How Can I Insulate My Garage Cheaply? [5 Suggestions]

When it comes to home improvement projects, insulating your garage probably isn't all that high up on your "to-do" list. If you're worried, though, about an ever-rising energy bill, you may want to consider giving your garage the spruce up it needs. How can you insulate your garage on a budget? We've researched different types of insulation and DIY how-to methods to get the answer for you.

You have several options for affordable DIY methods when insulating your garage. Some of the most affordable types of  insulation to consider include:

  • Loose-fill fiberglass
  • Loose-fill cellulose
  • Cotton batts
  • Rockwool batts and blankets
  • Polystyrene or polyisocyanurate structural insulated panels

Of course, you can also cut costs by determining whether a DIY insulation installation or a professional job may best suit your home. Both of these processes can protect the structural supports inside of your garage while also lowering your energy bills - it's just a matter of deciding whether you want to try your hand at insulation installation or if you'd prefer a professional to go to work for you. Please keep reading as we discuss each type, costs associated with each, and how to install these insulations.

new two car garage with glass doors, how can i insulate my garage cheaply [5 suggestions]

 

How Can I Insulate My Garage Cheaply?

As mentioned, you can insulate your garage using various insulation types, including traditional fiberglass and more modern foam board. Some of the most effective insulation types to use if you want to insulate your garage include:

  • Loose-fill fiberglass
  • Loose-fill cellulose
  • Cotton batts
  • Rockwool batts and blankets
  • Polystyrene or polyisocyanurate structural insulated panels

Note that some types of insulation, such as polyisocyanurate structural insulated panels, are more expensive than others, even though they're on the cheaper end of potential products you might use to protect your garage. However, certain types of insulation, like rockwool batts and cotton batts, may be difficult to find in your area. As you're searching for the best insulation to use in your garage, reach out to the professionals working at your local hardware store to see what insulating materials may be available in your area.

Finally, also note that you'll want to vary the types of insulation you use based on what part of your garage you're interested in insulating. For example, if you want to insulate your garage's ceiling, you'll want to invest in thicker insulation than you would if you were just insulating your garage walls.

Check out our related post before you start to shop, Is Blown-In Insulation Cheaper Than Rolls?

Do-It-Yourself Insulation

Do-it-yourself projects are all the rage these days, as they let you flex your creative muscles while also saving a bit of money. You do have the option, as such, of insulating your own garage without help from local professionals. The process can take some time, but if you shop carefully, you can bring together the materials and tools you need to insulate your home without blowing your home repair budget.

Materials You'll Need

Determine what kind of insulation you want to use in your garage before starting on the installation process. Once you've procured your preferred insulation, however, you can start to gather together the rest of your garage insulating kit. This kit can include:

  • A utility knife
  • Plywood
  • A staple gun and staples
  • Expanding foam for filling cracks
  • Drywall

Do note that you'll also want to have protective materials on hand, including gloves and a mask, to protect yourself as you start on the installation process.

How To Insulate Your Garage On Your Own

With your materials on hand, you can start insulating your garage. To do so, you'll want to:

  1. Remove any drywall on your garage walls.
  2. Clean stud cavities as appropriate.
  3. Use expanding foam to fill in any gaps that you may have in your garage walls.
  4. Connect your insulation of choice next to, but not on top of, the studs supporting your garage walls.
  5. Remove any excess insulation from your installation space.
  6. Secure the insulation with staples.
  7. Cover the revealed wall and insulation with replacement drywall.

Please watch the video below to see an installation in action:

Should I Insulate my garage ceiling?

Insulating your garage's ceiling or door involves many of the same steps. However, insulating your garage door does not require you to use drywall to keep the insulation in place. Instead, you can invest in a garage door insulating kit that can help you both install and secure the insulation without leaving said insulation exposed.

You can find more garage door insulation kits on Amazon.

