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What To Consider When Choosing Insulation For Your Garage
By AJ ATTIA
Denim
Denim, made from recycled and chemically treated jean fabrics, is eco-friendly and has a Class A fire-resistance rating that grows neither mildew nor mold.
However, their insulation qualities degrade when wet, so installing a vapor barrier over denim is recommended to protect against moisture.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is an excellent choice for your garage and comes in batts, loose-fill, and rigid boards. It's flexible, provides good insulation, and is fire-retardant.
However, glass fibers are released into the air during installation or when the insulation is disturbed, which can damage the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory system.
Spray Foam
This combo of polyol resin and isocyanate insulates the walls and ceiling, seals cracks and seams, and fills gaps in the garage.
Spray foam has two subtypes: open cell and closed cell. Open cell spray phone has air pockets that aren't fully closed, so air streams and moisture can penetrate the foam.
Closed-cell spray has its air pockets fully closed inside a more solid foam. It is a more efficient insulation against mold, drafts, water, heat, and noise than the open-cell form.
Cellulose
Cellulose is a fire-retardant, mold-repellent, bug-resistant, and soundproofing insulator. However, it doesn't hold well in moisture and will create cavities when wet.
Additionally, if it comes into contact with metal or electrical cables, they could become corrosive from the chemical reactions, wearing out your components.
Radiant Barrier
As they are made of aluminum foil laminates or aluminized plastic films, a radiant barrier may be the right choice if your garage door directly faces the sun.
Radiant barriers can reflect up to 97% of the heat and can be used alone or with other insulators. However, they are limited to hot climates.