Insulation for new garage?

[kyounker]

Guys,

The framing is completed on my new attached garage in Michigan (cold winters). I'm running wire this weekend and then will start insulating before drywall but have a question.

I have a 24' by 41' lower level with 2 x 10 floor joists 12" OC. The upper level is conventionally framed with 2x12's, 16" OC. Roof was put on with a ridge vent and soffit system. Upper level will have a laundry room attached to the house and I will surround that with insulation. I do plan on using the rest of the upper level as storage and a wood working shop. Planning on heating the upper level w/ a Mr. Heater at some point soon. Therefore, I am planning on insulating the rafters with fiberglass after installing baffles.

My question: Besides the laundry room area, does it make any sense to insulate joists between the 1st and 2nd story? If all the walls and roof of the entire garage is insulated, am I just spending a lot of money for a very small return to separate the two levels with more insulation?

I'm not really sure of what I'd be missing out on, except the chance to do it now, prior to having to drywall the entire 1st floor ceiling, per fire code.

Any advice?

Ken

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would insulate it, especially now rather than later as it'll be easier and cheaper. If you decide to do it later, you'll have to pull the drywall down or "drill & fill" with blown-in insulation.

If you don't plan on heating the lower level, insulating the (upper) floor joist will keep the floor warmer and more tolerable to work inthe wood shop area.

If you don't plan on heating the upper level all the time but heat the lower level, it'll keep the bottom area warmer with that insulated ceiling.

My line of thinking may be wrong but since it's two different areas using two different heat sources, I'd treat it as two heat zones. I'd insulate each zone as such to restrict and save as much heat as possible.



I'm sure others will chime in with other trains of thought.

 

[Mercy]

My (finished) laundry room is part of the garage footprint and I am in MI too. My advice is based on what I have found isn't working. First, if the dryer vent runs through the garage's cold air you will get condensation in the vent and it will require lots of cleaning. Plan to clean it 1-2x per year. If your pipes to the laundry are on a wall with the garage, a really cold spell will still freeze the pipes to, or the drain from the laundry even if the laundry itself is insulated. Lastly, tile floors get cold. really cold.

Overall, insulation is a good thing. You still need to watch the dryer vent unless you heat the garage.

 

[kyounker]

Mercy, yes, it sounds like we have the same situation. Laundry room plumbing will be coming from the shared wall and joist space. I will obviously insulate that area as much as possible.

Obviously this past winter was the exception, but I lived in this house the year before and was able to keep bottled water and soda in the garage all winter without freezing issues. Temps always stayed in the mid 30s on the coldest days. So hopefully I won't have an issue, especially after insulating the pipes and joist space.

I can see that I'll have the same issue as you with the dryer vent.

 

[sirsloop]

Insulate for sure!!! At least you can fire up some heat and not kill yourself on the bill

 

[esburger]

I would just for the sound. It makes a big difference

 

[Tbucit]

I had a similar situation with one person saying that if I did the room above then I didn't need to do the ceiling below that. However in GA it is more of keeping a little cooler than staying warm but the principle is the same. I did insulate both the upstairs and the ceiling and am more then tickled about it. I also sealed each stud bay to stop air infiltration. My shop and office stay cool in the summer and pretty warm in the winter. One last thing when I was pricing the material I found that I could have it installed cheaper than I could buy the material. May not be the same in your neck of the woods but might be worth checking out.
Randall

 

[JasperTommy]

It's not like the Michigan summers aren't warm either. I don't see any problem in insulating the space between, as one person said sound infiltration would be reduced and you can more easily create a controlled environment for the different floors and rooms. If you haven't used it before, maybe look into EnergyComplete, it has a seal on top of insulation to reduce air leakage, most of which occurs out the top of the house, which it sounds like can't be further insulated anymore in your case. Good luck!