Garage Door Insulation
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Lower Your Fuel Bills With Garage Door Insulation
I finally got a chance to go out in the garage and finish the birdhouse I've been promising forever. I took out the wood and started to stain the pieces that I had already cut the day before. It was so cold I could see my breath! I looked over at the garage door and realized the only thing between my garage and Old Man Winter was a thin piece of metal.
In many homes the garage is the largest uninsulated area. It can cost you a ton in heating bills, especially if the garage is underneath a bedroom or another portion of your home. Garage door insulation will improve the heat retention in your garage. You'll also get the benefit of a quieter working environment, and reduced noise from the road outside.
Click Here To Find Great Prices On Garage Door Insulation
Prepackaged Kits
There are 2 common kits available for garage door insulation: reflective foil insulation or molded polystyrene panels. Reflective foil insulation is usually made of polyethylene foam surrounded by a covering of aluminum foil on one or both sides.
Molded polystyrene panels carry a higher R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) than reflective foil insulation, and are generally easier to measure and cut.
Do-It-Yourself
You can also opt for the do-it-yourself method of garage door insulation by cutting some foam core and applying to the garage door with double-sided tape. It'll save a little bit of money but it will be more hassle and probably take a little longer. Measure the panels from the inside with a tape measure. Score the foam core on one side with a utility knife along your measured lines. Turnover and bend back one of the two sides along the scoring line. Use your utility knife to make the final cut and separate the piece.
Apply double-sided tape to the back of the garage door panels. You can also use an adhesive like Liquid Nails for garage door insulation. You don't need to draw a constant bead with Liquid Nails, just put a series of dabs along the edge of the corners and several in the middle of the panel. Press the foam core into the panel spaces. Once you've covered all of the individual panels you should consider adding another layer on top of the base panels you just created. You'll get even more garage door insulation and the second layer will not be as difficult to measure or apply.
While you are working on the door, consider adding garage door insulation along the bottom of the door with double-sided weather-stripping to keep out drafts and get a better overall seal.
Studies show that insulating a metal garage door can increase thermal performance by up to 5 times, and reduce noise levels up to 20%, over an uninsulated door. Whether you opt for a prepackaged garage door insulation kit, or the do-it-yourself method, insulating your garage door will lower your fuel costs, reduce noise both from inside and outside the garage, and most importantly, increase the warmth in your work area.
In my case, I'll be able to finish an overdue birdhouse without getting frostbite.
In many homes the garage is the largest uninsulated area. It can cost you a ton in heating bills, especially if the garage is underneath a bedroom or another portion of your home. Garage door insulation will improve the heat retention in your garage. You'll also get the benefit of a quieter working environment, and reduced noise from the road outside.
Click Here To Find Great Prices On Garage Door Insulation
Prepackaged Kits
There are 2 common kits available for garage door insulation: reflective foil insulation or molded polystyrene panels. Reflective foil insulation is usually made of polyethylene foam surrounded by a covering of aluminum foil on one or both sides.
Molded polystyrene panels carry a higher R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) than reflective foil insulation, and are generally easier to measure and cut.
Do-It-Yourself
You can also opt for the do-it-yourself method of garage door insulation by cutting some foam core and applying to the garage door with double-sided tape. It'll save a little bit of money but it will be more hassle and probably take a little longer. Measure the panels from the inside with a tape measure. Score the foam core on one side with a utility knife along your measured lines. Turnover and bend back one of the two sides along the scoring line. Use your utility knife to make the final cut and separate the piece.
Apply double-sided tape to the back of the garage door panels. You can also use an adhesive like Liquid Nails for garage door insulation. You don't need to draw a constant bead with Liquid Nails, just put a series of dabs along the edge of the corners and several in the middle of the panel. Press the foam core into the panel spaces. Once you've covered all of the individual panels you should consider adding another layer on top of the base panels you just created. You'll get even more garage door insulation and the second layer will not be as difficult to measure or apply.
While you are working on the door, consider adding garage door insulation along the bottom of the door with double-sided weather-stripping to keep out drafts and get a better overall seal.
Studies show that insulating a metal garage door can increase thermal performance by up to 5 times, and reduce noise levels up to 20%, over an uninsulated door. Whether you opt for a prepackaged garage door insulation kit, or the do-it-yourself method, insulating your garage door will lower your fuel costs, reduce noise both from inside and outside the garage, and most importantly, increase the warmth in your work area.
