My garage has a 8x16' single layer door with no insul. I have started to put pink rigid insul in each panel, but am not sure that's really the best way to go about it i'm about 1/4 way done but am willing to change if something is better for the long haul. All of the walls and attic in the garage are insulated and sheetrocked so the door is the last to be tackled.

So what have you guys found works to insulated non-insulated garage doors?

i need the same info. a guy at work used r-max and cut it to fit looks like shit but works. i have seen doors with other types just no info

I've seen a number of people use the rigid insulation to retrofit doors. Only caution I would give is to cover it with something as it is combustible.

That's how we did it in our shop. We just got some 1" styrofoam and used liquid nail to hold it to the door. Makes it nice and toasty. If you can cover it I would. We didn't and you can see some damage where people have poked it and hit it.

I went to Lowe's and bought the 1" styro. It is a metallic blue color on one side, so it doesn't look bad but does dent. I just cut it and slid it into the door sections. The only thing you may want to check is the opener if you have one. At my last house, mine failed pretty early and I suspect the little bit of weight the styro added may have caused it. An insulated door will come with a heavier spring, so you may have to add a better spring if you use an opener.

Good luck!

"An insulated door will come with a heavier spring, so you may have to add a better spring if you use an opener. "

That is definetely something to think about. You can at least try to crank the spring tension up a little.

There is some stuff available that is like bubble wrap with a silver coating on one side that has an incredible RF rating for how thin it is. I know they sell it at Home Depot, and it comes in rolls. It too would require something to protect it.

We bought our garage door pre-insulated. I wonder if they do not have a kit available?? The outside of the doors are the same just with added insulation.

:D Ya thats the same stuff i looked at last week to do mine, thatfoil lined bubble wrap type stuff. Its comes in 18", 24", 48" x 25' rolls. I can just get buy with 1 - 48" roll to do my 7'x16' door IF i leave 2 windows open, which ill make a cardboard flap on those.

It's about ~$50 a roll (48" wide) BUT its a full R13ish depending on how its oriented (i didnt read up on that yet) vs the foam stuff that is a r2,3,4 ish.. This bubble wrap stuff is ~3/8" thick. My plan was to glue that up and see what happened... If its to reflective ill spray some paint on it...

anyway... happy insulating...

post pics wwhen you are done, sounds like a good project for me too.

Yup, the door will get heavier - by 10-20 lbs or so.

To make the door easier to operate post insulation, just put an extra half-crank or so on the spring. Assuming a torsion spring, and assuming you know how to crank one without beaning yourself.

Low-e (http://www.low-e.com/)

Class-A-White: is the stuff I'm putting up in the shop. Basically R-8.3 or R7 depending on position.

Super thin, lots of air bubbles in the wrap, silver back/white inside.

Tom :usa:

They sell kits for this. Ask at HD.
And yes you will need to put at least a half turn in your spring. Be carefull

If its to reflective ill spray some paint on it...

anyway... happy insulating...


DUDE! don't paint it! I just put that stuff in my converted garage shop. It is the best shiat since sliced bread. The reflective coating improved my lighting by a thousand fold. REALLY eliminates shadows. I didn't put it on my door, Thinking about that though, I put it on my ceiling. My salamander used to run for 15 minutes at a time, now only 5 to get to temp.

That stuff is the bomb. I would use staples to put it up. I called the hotline for the product, and that is there recommend method. You can re-use it if you do this. The stuff equats to a r-19 with a 12" air gap! Way cheaper than batts. Oh, and you don't have to use the foil tape to seal the seams. Duct tape will NOT stick, so use packing or strapping tape.


j

DUDE! ........j

which stuff exactly are you talking about, I've seen like 2 or 3 products discussed here.

good tips! keep 'em coming.

I had originally talked to the door installer and he did mention that they do sell a door insulating kit but mentioned to me that it was pricey and wasn't any better than you could do yourself ----

I think i might go get some of that foil lined stuff of which you speak.

which stuff exactly are you talking about, I've seen like 2 or 3 products discussed here.

the foil/relfective stuff.