Detached Garage and Door Insulation Themes, Part 1

At Crawford Door Sales, we’re proud to offer a wide range of garage door products and services for both residential and commercial garage door needs. We have numerous high-performance garage door materials and products on-hand in both realms, plus offer garage door repair and maintenance for any garage setup in place on your property.

One slightly rarer type of garage, but one we’re happy to provide services for, is the detached garage that is not attached to the rest of the home whatsoever. There are several important factors to consider for such garage doors, and one of the most vital is insulation – both for the garage door and for the rest of the detached space. This two-part blog series will begin by laying out the most common options for insulation throughout a given garage space, then dig into some basic tips on determining whether you need insulation and choosing the right type if so.

Fiberglass

The single most popular insulation type used in garages, as in standard home areas, is fiberglass. This product is incredibly easy to use when insulating a given room or space, available in long blankets and pre-cut slabs that easily fit in wall and ceiling areas insulation generally is placed in.

There are also forms of fiberglass available in loose-fill, which allows it to be blown into spaces above a ceiling. Fiberglass even works well in situations where the insulation is visible – when wrapped in plastic film, fiberglass brings a finished aesthetic to the space.

Polystyrene and Other Foams

When it comes to garage doors themselves, and particularly for property owners looking for a combination of insulation and rigidity in a material, polystyrene and other rigid foams are often the ideal material. These foam types come in 4 x 8-foot sheets with various thicknesses, also featuring materials like polyisocyanurate, extruded polystyrene and others.

These foams are fantastic for insulation quality, with excellent R-value ratings. They also help make the door itself firmer and more durable in the long run.

Cellulose

A more recently popular loose-fill insulation format for garages is cellulose, which is actually made from recycled materials and fire retardant. Cellulose is only generally meant for finished garage walls, where it will be blown into the area with a special blowing machine you can rent at many stores. It isn’t generally used in garage doors themselves, though this may be possible in some situations.

Spray Foam

Finally, a material that’s excellent for sealing smaller areas while insulating is spray foam. Spray foam isn’t required for all garage door insulation situations, as many will not require it, but those looking for extremely strong insulation and air blockage can use spray foam in both garage door and general opening areas to prevent cracks or gaps.

For more on the kinds of insulation available for garages and garage doors, or to learn about any of our garage door installation or maintenance services, speak to the staff at Crawford Door Sales today.