Insulating a garage

[lowthreeohz]

I don't mean to hijack here but does anyone else have garage door insulators? This thread got me thinking and its way to hot in my garage. I wonder if door panels alone will help?

Do you remember the garage doors at my moms place? they were double sided with insulation in the middle.. my garage faced due west and would routinely stay 10*+ cooler than the outside temp.

You can go the cheap route and cut-to-fit styrofoam like panels then slap them in relatively easy. It does make a noticeable difference. We also put 8-10" of blown in insulation on top of the crap that was already over the garage. made a huge difference.

[347Mike]

Do you remember the garage doors at my moms place? they were double sided with insulation in the middle.. my garage faced due west and would routinely stay 10*+ cooler than the outside temp.

You can go the cheap route and cut-to-fit styrofoam like panels then slap them in relatively easy. It does make a noticeable difference. We also put 8-10" of blown in insulation on top of the crap that was already over the garage. made a huge difference.

Hmm. No, I don't recall them specifically. It is hot as balls in there regardless time of day or night, so I need something. I see Owens insulation panels for about 70 bucks. Id need two, but want to get something that actually works well.

I didn't think of the insulation in the attic above garage. Ill have to look at that too. I am sure that would be relatively inexpensive.

[lowthreeohz]

if you buy enough bats of insulation the rental of the machine is free. it's a 2 person job, and i wouldn't fuck with it in the summer, but it does have a noticeable effect. (blown in insulation)

[SS Junk]

Just some perspective, my garage is 980sq. ft. Completely insulated including doors. W/out climate control there is always a 10* difference between inside and outside regardless of season. Always cooler in the summer and colder in the winter. I have an a/c 12,000btu window unit:

When it has been 100* outside the garage is 90 and w/in an hour it has cooled down to 86* and because the car is next to the unit there is direct cold air always on me. I have a ceiling fan just above the car as well. Makes it really nice. In the winter I have a couple of cheap heaters I put next to the car and the place warms up well.

[bcoop]

I see Owens insulation panels for about 70 bucks.

What? Get the foil backed insulation panels at Home Depot. They are around $10/sheet (4'x8').

[Baba Ganoush]

Those portable ac units won't cut it, don't waist your coin. You'd be surprised how cheap it would be to duct into the garage with a standard ac unit. But, you do need good insulation to keep the cool in.

My 30x30 shop stays 20+ degrees cooler on the hottest days, but I'm fully insulated including doors, shaded on most of the north and west sides, and running a standard size house ac unit.

In your case I'd almost add a large window unit on that wall by just cutting a hole, or look into ducting into the garage.

[fordracing19]

I have r19 in my garage walls and 3/4 foam board on the outside. The door is a r10 insulated door.

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[2011GT]

Just some perspective, my garage is 980sq. ft. Completely insulated including doors. W/out climate control there is always a 10* difference between inside and outside regardless of season. Always cooler in the summer and colder in the winter. I have an a/c 12,000btu window unit.
When it has been 100* outside the garage is 90 and w/in an hour it has cooled down to 86* and because the car is next to the unit there is direct cold air always on me. I have a ceiling fan just above the car as well. Makes it really nice. In the winter I have a couple of cheap heaters I put next to the car and the place warms up well.

For the size of garage your BTU seems low. But whatever works. Ceiling fan is another great idea. Are you using an outdoor or indoor fan? I really want to do a window unit but I will have to get a window installed in my garage first. I wonder how much that will cost...

[Big A]

I wonder how profitable a low-profile AC unit, that fits under the garage door would be. Think window unit, but it spans the entire bottom of the garage door. Split it in half, with a hinge of some type on each side. During the summer you have AC blowing in across the entire bottom of the garage door, and in the winter, or when not working in the garage, you fold up each side to stand upright next to each side to be able to park.

Ideal would be to duct the garage to a full AC unit, but realistically you don't need it to be mid 70's year round to work on a car/project.

[KBScobravert]

Search "split unit design" a/c systems here. I have posted a few times.

I have a 2ton unit in my garage. Door insulated with 1.25" foil backed foam board and the ceiling insulated.

[SS Junk]

For the size of garage your BTU seems low. But whatever works. Ceiling fan is another great idea. Are you using an outdoor or indoor fan? I really want to do a window unit but I will have to get a window installed in my garage first. I wonder how much that will cost...

It is low. I didn't want to have to wire for 220v so a compromise was made. Ceiling fan is for indoors.

[2011GT]

I wonder how profitable a low-profile AC unit, that fits under the garage door would be. Think window unit, but it spans the entire bottom of the garage door. Split it in half, with a hinge of some type on each side. During the summer you have AC blowing in across the entire bottom of the garage door, and in the winter, or when not working in the garage, you fold up each side to stand upright next to each side to be able to park.

Ideal would be to duct the garage to a full AC unit, but realistically you don't need it to be mid 70's year round to work on a car/project.

sign me up!

[Big A]

sign me up!

Now that I think about it, why not make the unit one piece, and connect it to the door itself? Garage door goes up, the AC unit goes with it, and out of the way for parking or whatever.

I guarantee that if it could be made and sold at a price close to what a window unit costs, it would sell. Anybody have some capital to invest?

[2011GT]

Search "split unit design" a/c systems here. I have posted a few times.

I have a 2ton unit in my garage. Door insulated with 1.25" foil backed foam board and the ceiling insulated.

Ok I looked it up. It's says you paid 2k for it installed? That's doable. Can you post some pictures? I'm curious how that would work.

I'm kinda thinking about venting an a/c system into the small attic space above my garage or having a window installed and window unit going in it.

[2011GT]

Here is the back of my house. The bottom left is the garage. Do you think I can add a window there for ~$1000?