How You Can Protect Your Garage from Extremes in the Weather

If you use your garage for more than just a storage space for your vehicle - for instance, doubling as an office, workshop, den, or game room, it’s essential you insulate the garage door. When you properly insulate your garage, you’ll achieve optimized thermal efficiency with maximum air infiltration reduction. Then, in any temperature, your well-insulated garage will provide you with a viable space all year long, so you’ll always be comfortable. You’ll keep as much cold out as possible during winter and as much heat out as possible in summer.

Cold Weather Protection

Even when the temperature drops below freezing during winter, if your garage is winterized, you’ll definitely be saving time and money.

Repair or replace the weatherstripping. Weatherstripping will create an effective seal between the garage door opening and the garage door. If you feel a cold draft leaking into your garage between the garage door frame and the garage door, then take off the existing weatherstripping if you observe that it is brittle or cracked. Scrape off any remaining sealant, using a pry bar or flat scraper and putty knife. Be sure the surface is as clean and even as you can make it. After you completely remove the old weatherstripping, then correctly measure, so you can now apply the new weatherstripping. To align it, close your garage door, making sure that the rubber flap flattens somewhat against it. Ultimately, you’ll have a perfect seal, and your garage door will operate smoothly.

Insulate your garage’s walls. Correct installation of insulation in your garage requires that you study the installation guide closely. Make sure that you choose just the right insulation thickness for the garage walls. Typical mistakes people frequently make are: not securely fastening the batt insulation; not supporting it properly; or cutting it too long or too short for the location. Bear in mind that the insulation must fit snugly; but do not jam it in too tightly.

Hot Weather Protection

During summer, your primary objective is to boost the airflow throughout the garage. Taking just one of the following measures is worth considering:

Insulate your garage overhead door. If your garage door is made of metal, add a layer of rigid insulation 2 inches thick, fastened to the inside of each garage door panel using contact cement. Or, an insulated sectional overhead door is a premium alternative.

Wall insulation keeps out the summer heat with outstanding efficiency. Apply wallboard or other paneling to encapsulate the material. You’ll stop pets, toddlers, and teenagers from tearing things out.

Attach an adjustable rollaway awning onto the sunny side of your garage. In the summer heat, the shade will help to cool things down.

Insulate the garage’s ceiling. If you use paper-backed batt insulation, ceiling wallboard won’t be required. Install the insulation with staples, paper side down; or, keep the insulation secured using netting. You can also use staples to attach the netting. Expert garage door service technicians recommend you do both.

Install a stationary vent on the roof of your garage. It’s an economical way to create an exit point for the hot air trapped in the attic of your garage. If you can afford it, install a mechanical exhaust system. Fans will draw the cooler air from the garage into the attic. Thus you’ll cool the attic off as well as the area below.

Leave your garage door slightly open, about a foot away from the floor. You can also add a fan.

Plant a tree. A deciduous or hardwood tree is an inexpensive and aesthetic way to cool your garage in summer. And, it will even keep your garage warm during winter. Plant it between the garage and the position of the sun during the hottest part of the day, so that the leaves will provide optimum shade. And, winter’s bare branches will allow the sunlight to shine through, giving more warmth.

If you have any questions about the best ways to protect your garage, and you live anywhere in Arvada, Colorado, then consider hiring a dependable professional from a trustworthy garage door company such as Arvada Garage Door Repair Pros.