Garagelopnik - Question for Oppo's!

"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
05/13/2015 at 17:01 • Filed to: None

Anyone here insulated a detached garage? I don’t want to heat it full time so is it even worth it?

I know it will keep the garage at a more regular temperature but without heat it will likely get that cold anyway. I live in a pretty windy climate so even just being away from the wind helps. Is it worth the money to do it?

DISCUSSION (31)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:06

I wouldn’t bother unless you plan on being in there regularly working on something throughout winter.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:08

My dad’s shop is not really insulated as such except in its attic, but it’s block and backed partly into a hill, so not a clear comparison with a wood’n’vinyl shed. We typically only heat it when there’s risk of freezing (i.e. into the 20s) or when people are going to be working and we know ahead of time. Being able to heat it up, though, has value, and if it’s wood frame, it definitely can’t hurt.

Jake, Yes, wearing khakis > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/13/2015 at 17:09

I agree, just get some torpedo kerosene heaters and call it a day

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:11

I’m not sure where you are, but if you live in a place that gets really cold in the winder, (Alaska, Montana New England) It might be worth it just so you have a place you can park your car without worrying about the block/oil freezing overnight.

EL_ULY > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:15

Kinja'd!!!

in a windy city, these will help

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/13/2015 at 17:16

I would like to be, but it does help parking in there in the winter so I don’t have to scrap the windows off and the truck stays warmer.

I have a small space heater I used in there when I was working on my truck that helped but then again it wasn’t thaaaat cold.

I will likely just do the one wall that is getting the work bench and shelves so if I do decide to do it one day I won’t have to pull it all down.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
05/13/2015 at 17:18

I live in Alberta, Canada so it does get cold but it mostly the wind that does it. Having the truck out of the wind already helps a lot. Yet to have any hard starts on nights that it was parked inside.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:19

With insulation and drywall, a torpedo will heat my garage in ~20 minutes. Shut off the torpedo and a pair of 1500W space heaters will keep it at ~40 above ambient. Compare to the garage I used to work in, which had no insulation, and struggled to maintain 30 above ambient with a torpedo running all the time and burning all the oxygen.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > EL_ULY
05/13/2015 at 17:21

I have some of the roof vents that sort of help but these would likely work better.

FKA-RacecaR > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:21

I plan on doing this to my detached garage soon. Last winter when it got really cold here, it dipped below freezing in my garage. Not cool.

But my garage is about 50-60 years old.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Will with a W8 races an E30
05/13/2015 at 17:22

Ya, if I was going to heat it often it would be a no brainer, its really just going to come down to a cost/benefit for me.

uofime > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:22

Why would you have to pull it out? are you planning on adding extra plumbing/wiring through the studs?

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > FKA-RacecaR
05/13/2015 at 17:23

My garage is often below zero (celcius of course) and stays that way for weeks since it stays much colder than that outside.

EL_ULY > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:24

while i got you here. What site do you go on for the Ring cam?

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > uofime
05/13/2015 at 17:26

I meant pulling off the workbench and cabinets. They are the reason I am even deciding to do this. I want to clean the garage up so I have some floor space. Before I hung cabinets and made a workbench I wanted to decide if I was going to insulate since it would be a pain to insulate after all that stuff was attached.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:26

Definitely not worth the money. Having a heated garage means you have a comfortable space to work on a project car. Now that you have comfortable space, you get more ambitious with the projects. Then you buy a racecar, because there is a nice space to work on it. Then you become poor.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > EL_ULY
05/13/2015 at 17:27

I go to this site . But I also have a Windows desktop gadget.

EL_ULY > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:28

cool. thanks :]

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Will with a W8 races an E30
05/13/2015 at 17:28

Poor ok if you have racecar though.

505Turbeaux > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:32

yeah you should. If you have to use it and have the resources to insulate it now, if you need it mid winter you can toss a smaller heater out there and stay warmer. Put a wood stove in it and go out there to drink beer. The possibilities are endless

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > 505Turbeaux
05/13/2015 at 17:37

I’ll do the whole thing eventually, wood heaters aren’t allowed in the city I live though

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:41

Might be worth it then.

505Turbeaux > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 17:53

just dont close the walls in until you get some R value in there. If you do put some plastic sheeting to the back of the drywall to bump it up a bit

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > 505Turbeaux
05/13/2015 at 18:01

Going to get some r-something in there and then plastic sheeting sealed up with Tuck tape. Then stained osb board for a cool look!

505Turbeaux > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 18:02

nice!

uofime > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 18:04

ah, that makes sense.

I'm pro insulation, its cheap and being able to de thaw your car in winter is fantastically handy.

An added benefit if you do loud work in your garage is that insulation has a great sound proofing side effect

XJDano > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 19:12

Personally I would, & am.

desertdog5051 > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 19:17

Do it. When I lived in way northern Illinois, I kept my MC in the garage. From time to time I would go out in the winter to do something. A quick half hour to hour of heater running time made it liveable. Well worth the money spent. Don’t insulate up the roof rafters. (top chord) Put up inexpensive OSB on the bottom chord of the trusses. Insulate them. Amazing difference. It will always pay you back if you sell or just make you happy when you need to use it in winter.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 19:55

If your garage is attached to your house, I’d say definitely yes as it will keep the rest of the house better insulated.

And if you live somewhere that gets really cold, it will help with the car not getting as cold in the winter. Also note that when you park your car when you get home, the garage will warm up at least a bit from the heat the engine gives off.

Also if you do work on a cold day, you’ll use far less energy warming up the place.

And if you want a mancave, it’s essential that you insulate it.

If you’re tight on cash, the garage is separate from the house and you don’t even store your car in the garage, let alone do work in there, then don’t bother.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
05/13/2015 at 19:59

You live in Alberta? Then definitely do it.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/14/2015 at 00:02

I will be, just a little at a time though.