If your roll-up catches direct sun, then you probably know how hot that piece of metal gets. By insulating, you can regulate temperature and add an additional layer of protection against harsh outdoor elements. But unlike panel-type doors, installing insulation in roll-up doors can be tricky due to the difference in construction.
If you have a roll-up garage door that you want to insulate, our team at CA Garage Door Repair is here to help! In this post, we will walk you through the process together with additional tips to maximize your insulation’s benefits.
If you have a roll-up garage door that you want to insulate, our team at CA Garage Door Repair is here to help! In this post, we will walk you through the process together with additional tips to maximize your insulation’s benefits.
Why you should get roll-up garage door insulation
There are many insulated garage door benefits, especially if you need protection against harsh winters or sweltering summers. Overall, our team recommends insulating roll-up doors, so you’ll enjoy these perks:
1. Energy Efficiency
The main benefit of insulating your roll-up door is boosting its energy efficiency. This way, cold or hot air won’t escape from your property or enter through your door. And if your garage is facing directly toward the sun, energy-efficient garage door insulation will surely make a massive dent in your power bill.
By maintaining a steady temperature in your garage, your heating or cooling systems will have less work to do. Aside from cutting your energy bills, it will also reduce the wear and tear of your HVAC system.
By maintaining a steady temperature in your garage, your heating or cooling systems will have less work to do. Aside from cutting your energy bills, it will also reduce the wear and tear of your HVAC system.
2. Keeping you comfortable
If you’re using your garage as a workshop, home gym, or some other activities, then insulation will help you keep comfy during intense weather. The insulation will keep you warm during winter and cool in summer.
This way, you can keep your garage usable even when the outside temperature is intense or you don’t have cooling or heating in your garage.
This way, you can keep your garage usable even when the outside temperature is intense or you don’t have cooling or heating in your garage.
3. Noise Reduction
Aside from regulating temperature, insulating your roll-up door will also block the outside noise. This is a big benefit if you have noisy neighbors or if you live near a main road.
In reverse, insulation will also contain the noise in your garage to some extent. This is helpful if you’re using the garage as a workshop and don’t want to disturb your neighbors with too much clattering and hammering.
In reverse, insulation will also contain the noise in your garage to some extent. This is helpful if you’re using the garage as a workshop and don’t want to disturb your neighbors with too much clattering and hammering.
4. Moisture Control
Garage door insulation materials are also made to serve as a barrier against moisture, so it won’t seep through your garage. This is crucial, especially if you’re storing sensitive items in your garage like machinery, tools, and perishable goods.
5. Increasing your property’s market value
An insulated roll-up door will add more value to your home than a non-insulated one. Although the insulation may not directly boost your ROI, it will definitely make your property more appealing should you decide to put it on the market.
Step-by-step: how to insulate a roll-up garage door
Insulation can be part of the garage door installation from the very beginning or as an additional service later on. Whatever the case is, our team usually follows these steps:
Step 1. Preparing all the necessary materials
Take note that, unlike other garage door types that use foam panels, roll-up types can only use thin insulation to prevent the door from binding. So for this project, you’ll need thin, 2 mm foil/foam insulation to keep your door operational and protected at the same time.
Aside from that, you’ll need some durable double-sided tape or a similar adhesive. You also have the option to use screws and washers for a more stable installation. However, there would be screw tips poking on one side.
Aside from that, you’ll need some durable double-sided tape or a similar adhesive. You also have the option to use screws and washers for a more stable installation. However, there would be screw tips poking on one side.
Step 2. Preparing the door
Once you have all the materials you need, the next step is to prepare your door.
First, you need to clean the metal of any dust and dirt that have accumulated on its corrugated construction. And if there are garage door problems, you should consider calling a roll-up door repair service to have it fixed first.
Step 3. Measuring and cutting the insulation material
Next, you need to measure and cut the insulation material to match the size of your door. Also, make sure that you get an insulation material with the same or similar width as your door to save time on cutting and patching up the pieces
Step 4. Installing the insulation material
When installing the insulation, we typically run the insulation horizontally, parallel to the corrugated pattern of the roll-up door. Also, you should start from the bottom and then work your way up to the top of the door.
First, you should place a whole strip of adhesive or a set of screws on the spot where the top of the insulation will be placed. After that, you’ll add more adhesive every 18 inches of your door horizontally.
