Garage Door Insulation

[Bonefishmak]

I wanted to insulate the inexpensive door that came in my new TH. I see Owens Corning offers a garage door insulation package. Anyone used it? Thoughts? Is it easier to just replace the door? Or a better idea?

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Its up to you. A guy at work used it and said it worked good. I just had mine replaced and it was nice because it was steal backed on the inside so it looks nice and finished.

 

[Bonefishmak]

Its up to you. A guy at work used it and said it worked good. I just had mine replaced and it was nice because it was steal backed on the inside so it looks nice and finished.

You just had your what replaced? Insulation and it was sill backed on the inside? Not sure I understand but, it sounds like a vote for it..

Thanks!

 

[38Chevy454]

Been discussed many times, do a search and you can find lots of info. Basically you can get that kit and it works, better than nothing. Or you can do your own with rigid foam sheets, cheaper. An as-built insulated door is what Iroc-Z is referring to, he replaced hios with a factory insulated door.

 

[Bonefishmak]

Been discussed many times, do a search and you can find lots of info. Basically you can get that kit and it works, better than nothing. Or you can do your own with rigid foam sheets, cheaper. An as-built insulated door is what Iroc-Z is referring to, he replaced hios with a factory insulated door.

Sorry....I'll be sure to do full search's next time.

 

[awdblazer]

i just replaced my door

 

[Bonefishmak]

i just replaced my door

That is an option but, probably down the road. I assume the cost is far more than the insulation. I was thinking of doing something now...like the insulation...and then a new door down the road..unless doors are cheap.

 

[Iroc-Z]

You just had your what replaced? Insulation and it was sill backed on the inside? Not sure I understand but, it sounds like a vote for it..

Thanks!

Sorry, Just had my garage door replaced. It cost about $900.00 installed.

 

[JimVonBaden]

In Las Vegas I had the full afternoon desert sun on my door. A 1" foam insert with reflective backing on it made a world of difference. I plan on doing the same here in VA. It will cost about $20.

Jim

 

[awdblazer]

my new garage door was 400 plus taxes and i installed it easily in a day by myself

 

[Wackerjr]

just bought 1 1/2" foil face foam at Lowes for 18.86 a sheet and did mine... 3 doors, 3 hours, and r-7 insulated.... Easy peasy....

FYI found another use for the HF multitool... cuts like butter....very little mess

 

[desmo907]

I was thinking of insulating my wooden garage doors (standard 4 stacked horizontal pieces) and hard to find any kits, etc. Any thoughts or experiences?
Also how does one handle between the panels...I assume you need a little gap when the door rolls up (mabe you overlap the insulation)?
Thx

 

[Ascinder]

My dad just used fiberglass roll insulation on his. It sits into the panels and is held in by several bamboo plant stakes. It's heavy but the garage door opener still lifts it just fine(though slower). As for the gaps, I guess you could use some strips of rubber to seal them and they'd just flex as it rolled up. Some very thin flexible foam-rubber weatherstripping between the panels may also help.

 

[box]

I recently went from a non-insulated thin metal door to a well insulated door with steel on the inside,
I had first bought the kit to insulate the door then a day or 2 later I saw a door on closeout, I wish I had done it years ago at any price, the difference was unbelievable:

 

[Root]

Here's what I did. They're 7' tall by 8' wide. Each panel (8 panels per door) is 20 1/2" tall by 52"-53" wide (the inside measurement).
My doors before the insulation.

Stuff I bought. Four 4' X 8' x 3/4" sheetsof Polyshield. $10.96 per sheet from Lowes. Easy to cut with a utility knife and a straight edge. I cut the sheets a bit smaller than the inside measurement to allow me to put them in without breaking any corners. I then used some scrap pieces to wedge between the insulation and the lip of the panel frame to keep the insulation in place.

Door on the left finished

Both doors finished.

I can tell you this stuff really works. I put the shiny side out; one to somewhat match the diamond plate; and two cuz I didn't want the writing to show.

 

[ambenz]

I have that sheating on the ceiling and sealed the joints and gaps with can foam.
That sheathing works great as an insulator, and inexpensive too!!!

 

[dwaynerz]

looks like it would reflect a little more light back into the garage as well. looks nice too.

 

[Wingnut65]

I insulated my door similar to what Root did to his above with iso board from Lowes. But my door also has lots of horzontal bracing that I had to remove and reinstall.

Here is the build thread where I came up with a system that has worked for me and several others: "DIY Garage Door Insulation"

 

[BSK]

I had used Insulatix roll out stuff which worked nice as well:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133288

 

[calven]

A couple of quick thoughts:

1) The insulation will eventually "pay for itself" in the heating bill $ saved. You made a great choice!

2) Make sure you adjust your torsion springs to account for the added weight of the insulation. Although it might not seem like a lot, that insulation may weigh 10-15 lbs which will put stress on your garage door opener over time. You should add a 1/4 or 1/2 turn to each of the springs.

Test the door by balancing it in the middle of the opening. You will first need to disconnect the garage door opener from the door by pull on the red release cord.(make sure your door is down first). It should stay in place when you "set" it in the middle of the opening. If it goes up or down at all adjust your springs accordingly. If not then your door is properly balanced already!

 

[BSK]

Calven,

I didnt think about the added weight. mine might be 5lbs or so but its still added.
Not sure how to safely increase at the springs. Got a thread?

 

[green.bubbly]

Calven,

I didnt think about the added weight. mine might be 5lbs or so but its still added.
Not sure how to safely increase at the springs. Got a thread?

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115261

This thread has some info.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I consider it a pretty simple DIY job. I think I spent $36 on 1.5" foam sheets. Then I painted the exposed sides.

 

[regguy1]

Jack,

Nice looking job on the door

 

[netbrad]

I wanted to go the Insulfoam method but no one carries them locally and shipping would be expensive since I need the 2 inch sheets (door channel is 1-7/8 inches wide). Anyone have an alternative?

 

[Falcon67]

I used the 1/2" PolyShield - think is was about $8 a sheet at HD. Score with a knife and snap, shove in the cavity. Done. 4 sheets did a 7x16' door. Note - not fireproof at all. Also, you can daub a bit of RTV in the corners to hold the panels in place. I didn't yet, but might. The door in the old shop was 8x7 and I used 1" pink foam. It wedged in tight without any glue and worked really well. But it added a bit of weight to the door. The PolyShield is very light - no door adjustment required after installation.

 

[Ascinder]

I scored a bunch of 1" double foil backed polyurethane foam from a local place that makes signs and other things in foam. They routinely have big projects and had literally a (semi)truckload of foam panel cutoffs that were 6"x8'. The owner didn't want to fill up a landfill and let it go real cheap since it would have been waste. I would check around with the local shops.

 

[1949 caddyman]

I also used foam sheets & cut pieces to fit in the openings, worked good, cost little!