Hi Everyone! I'm moving from Washington to Arizona (Phoenix) and need some advice on insulating my garage or not. All my sales people (women) are trying to talk me out of spending the money, but I plan to occasionally do stained glass work in the garage and want to be comfortable while doing it. At the same time, it's so hot in Arizona, I don't know if insulating the garage will help at all. I planned to have some kind of air conditioning to cool the garage when I was working in it, not running all the time. I'm building a house in a 55+ community and the builder offers an insulation package for $3,205 "add insulation to walls at standard garage with 4' extension and R-38 to garage ceilings." The garage doors are insulated. They also offer a 9' cabinet package for $1,715 "thermofused melamine with 4 particle board shelves per bay and adjustable feet." And . . . "solid color epoxy floor coating" for $1,845. I don't want to get carried away with the garage design, and don't know if the prices are high or not. What do you advise?
Old Gal Needs Help
- Thread starter ctiff66
- Start date
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Firstly hi and welcome aboard.
Our summer temps out here are similar to those in Arizona, I would definitely recommend you insulate your garage, it also helps with the cost of running air-conditioning as well.
Regards
Our summer temps out here are similar to those in Arizona, I would definitely recommend you insulate your garage, it also helps with the cost of running air-conditioning as well.
Regards
1949 caddyman
Well-known member
I live in Phoenix you do want the insolation. If the price includes the 4 foot extension, it sounds good.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
66: with 120 degrees in the summers in Phoenix i'd without a doubt insulate. as far as pricing i'd call a few local sub contractors and see what they would charge if your contractor left the walls open or if sheet rocked then how much to blow insulation in.
even if you do want to have air conditioning in the garage you still want to keep that heat out as much as possible.
welcome to the group and might i suggest you go into the garage gallery and see what the guys building garages in Arizona are and have done.
good luck
even if you do want to have air conditioning in the garage you still want to keep that heat out as much as possible.
welcome to the group and might i suggest you go into the garage gallery and see what the guys building garages in Arizona are and have done.
good luck
rburke65
Well-known member
Hello 66 and Welcome from Ohio! As said, insulate! The epoxy floor..?..don't know if it's a good price or not... We need at least a square footage. There is a ton of info in the flooring section. Get educated before signing a contract. Good luck.
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Nick Danger
Well-known member
If it's an attached garage, definitely insulate. Otherwise you house AC will be fighting that 140 degree air next to the house. Our house got cooler simply from insulating the garage door.
j p smith
Well-known member
Welcome to Garage Journal from West Phoenix.
I would have the builder do the insulation for sure. The other items can be done later, so maybe get some comparison prices and see where the prices compare to the builders prices. If you get some lower prices for the same quality work maybe the builder will adjust his price to get the work, or you will find the builders prices are completive.
I would have the builder do the insulation for sure. The other items can be done later, so maybe get some comparison prices and see where the prices compare to the builders prices. If you get some lower prices for the same quality work maybe the builder will adjust his price to get the work, or you will find the builders prices are completive.
APEowner
Well-known member
Welcome to the board!
Any space that's going to be climate controlled needs to be insulated otherwise your basicly trying to heat or cool the outdoors.
Any space that's going to be climate controlled needs to be insulated otherwise your basicly trying to heat or cool the outdoors.
Strouty
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum from Maine. I would insulate as best you can afford. It will help you year round. In the winter, the concrete may steal the heat out of your feet, so think of a good floor mat as well.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Yes on the insulation....though I think that is a tad high.....especially if it's just a 1 car garage. 2-car? Not so bad, but not a great deal. But cheaper than trying to do it after the fact.
The cabinet price? Not bad....assuming it covers at least one full wall. If you have some help available, you could do it for about half the price with HD cabinets.
Skip the floor. Sounds good now....but the first time you chip it, you will hate it.
Chances are they put in only one or two outlets. I would negotiate with them on the price of the insulation to toss in a few more outlets. The cost to do it before drywall is almost nothing.
Tell them you want 2 20A ckts and at least 1 15A ckt for the ceiling with at least 2 boxes for lights evenly spaced. And, one box where the garage opener would be. Only one box has to have a light. You can add the other two later.
For the walls....20A on each side with at least 2 boxes on each side and two on the back wall. You also want an outlet at the front of the garage to plug an extension cord in...vacuum, leaf blower...etc.
And....welcome to GJ.....we will look after you.
The cabinet price? Not bad....assuming it covers at least one full wall. If you have some help available, you could do it for about half the price with HD cabinets.
Skip the floor. Sounds good now....but the first time you chip it, you will hate it.
Chances are they put in only one or two outlets. I would negotiate with them on the price of the insulation to toss in a few more outlets. The cost to do it before drywall is almost nothing.
Tell them you want 2 20A ckts and at least 1 15A ckt for the ceiling with at least 2 boxes for lights evenly spaced. And, one box where the garage opener would be. Only one box has to have a light. You can add the other two later.
For the walls....20A on each side with at least 2 boxes on each side and two on the back wall. You also want an outlet at the front of the garage to plug an extension cord in...vacuum, leaf blower...etc.
And....welcome to GJ.....we will look after you.
TauntDevil
Well-known member
Welcome to the forums from East Mesa!
