 

[mark#3]

I put insulation between the joists, then plywood over that.The siding is like pressed paper, wanted vinyl but never got it replaced.Now the cost would be astronomical?

 

[bkerch]

Your standard attic stuff like Christmas decorations and what not and it does have attic vents.

 

[paredown]

Ours is an attached single garage, but while I was redoing all the ceilings in the front of the house (to add insulation to a flat roof), I continued on into the garage. I also put batts in the exposed wall as well when I finished the walls.

I have doors on both end of the garage, so it if is windy it doesn't really retain the heat because of air infiltration, but it definitely helps. If it is bitter cold outside, I can plug in an oil-filled electric heater, and be comfortable enough to work in the dead of winter--and that is a big improvement.

 

[acer66]

most heat loss/gain is thru the ceilings, so yes, insulation will help

This and while not sure what large means in the OP’s book but I did that in my 25x25’ garage.
I have R38 in the ceiling and the walls are bare cinderblock walls and I am in a 4/5 climate zone.

Made all the difference and to work all year I added a single window a/c which I hardly run I think once last year and in winter I have 2 radiant electrical heaters taking the sting off when it gets really cold.

Another important thing is to seal all the gaps and holes in the exterior walls.

 

[bkerch]

This and while not sure what large means in the OP’s book but I did that in my 25x25’ garage.
I have R38 in the ceiling and the walls are bare cinderblock walls and I am in a 4/5 climate zone.

Made all the difference and to work all year I added a single window a/c which I hardly run I think once last year and in winter I have 2 radiant electrical heaters taking the sting off when it gets really cold.

Another important thing is to seal all the gaps and holes in the exterior walls.

Sorry, really dumb question but if some of the batt papering is ripped slightly, do I have to tape that up?

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Just adding insulating batts to that ceiling will yield very little difference.

However, if you fill the cavities with batt insulation AND cover with drywall- creating ecentially a “dead air” space, you will get at least 90% efficiency of the insulation.

In other words, don’t throw good money after bad by doing a half-assed job.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I would tape rips in the paper just to keep bugs and other critters out.

 

[bdbecker]

Absolutely insulate it - it'll make a noticeable difference. During the summers, my 24x24 shop is a good 10+ degrees cooler than the ambient temp without any AC. During the winter, I use an oil filled radiant heater on medium setting and it will only dip below freezing during the really cold, single digit temp days. Supplementing the electric with a kerosene heater when I want to spend some real time out there, I can get the temps into the mid-50's in no time. I usually don't warm it up more than that because I'm comfortable once it hits that point.

 

[acer66]

Sorry, really dumb question but if some of the batt papering is ripped slightly, do I have to tape that up?

Not a dumb question and yes like Jbullfrog said.

 

[WisJim]

I do use space heaters as well as window units which help a bit.

I live in NJ and my garage door and walls are already insulated. See photo

Space heaters and window units would make it "climate controlled" to me. Any improvement in insulation will make it more comfortable and cheaper to heat/cool. I'm in NW Wisconsin where it gets cold in the winter and my shop/garage is well insulated and stays well above outside temp in winter, and takes a long time to heat up in the summer, without heat or A/C, so a little space heater warms it right up quickly.

 

[bkerch]

Space heaters and window units would make it "climate controlled" to me. Any improvement in insulation will make it more comfortable and cheaper to heat/cool. I'm in NW Wisconsin where it gets cold in the winter and my shop/garage is well insulated and stays well above outside temp in winter, and takes a long time to heat up in the summer, without heat or A/C, so a little space heater warms it right up quickly.

Did you drywall over or leave it exposed?

 

[bkerch]

Absolutely insulate it - it'll make a noticeable difference. During the summers, my 24x24 shop is a good 10+ degrees cooler than the ambient temp without any AC. During the winter, I use an oil filled radiant heater on medium setting and it will only dip below freezing during the really cold, single digit temp days. Supplementing the electric with a kerosene heater when I want to spend some real time out there, I can get the temps into the mid-50's in no time. I usually don't warm it up more than that because I'm comfortable once it hits that point.

Do I absolutely need to drywall over the batt or can I leave it exposed using faced batt?

 

[WisJim]

My building is drywalled, walls and ceilings, and is also very well sealed with spray foam insulation.

 

[bdbecker]

Do I absolutely need to drywall over the batt or can I leave it exposed using faced batt?

If you don't mind how it looks, you could certainly leave it exposed. The adding drywall over it just helps to seal everything up, but the paper face is considered a vapor retarder. To help keep it in place, they do make insulation support wires. Not sure what your spacing is, but 16" and 24" are commonly available.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086JNKBQR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bkerch]

If you don't mind how it looks, you could certainly leave it exposed. The adding drywall over it just helps to seal everything up, but the paper face is considered a vapor retarder. To help keep it in place, they do make insulation support wires. Not sure what your spacing is, but 16" and 24" are commonly available.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086JNKBQR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yeah, it’s much more of a man cave/work out and workshop area so I don’t particularly care what it looks like. Maybe I’ll look into doing the ceiling down the road With drywall

 

[APEowner]

Yes.

 

[bdbecker]

Yeah, it’s much more of a man cave/work out and workshop area so I don’t particularly care what it looks like. Maybe I’ll look into doing the ceiling down the road With drywall

Looking back at your first pic, are those 2x6's or 2x4's? You might not be able to get too much insulation in that cavity. What does the attic area look like? Might be better to insulate that area instead?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Hands down, insulate it. Every dollar you spend in insulation, you will constantly get a return on your invest when you turn on that heater in the winter or AC unit in the summer.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Insulate. Cover with drywall and install a mini split. You can thank me later.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

If you put up batts at least string some wire, furring strips or mesh to hold it. If just stapled it will sag/fall down over time.
It will help the space heaters I don't know how much it will affect A/C. Without A/C it may be a little worse on hot days.

 

[bdbecker]

...Without A/C it may be a little worse on hot days.

That could certainly be the case if you have your doors/windows open during the peak heat of the day and then shut them and trap the heat in overnight. As long as you are mindful of when you have your doors/windows open, insulation does help keep things cooler in the summer. An inexpensive indoor/outdoor thermometer is very useful for gauging when it makes sense to open/close the doors. When I get home from work on a 90+ degree day, my shop is usually hanging out in the mid/upper-70's. A strategically placed fan or two keeps the stuffiness at bay and makes for a generally pleasant place to be despite not having AC.

 

[bigdav160]

I think the answer is totally climate dependent. Down south, i would not.

 

[nadogail]

Any insulation is much better than no insulation.

 

[Zeus36]

Yes

 

[Jeepster04]

First thing I did when I bought my house was add insulation in the ceiling of the garage (walls were already insulated) and added additional to the rest of the house. I assume it paid for itself many years ago.