need help with insulating garage

[94yj]

insulating metal garage

i have an 18x26x10 Carolina carport garage that i would like to insulate before it gets cold here what is the best route to go the rolls or the flat 4x8 panels also what r rating would be the best and should i cover it with plastic on the interior side

 

[spotco2]

Fiberglass will give you a better R value than foam sheets. You might have to build out your walls for it to fit.

Spray foam tops them all but is much more expensive.

Post some inside pics of your garage so we can see what you have to work with.

 

[Eslader]

The best R rating would be the highest one you can find. But you're in Fort Worth. Your average temperature in the coldest month is something like 43 degrees, so you don't really need an ultra high insulation value.

 

[JoeFin]

so you don't really need an ultra high insulation value.

I used to think that before I lived in Killeen, Ft Hood and Beaumont, Tx. for a couple years.

"Froze the Propane going into my trailer" is a common saying out in West Texas. I saw -50 F wind chills in Killeen. In fact it cracked the block in my 53 ford which I had antifreeze protection to 0 degrees.

I would recommend using R-19 for your 2'x4' walls. You won't find it at your local Home Depot, the best you'll find there for a 2'x4' wall is R-13. You'll have to order it from an insulation supplier. Also if you have the right style garage doors you can place foam insulation into the panels. That helps more then you would think

 

[94yj]

thanks for all the help guys i will try to find some r 19 and as far as the garage door it is a roll up door and in a winter time i have seen it to 6 degs here and a foot of ice on the ground but avg is in the mid 20s but i hope for a lot colder this year to kill of the blasted insects any good ideas on the roll up door

 

[JoeFin]

the garage door it is a roll up door

any good ideas on the roll up door

Metal Roll Up door - that's what I'm talking about

Here is mine with foam insulation cut to fit and slid into the metal panels

 

[kinglake]

Joefin,

Yours is a garage door. A rollup door doesn't have any place to add insulation assuming it was an uninsulated door to begin with.

 

[Highbeam]

"Froze the Propane going into my trailer" is a common saying out in West Texas. I saw -50 F wind chills in Killeen. In fact it cracked the block in my 53 ford which I had antifreeze protection to 0 degrees.

Wind chills only affect the feeling of cold on the skin of living things. Only consider air temps when dealing with temperatures as related to objects like engine blocks.

 

[JoeFin]

Wind chills only affect the feeling of cold on the skin of living things.

Tell that to my 53 Ford sedan with Chrome Reversals, Jacked up 6" in back, Hurst Shifter and 1" of foam rubber underneath the **** carpet.

And ya - I had just finished putting in a crank kit, rings and a valve job when it happened.

 

[BRUTAL]

I would recommend using spray foam kit for a 1" air tight barrier and then go over with regular fiberglass batts. I did this in my 850sq' 2 story cabin and it works fantastic. the best benefit is the AIR TIGHTNESS it creats eliminating drafts and sold as easy to use DIY kits.
http://www.sprayfoamkit.com/choices/whysf.php?gclid=CPPb0Mza3LkCFejm7Aod6RcADA

also on my steel building the rollup doors I bought are insulated with 1/4" double foiled bubble wrap. Same stuff I bought at Lowes to add for insulation in the garage attached to the house. It appears to be attached with spray adhesive like 3M would work well and all edges taped down with with reflective style foil tape.
here's a shot inside the cabin of the foam as I was putting in sheetrock and insulation. This is the most economical way to use. Closing the cabin door before foam was easy, after you just about have to slam it. It is that much more airtight. And that was before rock and added insulation. And a 650sq' rated room air conditioner upstairs keeps the whole cabin cool in south Texas heat and thats 4 rooms 850sq' cabin

 

[Hornman]

I'm in Mansfield so I have a feel for your problem. You asked about plastic film. The plastic sheet does two things: 1) stops moisture migration to prevent getting your insulation wet and moldy. Moisture is not usually a problem in a garage unless you have an open flame gas heater. 2) plastic sheet minimizes air infiltration, the bane of HVAC systems everywhere, so the plastic is a good idea for that alone.

Your rollup door is a problem. There is no good way to add insulation to the door so lets look elsewhere. If the Garage is mostly workshop, consider adding an insulation blanket on the inside of the door, hung like a shower curtain. If you routinely park a vehicle in the Garage you might be able to hang an insulating blanket from two rods that pivot from the sides. I found that adding lip seals to the sides and top of the door helps with air leakage.

 

[94yj]

thanks for all the help and ideas and i did the lip seals last year and they work great i also have a 5 ton hvac system with heat that i added last year also so this year i will do the insulation but it will be fun since my shop is already packed