Garage door insulation

[mortimersnerd]

It's time to insulate my metal garage door. Our garage is underneath the living room, I'm sick of having cold floors and seeing my own breath while working on the Bronco isn't much fun. I've got a little over 1 3/8" of depth to work with. I'm thinking about using a layer of the aluminized bubble wrap stuff for radiant barrier (it's south facing and gets really warm in the summer) backed by a piece of 1" thick poly foam insulation board. I'm hoping to be able to friction fit all of it, but am not against glue if I have to. Thoughts on that plan, or any other ideas?

 

[AZ73]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbrande...ulation-W-N5150/100317819?N=baxx#.UpODzY1t-Hk

 

[SpareParts]

I used regular white Styrofoam to insulate my shop door. It did wonders on keeping the heat in. The door maybe a little thicker than yours, but you should be able to get the foam in different thicknesses.

 

[Hawkdoc]

Used the silver backed styrene, put silver side in. Used alittle bit of silicone on the corners to help hold it in place. Has really made a difirence.

Hawkdoc

 

[mortimersnerd]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbrande...ulation-W-N5150/100317819?N=baxx#.UpODzY1t-Hk

That's the polystyrene board I'm referring to. The 1 1/2" won't fit, not quite enough room. I'm hoping that this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflecti...ulation-BP24100/202851855?N=bedf#.UpOZEsRekmk

backed with 1" board will do the trick.

 

[AZ73]

That's the polystyrene board I'm referring to. The 1 1/2" won't fit, not quite enough room. I'm hoping that this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflecti...ulation-BP24100/202851855?N=bedf#.UpOZEsRekmk

backed with 1" board will do the trick.

I actually used this version as it's what they had in stock, but it's the same stuff.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/R-Tech-1...sulation-310880/202532855?N=baxx#.UpOc1I1t-Hk

Not sure why 1/8" makes a difference. You should have all the room in the world in the inside of your garage door. The link I posted above doesn't show the backside of the material. It's aluminum foil (although not with bubbles). This stuff is reasonable cost, has a good r-value, and is easy to work with. I use it in the summer as the whole bottom panel of the garage door with a cut-out for a room A/C. It's as cool or cooler than my insulated garage door when I position the foil outwards.

 

[Broncobowsher]

My last house had the bare steel door. Got some white styrofoam from a stucco job leftovers. Dragged that into the garage. Actually put it in during the winter. You could feel the cold coming through the door and rolling onto the floor as I started. did one side of the garage door first, there was a noticable difference between the side that was insulated and the side that wasn't. And it was just a friction fit bare white foam. Finished off the other side. Much better. Never filled the gaps, never sealed anything, nothing other then white blocks wedged in. Perfectly happy. I did have to tighten the garage door spring a little.

The new house I checked the insulated garage door option as it was built. I think the foam job I did was nearly as good as the factory insulated door. I feel the foam is a much better insulator then bubble wrap. they make coolers out of foam, but not too many out of bubble wrap. A cheap foam cooler will do better then a fancy expensive bubble wrap insulated bag.

 

[SpareParts]

My last house had the bare steel door. Got some white styrofoam....….I feel the foam is a much better insulator then bubble wrap. they make coolers out of foam, but not too many out of bubble wrap. A cheap foam cooler will do better then a fancy expensive bubble wrap insulated bag.

That's what I did, and my thoughts exactly!

 

[gnpenning]

Door manufactures us a very similar insulations from one to the other. A lot of parts interchange. The back of the sheets are kerf cut to allow it to flex and get a tighter fit. Under the stiles foam blocks may already be there so you are just worried about the top and bottom being a tight fit. Some use plastic trim on the edges. Door panels come in 18", 21" and 24" depth to get the correct height for the opening. Most door installers will carry it in stock.
Yes you can buy it from the box store and cut to fit.

The springs on doors are engineered to the weight of the door. A properly balanced door should not need the springs adjusted because of adding insulation. Adding windows or more weight they will need to be adjusted or replaced.

BTW. The thickness of insulation is the same from one door manufacture to the other and R values claims are wildly different. Never buy based on R value.