Is it worth it? Changing garage door

[ryanp77]

So my garage is only partially insulated and dry walled (the parts connected to the house) and it has a cheap steal double door. I have finished space above and my sons room feels cooler than the rest of the rooms upstairs. When it’s gets windy, the wind it pushes against the doors pushing it away from the frame and weatherstripping and it blows cold air into the garage. Would it make sense at all to have the crappy door replaced now with a heavier insulated door and then start on my wiring and insulation project in the spring, or will it still not matter much with only part of my garage insulated. I have also noticed on extremely windy days the wind blows to the entrance door into my house and blows out my pilot light on my water heater that’s in the utilities closet right inside of the door into the house.

 

[HaroRider]

It would help, but I feel unless it is all fully insulated that you would probably be wasting your time.

 

[Stuart in MN]

First, I'd adjust the hardware on the overhead door so it's tight against the frame when closed, and fix the weatherstrip on the entrance door. Those are cheap and easy repairs.

 

[Copymutt]

Infiltration first, then insulation. All the R value in the world won't do much with high air exchanges. Your not properly dried in yet. How are the windows?
Jim

 

[ryanp77]

Infiltration first, then insulation. All the R value in the world won't do much with high air exchanges. Your not properly dried in yet. How are the windows?
Jim

Windows are not the greatest either that’s a spring project have the windows and rear slider in my house replaced

 

[ScottsGT]

When we replaced our old wood doors with insulated metal doors, we no longer needed a space heater in our master bedroom that sits over the garage. It was amazing the difference it made.
I say do it from personal experience.

 

[xyster101]

If you can keep the air in the garage, then it will stay warmer. A good insulator has a lot of air that DOES NOT move. So keeping a draft out of the door will dramatically help. Insulation is something that is a one time cost.

Replace the door, insulate the walls. Then run electric and complete the drywall if you want. You might not recoup the cost of the door in heating savings, but your son's room will be warmer and more comfortable.
Just a FYI, I have an unheated garage and an insulated garage door. It is usually 5-10 degrees warmer in there then outside. The engine heat is enough to melt snow off the cars when I park at night.

 

[58Yeoman]

It's worth it. I just had my two single doors replaced this fall, with steel insulated doors with windows, so I get light in the garage.

 

[finn]

You have to start somewhere. The insulated door is a logical first step.

 

[GypsyR]

Insulated doors put my garage over the edge. Though insulated it seemed like I could only create warm spots with heaters. With insulated doors now the entire garage heats up. I was actually surprised by the difference just swapping out the two doors made.

 

[Falcon67]

Insulating the door will help and help a bunch. Note this pic - DIY insulated steel door during my build in 2011. Note the lack of wall insulation - well, lack of ANY insulation.

Putting 1/2" of foam in the door made a HUGE difference in the radiation of cold from the door. IMHO you don't have to replace the doors if they are working fine - they they are double as in the pic above, you could use 1" foam and not add that much weight to either door.

 

[ryanp77]

Insulating the door will help and help a bunch. Note this pic - DIY insulated steel door during my build in 2011. Note the lack of wall insulation - well, lack of ANY insulation.

Putting 1/2" of foam in the door made a HUGE difference in the radiation of cold from the door. IMHO you don't have to replace the doors if they are working fine - they they are double as in the pic above, you could use 1" foam and not add that much weight to either door.

Thanks I may go that route

 

[NUTTSGT]

You have to start somewhere. The insulated door is a logical first step.

I was going to say the same, we all start somewhere. . . . yet

Insulating the door will help and help a bunch. Note this pic - DIY insulated steel door during my build in 2011. Note the lack of wall insulation - well, lack of ANY insulation.

Putting 1/2" of foam in the door made a HUGE difference in the radiation of cold from the door. IMHO you don't have to replace the doors if they are working fine - they they are double as in the pic above, you could use 1" foam and not add that much weight to either door.

if the door is good to go, simply insulating the door is probably the cheapest route for now. Winter is coming, put some insulation in the door and try it out for this year. If you want a nicer door, get the wife on board and have her pick out a door she likes but you get a new insulated one to help keep the garage warm. The added plus is proof that your son's room will be warmer.

 

[TractorJeff]

YEP!
Air Infiltration and Insulate the Door after adjusting it tighter!
My old Shop has Insulation and Drafty doors, new Storage Building is air tight and consistently warmer than the old Shop!

 

[Kevin54]

I was going to say the same, we all start somewhere. . . . yet



if the door is good to go, simply insulating the door is probably the cheapest route for now. Winter is coming, put some insulation in the door and try it out for this year. If you want a nicer door, get the wife on board and have her pick out a door she likes but you get a new insulated one to help keep the garage warm. The added plus is proof that your son's room will be warmer.

^^^^THIS^^^^

Start big and work your way down. And your biggest area of infiltration is the garage door. You can replace the door for an insulated one, but like NUTTS stated.....tune up your existing door. Adjust the rollers, tighten the door to the jambs, make sure your weather stripping is good outside, and you can get a garage insulation kit, or you can add your own foam panels. If it works out, then you can either replace the door so you have better aesthetics, or concentrate on additional insulation in the garage ceiling and such. But first priority should be the door.

 

[foodie]

I insulated my ceiling and put in a new insulated door,...15 degree difference it is warmer!
My walls are already up I plan on adding insulation in the spring. I have 2 large non insulated windows on one side of my garage. I sealed them with backer rod and new caulk on the inside, yes it is warmer. I say from experience get a new door pronto!

 

[ryanp77]

I was going to say the same, we all start somewhere. . . . yet



if the door is good to go, simply insulating the door is probably the cheapest route for now. Winter is coming, put some insulation in the door and try it out for this year. If you want a nicer door, get the wife on board and have her pick out a door she likes but you get a new insulated one to help keep the garage warm. The added plus is proof that your son's room will be warmer.

No need to get the wife on board I’m divorced

 

[gnpenning]

We always recommend an insulated door when the garage shares walls/ceiling with heated living space. Weather you do adjust and insulate your current door(know idea condition of current door) or install a new door, you will notice a improvement. Down the road when you are able to insulate the rest of the garage you will reap the rewards even more.

Get the front door sealed as well and as many air leaks as soon as you can.

 

[RoyBell]

I have the same setup. Just got new insulated doors (R17ish) and thermal windows last month. I thought I wouldn't see much of a difference, but I was wrong. The garage maintains 60 degrees no problem now when it's 20 degrees out. I do have a small electric heater in there, but it rarely goes on to maintain that temp vs before I would have it on the lowest setting and it would run all the time.

 

[rsanter]

If the door is in good shape but leaking air into the garage, then deal with that.
They make seals for the sides and top.
You can insulate it as well.
For fiberglass insulation to work, it must have still air. Think about the floor cavity of your sons room. How about improving that. You can make sure it is sealed or perhaps do a blow in foam