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How to Insulate Garage Doors

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published October 9, 2024

Insulating your garage door will reduce your power cost while also keeping what's insulation from extreme temperatures. In addition, garage door insulation can help reduce street and outdoor noise.

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Before You Begin

The purpose of adding an insulating layer to a garage door is to increase energy savings, reduce noise, and improve interior temperature control. Insulated garage doors can increase user comfort while also lowering the cost of heating and cooling neighboring living rooms.

Tip

Before insulating, make sure your door is in good condition. Fix any essential garage door repairs so that your insulation is as effective as possible.

Choose the Right Insulation

Follow these tips to choose the right insulation for your garage door:

  • Detached, non-heated garages: These garages need insulation with an R-value of 0 to 6 to improve temperature controls. They will not affect your home's heating expenses, so you may relax about the insulation's energy efficiency.
  • Attached, non-heated garages: These garages should have insulation with an R-value of 7 to 9 as they impact the house heating bills.
  • Heated garages: Insulation with an R-value of 10 to 13 is perfect because it provides enough heat resistance to maintain temperatures without consuming too much energy.
  • Garages with a living space above them: For the living area to remain comfortable, insulation with an R-value of at least 14 is preferred.
  • Steel garage doors: They are naturally insulated.
  • Metal garage doors: It can use any type of insulation, although fiberglass insulation batts are an affordable option.

Good to Know
R-value measures the insulation's capacity to withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation is in keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Insulate Garage Doors

Insulation materials come in different types, and their R-values depend on how thick they are. You can make your insulation even better by putting multiple layers on top of each other.

Prepare the Door

  • Clean the door to ensure the insulation is properly attached.
  • Start by planning the location of the fasteners using measuring tape.
  • Fasteners are necessary to securely attach the insulation material to the door so that it will prevent it from shifting or detaching over time.
  • On every door panel, make two vertically centered​ markings that are 12 inches from each side.
  • It is important to keep fasteners 12 inches apart on garage doors to make sure that the insulation material is evenly distributed and securely attached.
  • It also helps prevent gaps or uneven coverage that could affect its effectiveness.

Apply Double-Sided Tape

  • Apply double-sided tape firmly to the areas that have been pre-marked on the garage door for the fasteners.

Attach Retainer Clips

  • Locate the double-sided tape. It should have a protective paper covering on both sides.
  • Remove the front side peel of the double-sided tape.
  • Position the retainer clip over the exposed sticky side of the tape and ensure it lines correctly with the clip's planned position.
  • Then press retainer clip onto each piece of the tape and make it ready to use.

Measure Door Panel

  • Begin by taking a measuring tape.
  • Start by measuring the height and width of the first door panel and then repeat on the other panels.
  • Note the measurements of each panel, since they may not be the same size.

Cut Insulation to Size

  • Using a utility knife, cut the insulation panels 1 to 2 inches longer than the measured measurements.
  • This extra length will provide some flexibility during installation.
  • Once you've cut the panels to the desired length, peel off the excess insulation.
  • This will ensure a clean and accurate fit when you install the panels in their proper positions.

Install Insulation Panels

  • Determine the size and shape of each insulation piece.
  • Find the corresponding door panels that match the insulation pieces.
  • Based on the prior measurements, place each insulation piece into its respective door panel with the vinyl or reflective side facing outwards.
  • Use appropriate fasteners to secure the insulation pieces firmly in place within the door panels.

Secure the Insulation

  • Check for the retention clips and press the insulation against the door.
  • Make ½ inch cuts in the insulation to allow the movement of the retention clips.
  • Attach the front pieces of the retention clips to the back pieces to secure the insulation panels.

Maintenance

For maintenance, regularly check for damage, clean your insulated garage door with a mild soap and water solution, lubricate the moving parts, and replace any worn-out seals. Additionally, take steps to prevent moisture and avoid damaging the insulated garage door with impacts. Consider scheduling professional maintenance for proper care.