As you can see there s some variation in r value depending on the particular type and brand of products used.
Garage attic insulation r value.
Most garages are a refuge for all kinds of flammable and noxious stuff.
Garages typically aren t built to be airtight and have lots of air gaps to the outdoors.
But newer homes in central and southern arizona are insulated to ratings of r 30 to r 38 while newer homes in northern arizona generally have attic insulation at r 60 because of colder winters.
Add insulation to attic.
It s also important to realize the value of air sealing in conjunction with insulation.
This adds insulation to the garage door without impeding its functionality.
Achieving greater r values in exterior walls.
Recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood framed buildings.
When you should insulate the garage.
Most garage door insulation has an r value of between r 8 and r 12 because it is so thin to fit the space.
The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Check rim joists and unfinished basement walls and compare depth with an r value map and chart for your area.
If it isn t at least 19 inches deep add more.
Existing 3 4 inches of insulation.
Insulating the attic above the garage will help keep temperatures in the garage a bit more stable but it won t have any appreciable effect on energy bills.
Things to consider when insulating your garage.
A contractor will come and open up a hole in the wall pump in a cellulose insulating material and then patch up the opening.
You can insulate the walls ceiling and door of the garage to the highest r value possible but if you fail to fill those air gaps you ll still be wasting a lot of heat.
Slide a yardstick or tape measure into the existing insulation.
You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation.
The other option is purchasing a pre insulated garage door that may have a higher r value.
This will serve the same function of keeping hot or cold air inside the garage as it does for the rest of the house.
If you already have drywall installed around your garage but don t have it insulated then blown in insulation may be the answer.