Take a look at how to insulate your garage door using a kit:

A Word To The Wise

Do note that while DIY home insulating projects can be mentally engaging, they may not provide your home with the comprehensive protection you need to maintain your internal temperature and healthy moisture levels. As such, note that you can have a professional inspect your DIY insulation job and help you in the aftermath if you believe that you may have made a mistake or two along the way.

Working With Professional Contractors

If you would rather leave garage-insulating work to the professionals, then you can. Professional home insulation contractors can conduct thorough inspections of your home and determine what insulation may best suit your garage.

These pros can also help you determine whether or not alternative insulating measures may be a benefit to your home. For example, if you find yourself contending with severe garage leaks, it may be in your best interest to invest in home waterproofing measures in addition to garage insulation.

Some of the best additives or alternatives to garage insulation include:

  • Full encapsulation - if you want to invest in a home improvement solution that protects your home from uncomfortable temperatures and run-away rainwater, the full encapsulation process may suit you. This process allows contractors to install vapor barriers throughout your garage. These barriers are dense enough to prevent most gases from getting into your garage, let alone water, and they can help lower your electric bills by preserving your space's internal temperature.
  • French drains or sump pumps - if, again, you're contending with unwanted water in your garage, you can pair waterproof insulation with a French drain or a sump pump. These waterproofing measures are designed to forcibly remove water from your garage, thereby limiting the amount of moisture that can get into the air and wreak havoc on your garage's internal temperature.

You'll want to speak with a local contractor to determine if any of the above home insulating and waterproofing measures may help you better care for your garage.

How Long Does Insulation Last?

Insulation can last the lifetime of your home, or well beyond at 80- to 100-years! Make sure you reach out to your local contractor to schedule annual home inspections. During these inspections, a professional can look through your garage to determine whether or not the insulation is still in good condition.

Should it not be, you can work with said professional to replace the damaged sections or take on that task yourself. Contractors can also help you determine whether or not your garage may be at risk for sinkage or foundation slippage in the near future, based on the amount of moisture your insulation seems to be interacting with.

If you would rather not reach out to a professional for a garage inspection, you can instead look over your insulation on your own time. Signs of damage that you'll want to keep an eye out for can include but are not limited to:

  • Unpleasant smells throughout your garage
  • Standing water
  • Temperatures that change at random
  • Sticking doors
  • Cracked or damp supports

It's not just the weather, after all, that insulation keeps out of your garage. Effective insulation will also help waterproof your space, allowing your support structures and foundations to remain secure. Should your insulation begin to fail, you'll be more likely to see signs of leaks or structural damage throughout your garage.

Should I Insulate An Unheated Garage?

Even if you do not actively heat your garage, it can be in your best interest to insulate your space. As mentioned, insulation helps prevent unwanted moisture from making its way into your home. When you have these kinds of protective measures in place, you can prevent rapid temperature changes - as brought on by either the presence of moisture in the air or the changing of the seasons - from compromising the structural integrity of any pipes or other support structures in your garage. Similarly, insulation can help you slow or prevent garage sinkage.

Above all else, though, an insulated garage is a garage that'll help you lower your heating bill every month. Whether you're in the height of summer or the depths of winter, the insulation in your garage will help you maintain your home's overall temperature, thereby giving your HVAC system - and your wallet - the break it needs.

Deciding whether to insulate? The discussion featured below may help.

Will Insulation Keep My Garage Cool?

Insulation does work to cool down your garage, yes. No matter what type of insulation you choose to work with, that protective barrier between the outdoors and your home will make it more difficult for the air that your HVAC system cooled to escape. Please note, though, that insulation is only effective as the structure it is connected to. As such, during the installation process, make sure that you have the time to fill in any gaps that may exist between your support structures. This way, you can create a sealed environment in your garage, effectively helping your insulation do its job.

In Conclusion

Insulating your garage does not have to be a costly endeavor. If you shop your preferred insulation type with care and decide early on whether or not you want a professional to come and work on your home, you can set an effective budget and stick to it. After your work is done, you can benefit from less expensive energy bills and more comfortable living space.

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