For the insulation, definitely do it. It makes a big difference. My garage temp before insulation was about 105-110 at times. Basically a large oven. Couldn't keep plastic in there or really use it for storage. After insulation, its about 80-90 depending on outside. Not as bad. Our garage door isn't sealed and has no insulation on the door itself (ran out of funds) but still noticeably better than before.
Also if you can PM me the square footage of the garage, I can ask a friend of mine who owns a garage flooring business how much it would cost to have him epoxy the garage to either get it to you for cheaper or to compare prices, etc.
For the insulation, definitely do it. It makes a big difference. My garage temp before insulation was about 105-110 at times. Basically a large oven. Couldn't keep plastic in there or really use it for storage. After insulation, its about 80-90 depending on outside. Not as bad. Our garage door isn't sealed and has no insulation on the door itself (ran out of funds) but still noticeably better than before.
Also if you can PM me the square footage of the garage, I can ask a friend of mine who owns a garage flooring business how much it would cost to have him epoxy the garage to either get it to you for cheaper or to compare prices, etc.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Concur (assuming they do a decent job).
If you are planning on using the garage as a work shop, your are going to need a decent window A/C. Make sure you have a window and a 240V plug nearby it.
P.S. it will take a couple of years for you to get used to the heat.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
concur !
Regarding your statement : "it's so hot in Arizona, I don't know if insulating the garage will help at all."
Insulate. Electricity costs will continue to rise. Even only running an AC unit intermittently will drain your money in this heat.
Insulate. Electricity costs will continue to rise. Even only running an AC unit intermittently will drain your money in this heat.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
2x. Insulation should make a HUGE difference whether you're fighting cold or heat. How much of the garage is an outside surface? Walls, door, ceiling?
How big is the garage?
Insulate. The salespeople "helping you" aren't helping you if they live in AZ and are NOT pleading with you to insulate.
Have you picked your unit yet? If you haven't and have flexibility, keep in mind that any surface facing south will be HOT. So if the big garage door faces south, that door and the garage will be HOT.
Do they offer an option for a heat pump water heater in the garage. If they do, consider that. Will help keep your garage cooler (essentially for free) as you use hot water in the house.
If you can afford it, insulate and take the larger garage. Look other posters have said, you can always do the rest of the stuff later once you are in the house.
upndown
Well-known member
Welcome from far north Phoenix! I would say definitely insulate. Having worked in AZ garages for over 35 years, you bet I can tell the difference between insulated an uninsulated, and that's usually with no ventilation. I always have a fan and that alone makes a world of difference.
I have a Lady friend that bought a house with a small two car garage. Hers has a thru wall swamp cooler, keeps hers nice and cool, one of her hobbies is also stained glass. You may want to check with your HOA see what they say.
I have a Lady friend that bought a house with a small two car garage. Hers has a thru wall swamp cooler, keeps hers nice and cool, one of her hobbies is also stained glass. You may want to check with your HOA see what they say.
bad luck
Well-known member
Welcome from far north Phoenix! I would say definitely insulate. Having worked in AZ garages for over 35 years, you bet I can tell the difference between insulated an uninsulated, and that's usually with no ventilation. I always have a fan and that alone makes a world of difference.
I have a Lady friend that bought a house with a small two car garage. Hers has a thru wall swamp cooler, keeps hers nice and cool, one of her hobbies is also stained glass. You may want to check with your HOA see what they say.
I would consider a swamp cooler or evaporative cooler instead of a/c it will save a lot of money and they work well. Oh yeah, insulate.
Wow! Thank you all for your quick and helpful responses! The standard garage is 20' 8 " x 22' 8" with the option of a 4' extension which would make it 20' 8" x 26' 8" = 560+ sq. ft. Correct? 3/4 of the garage is an outside surface - only the back wall connects to the house. One of the friends trying to talk me out of insulating talked to someone last night who told her to tell me not to do it. He insulated his and his comments were that it can't be done efficiently due to the furnace, water lines, etc., in the roof. But, maybe he tried it after the build, not during. Will find that out. I've decided against epoxying the floor - thanks ddwag16. Swamp cooler - I think that was mentioned along the way in talking to other (male) advisors. I really hate to be sexist but . . . .you guys know your stuff! I'll look into that further. I'm assuming that I can have regular air conditioning in my house and just turn on the swamp cooler in the garage when I'm out there working. Correct? My lot faces east/west (garage to the west). For electric choices in garage they offer: $250 120V/20Amp GFCI outlet on separate circuit and $445 240V/30Amp 3 prong non-GFCI on separate circuit (limit 1). So . . . . both? I really appreciate all your help with this.
upndown
Well-known member
Your AC and swamp cooler will be separate units, you can run them at the same time or independently. They have nothing to do with one another. Plus you can run the cooler at a fraction of the cost! I have both on my home, my cooler is tied into my air ducts. Except for blistering hot days or during monsoon season, I rarely use my AC. The nice part is my electric bill reflects that as well.
Insulate while the walls are open, you'll thank yourself later.
Insulate while the walls are open, you'll thank yourself later.
1949 caddyman
Well-known member
You really want a north south facing lot. If garage door faces west see if you can get an insolated garage door, it will get really warm in the evening.
Vet65te
Well-known member
ctiff66 - Welcome from Prescott. Maybe I missed it but 'what type of insulation' are they offering, cellulose, batts, blown fiberglass or foam?
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Mike T - Prescott AZ