Insulating Garage

[TigLad]

Hi guys, my garage is currently a blank canvas that I want to do out as a workshop, since we moved here i've replaced the roof on it and now i'm in a dilemma of whether to insulate it ready for winter and before I fill it with cupboards and equipment.
What type of insulation is best to go for in terms of being relatively cheap yet effective?
Also it has a roller shutter door, is there a way of insulating them?
Is there much point of insulating the 3 other walls and ceiling and leaving the roller shutter door as it is?

Any tips or recommendations would be apprieciated.

 

[voipio]

It's better to insulate all external walls, and also the floor, for maximum effect. Metallised bubble wrap type insulation, behind a stud wall, is relatively cheap, but works better if there are additional draught-reducing measures in the wall cavity. Insulated roller shutters can be bought:

https://www.nortonindustrialdoors.co.uk/insulated-roller-shutters/

Also, try and get rid of draughts around the door and roof to conserve heat, but a dehumidifier becomes necessary, to prevent condensation. You will need to consider ventilation to get rid of fumes and dust.

 

[Morrisman]

Why would there be condensation once it is insulated? The roller door may get condensation on, due to the temperature differential, but if the garage is insulated and relatively air tight nothing else should.

 

[TigLad]

It's better to insulate all external walls, and also the floor, for maximum effect. Metallised bubble wrap type insulation, behind a stud wall, is relatively cheap, but works better if there are additional draught-reducing measures in the wall cavity. Insulated roller shutters can be bought:

https://www.nortonindustrialdoors.co.uk/insulated-roller-shutters/

Also, try and get rid of draughts around the door and roof to conserve heat, but a dehumidifier becomes necessary, to prevent condensation. You will need to consider ventilation to get rid of fumes and dust.

Replacing the roller shutter door for a new insulated one is likely expensive and im not sure whats involved in insulating the floor, this is a 5m x 4m garage at the back of my house, I dont really want to go to those lengths, I was hoping insulating the ceiling and 3 external walls would be enough and was'nt sure about a way of insulating the roller shutter or whether I really need to.
I was planning on opening the window and door for the fume extraction, unless theres an inexpensive alternative that wont take up to much space.

 

[Burdekin]

Loft insulation for the ceiling and I used Earthwool for my wall: https://www.buildbase.co.uk/cavity-insulation-10319-0000

For the roller door, how often do you use it, can you temporarily board it up or do a secondary external wall/gate with just a normal sized door way?

Definite benefit in insulating everything else as best you can even if roller door is left as is. Even a curtain inside would help.

 

[bricol]

My insulated roller shutter isn't very thick so still gets condensation on the inside on cold damp days. The moisture then has to go somewhere - into my old dehumidifier on a timer is my preferred method. Otherwise its on every cold metallic surface - hand tools, lathe, mill or the two cars . .

 

[truckdoctor]

Our insulated and heated garage has a insulated roller shutter door that is covered in condensation in the winter, so much so that it runs down and pools on the floor. In the winter the door is covered in 100mm "kingspan"and taped up. It sorts the condensation problem but, I must remember to leave the car outside next time.LOL

 

[TigLad]

Think ill go ahead with it then, I will have a think whether to do a secondary external wall where the roller shutter is or even just something temporary just for winter.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[500e]

Drafty things roller doors, a curtain or secondary barrier may be easier the 80mm / 100mm kingspan on a light frame may be the answer all according how big the opening is

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I did rockwool with a vapour barrier and then ply lined...the studs and ply are handy for hanging stuff. Mine is sectional concrete...I was going to do the roof too but never bothered. It's 30 sq m and I use just two bathroom heaters which is ok heat wise....I'm able to work down there any day I want. After the initial heat up I often have to switch the heating off....so now I have them on a 1 hr timer plug which works really good.

Rockwool was good because I needed flexibility with the panels being concrete.

 

[Gareth J]

It's one of those "pick two" triangles;

Good insulating
Thin
Cheap

Rock wool is a pretty middle of the road option but won't stand up on its own.

The thing is with a garage, the cost-benefit is harder to work out as, normally, it only needs to be warm when you're in there (infrequently?) so heat loss is less of an issue. The real enemy is humidity; so insulating, heating and ventilation or sealing up and dehumidifying....

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The thing is with a garage, the cost-benefit is harder to work out as, normally, it only needs to be warm when you're in there (infrequently?) so heat loss is less of an issue.

Spot on...with mine all it needed to do was keep enough heat from escaping so that it was comfortable in the winter with a fan heater going. Doing the walls gave me that...I left the roof as it wasn't necessary. Rockwool is dirt cheap and if you trap it in place (cross battens) its good enough.

One thing I would say is use a dry heat source....I originally tried a gas heater and it was raining water from the ceiling in winter!

 

[123hotchef]

get it sprayed with foam

 

[Morrisman]

get it sprayed with foam

How much does that cost? My dad had it done in his loft, but that was 20 years ago. Apparently it insulated, waterproofs the tiles, and adheres like poo to a blanket, so stops them blowing away. It would be good to do in a wooden workshop as it is also fireproof.

I saw an American show where they sprayed it between frames on the walls of a new build house, then used a big electric carving knife to trim it flush with the 2x4’s, then put ‘drywaaaall’ over it.

 

[moose]

How much does that cost? My dad had it done in his loft, but that was 20 years ago. Apparently it insulated, waterproofs the tiles, and adheres like poo to a blanket, so stops them blowing away. It would be good to do in a wooden workshop as it is also fireproof.

I saw an American show where they sprayed it between frames on the walls of a new build house, then used a big electric carving knife to trim it flush with the 2x4’s, then put ‘drywaaaall’ over it.

This is how they spray foam steel boats

 

[123hotchef]

How much does that cost? My dad had it done in his loft, but that was 20 years ago. Apparently it insulated, waterproofs the tiles, and adheres like poo to a blanket, so stops them blowing away. It would be good to do in a wooden workshop as it is also fireproof.

I saw an American show where they sprayed it between frames on the walls of a new build house, then used a big electric carving knife to trim it flush with the 2x4’s, then put ‘drywaaaall’ over it.

no idea on cost but where we keep the horses they had a scafold firm in one of the old hangers once they left the guys went in and insulated the whole lot they had a few of the big drums of the stuff, lookes great when done