Rooms above garage are cold

9/5/2012 at 7:41:23 PM

Welcome to minimum building code built houses. You can insulate the garage itself and it does help a little but will never solve the problem.

To find the cause and the solution the drywall in the garage needs to come down. Any steel beams or brick that is in the ceiling are a big source of heat loss/transfer. Also any heating ducts running through the ceiling or walls.

Spray foam is the best for insulating a garage, it can be sprayed around everything and the thicker the better. It's one of the few areas in a house were the extra cost of foam is worth it.

9/5/2012 at 10:43:56 PM

Hi Brett

There are a few things that can do it. First, and I have seen it in some houses the area above the garage doors to the corner of the ceiling is not insulated especially the top corner itself.

Second you have to see if you have lots of air coming from the duct and is it hot?

Third the windows can be leaking cold air or not thermal...

Also you have to make sure that for a few hours a day the doors to the rooms will stay open so you can get air return and exchange air.

Hope this will help its hard to see it, can you post pictures?

Thanks

Harry C.

9/5/2012 at 11:33:47 PM

Thanks guys. I appreciate the direction! Gives me a starting point.

9/8/2012 at 7:05:17 AM

The spray foam is a must but also when the work is done there sould also be a electric blower heather suspended from the ceilling at the fare end of the garage installed.

A lot a people make the mustake of putting a base board heather witch its not a nuff.

1/20/2013 at 2:23:37 PM

Are his garage doors insulated? Having 2 inch insulate garage doors with rubber seal on the bottom and properly installed weather stripping can really make a difference in the overall cold transfer which should help with the rooms above.

Our 2 inch insulated garage doors range from a R6.58 to R 19.40.