Once you have the adhesive all set, simply press the foil side of the insulation into the double-sided tape. Make sure you overlap the seams about 2 to 3 inches to prevent any leaks or gaps.
First, you should place a whole strip of adhesive or a set of screws on the spot where the top of the insulation will be placed. After that, you’ll add more adhesive every 18 inches of your door horizontally.
Once you have the adhesive all set, simply press the foil side of the insulation into the double-sided tape. Make sure you overlap the seams about 2 to 3 inches to prevent any leaks or gaps.
Step 5. Sealing gaps or leaks
After you’ve installed the insulation, the next step is to seal the seams with insulation seam tape. It usually has a rubber-based coat, aluminum foil material, and a strong adhesive.
This will prevent the edges from gathering dirt and losing adhesion. Also, it will prevent hot/cold air from entering/exiting your garage.
This will prevent the edges from gathering dirt and losing adhesion. Also, it will prevent hot/cold air from entering/exiting your garage.
Step 6. Testing the door
The last step is to test your roll-up door and see if it opens or closes smoothly. If the door snaps or binds, you’ll have to inspect the insulation again and see if there are any bulky parts that interfere with its smooth operation.
Additional tips when installing garage door insulation
Aside from the steps we shared above, you should also consider the following to maximize the insulating power on your roll-up garage door:
1. Consider a bottom seal
You should also consider installing a bottom weather seal to make a tight seal between the floor and the edge of your door. This will further prevent air from getting in and out of your garage, not to mention that it will also block moisture and snow from entering.
2. Insulate hardware and hinges
Aside from your actual door, you should also insulate the hinges and hardware where air may enter or exit. For this, you can use insulation tape or adhesive-backed foam strips to block any possible gaps.
However, make sure you won’t impede the smooth operation of the hinges when insulating them. Always test your door and make necessary changes if there are problems with how it opens or closes.
However, make sure you won’t impede the smooth operation of the hinges when insulating them. Always test your door and make necessary changes if there are problems with how it opens or closes.
3. Check the door balance
Take note that insulation will add weight to your roll-up door, which can affect its overall balance. So after the installation, make sure that you check if the door remains even when opening or closing.
If your door looks lopsided, makes a squeaky noise, or the opener motor works harder, you may have to tweak something on the setup. It’s either you need to change the opener settings or look for parts where the insulation might be blocking the door from rolling smoothly.
If your door looks lopsided, makes a squeaky noise, or the opener motor works harder, you may have to tweak something on the setup. It’s either you need to change the opener settings or look for parts where the insulation might be blocking the door from rolling smoothly.
4. Don’t neglect ventilation
As much as you want to seal any gaps or leaks, you shouldn’t forget about proper ventilation. Make sure you install vents or exhaust fans to avoid suffocation or moisture buildup, which can be very dangerous.
Aside from that, you should consider putting up a window on your garage door if you don’t have one yet. You should also install humidity monitors to keep an eye on moisture-related issues in your garage over time.
Aside from that, you should consider putting up a window on your garage door if you don’t have one yet. You should also install humidity monitors to keep an eye on moisture-related issues in your garage over time.
5. Choose the right insulation material
For roll-up doors, foil insulation is often the best choice since it’s thin without compromising the insulating characteristics. Aside from the material, you should also check the R-value, which measures the insulation effectiveness.
Lastly, you should think about your budget when selecting an insulation material. In general, high-quality and high-R-value materials will cost more, but it’s worth the investment if you need maximum protection for your garage.
Lastly, you should think about your budget when selecting an insulation material. In general, high-quality and high-R-value materials will cost more, but it’s worth the investment if you need maximum protection for your garage.
Is DIY garage door insulation a good idea?
DIY insulation can be a cost-effective option and you can also work on it at your own pace. But if you don’t have an idea how a garage door works, you’re better off calling a professional like CA Garage Repair to install it for you.
Overall, insulating a roll-up door is easy if you have some knowledge of the basics of garage doors. However, the main challenge is finding top-quality insulation and ensuring that your door will work properly.
Get professional garage door insulation today!
If you don’t have the time to go through the hassle of DIY insulation, feel free to call us at CA Garage Door Repair! Our technicians can install insulation to any door type and size, including your trusty roll-up.
Aside from insulation, we also provide complete garage door repair in case your door needs a few fixes. You can count on us to get your roll-up door up and running in just a few hours, complete with high-quality insulation.
Still shopping around? Get a free, no-obligation quote from us – we will give you the best bang for the buck!