In my case, I'll be able to finish an overdue birdhouse without getting frostbite.
Garage Door Weather Stripping
The process involved need not be difficult, and will ensure that your home is kept warm and your heating bills reduced.
Kits for garage door weather stripping will provide you with everything you need to carry out the work. There are several different types of seal available on the market, but high quality rubber ones are probably the best. It's important to check the hinges on the door itself and make sure they're secure and stable before you begin.
Click Here To Buy Garage Door Weather Stripping At Great Prices
Once you've assembled all the necessary tools, raise the garage door so that the bottom is easily accessible, and remove any old stripping or debris. It's essential you remove all the old material as you want the surface to be clean to take the new weather stripping. This also applies to the garage entrance area, as any dirt or ground in debris on the floor itself can affect the way the door will seal itself to the floor when closed.
With course sandpaper smooth the edge of the door making certain you end up with a smooth finish. Follow this with a wood sealer before proceeding to the next step.
Carefully measure how much seal is required to cover the bottom of the door, and cut off any excess. If the strip is to be glued onto the door, apply a strong adhesive and then carefully fit the seal. By making sure you direct even pressure on the seal it will ensure the finish does not crease or bubble.
If the seal is to be attached to the bottom of the door with staples or nails, then it's best to start at one end of the door and stable or nail it as you go along.
Once these stages have been completed, it's necessary to ensure the door now closes properly. If you've used an adhesive to secure the seal, then wait for it to dry out properly before trying to close the garage door.
The garage door should close easily but still be secure enough at the bottom to stop any draughts seeping through into the garage area. Any light that can be seen underneath the door now means that the seal has not been applied correctly.
Although the process is not difficult, it's nevertheless important to make sure every stage is finished properly before carrying on. A well sealed garage door can save you a lot of money in heating bills. It will also help to preserve all the tools you have in your garage by keeping them dry and free of excessive dust and dirt.
The whole process should not take very long, and once installed the garage door weather stripping will serve you well for many years to come.
Garage Door Bottom Seal
Garage doors are supposed to protect your car and other valuable things stored inside from the elements outside. It's inevitable that wind, rain, snow, leaves, bugs and other pests will make their way into your garage if it is not securely protected. Garage doors these days are made from a mixture of materials that offer only partial protection. Many door manufacturers install a garage door bottom seal along with the new garage door to ensure the inside remains safe and dry.
After a number of years, these seals can slowly begin to erode. If you've never thought much about your garage door seal, now is the time to take a look. If you see any gaps in the seal, or it has an all around worn out appearance, you'll know that it's time to have the seal replaced. You can pay someone to do this for you, but it will probably cost you a pretty penny. However, you must make sure that wind, and especially water, do not seep into your garage. If it does, a dangerous mold could develop, in addition to the general damage that pooling water can cause.
Click Here Get A New Garage Door Bottom Seal Now
If you're a do it yourself type, then add this project to your list of chores. To keep costs down you can go to your local hardware store, or online store, and purchase a garage door bottom seal repair kit. These kits come with full instructions and the only tools you'll really need are a pencil, tape measure, hammer or screwdriver and cutting tool. The sealant comes in either a 10-foot or 30-foot length. Before you buy the kit, you should measure your garage door so that you can choose the length that is best suited for your needs. Once you have the dimensions of your door measured out, you can then unfurl the seal and measure out the exact length you'll need. Use the cutting tool to cut off the unwanted part.
It should be mentioned that if you have not already cleaned out your garage, you should do so before you install the seal. Look for bugs hiding in dark corners, leaves and assorted dust and dirt scattered around, as well as, any pools of water. All of this needs to be cleaned out completely. It may seem like extra work, but you don't want debris and critters sealed up inside the area, because it defeats the purpose of having the extra protection. So, grab a broom and an old rag and get to cleaning.
Okay, when you're ready to do the installation, you'll find that it's really easy. First you'll need to remove any of the old seal that remains. This will most likely require the use of either a hammer or screwdriver to remove either old nails or screws. Discard this unwanted material to get it out of the way. Lay out your new nails or screws that you'll be using for this project. Take your pre-measured sealant and begin installing from the right side moving to your left. Use the nails or screws to hold it in place. Check to make sure everything looks even, and then you're done!
The newly installed garage door bottom seal is now ready to keep your garage protected from the elements, snooping animals and other unwanted annoyances.
How To Install Garage Door Insulation
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