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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 08:59 PM
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Default Insulating Garage Door

Getting ready for winter and my garage needs to be warm so I can fiberglass this season. Has anyone insulated their garage door? I need to keep the heat in after the heater warms up the place...it usually just loses heat after i turn the heater off. Any suggestions to keep heat in?
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:04 PM
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I scavanged styrofoam insulation from a subdivision going in close by. Cut it into tight fitting squares and popped it into each section on the door. It really helped.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by markdtn
I scavanged styrofoam insulation from a subdivision going in close by. Cut it into tight fitting squares and popped it into each section on the door. It really helped.



you can get polystyrene insulation from home depot etc...cut to fit.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by markdtn
I scavanged styrofoam insulation from a subdivision going in close by. Cut it into tight fitting squares and popped it into each section on the door. It really helped.
The siding installers left a load of styro insulation sheets, glued it to the inside of my wood door panels....big heat saver
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Sacredgrooves


you can get polystyrene insulation from home depot etc...cut to fit.
The pink 4 x 8 styrofoam sheets ????
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:44 PM
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1st i glued up the The pink 2 x 4 or 6 styrofoam sheets from home depot & then covered that w/the insulation they sell also at home depot that everybody uses on their vette interiors & used aluminum tape to seal the sections. worked excellent, i live on a main rd w/lots of traffic but don't hear the traffic anymore

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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by rosslato
1st i glued up the The pink 2 x 4 or 6 styrofoam sheets from home depot & then covered that w/the insulation they sell also at home depot that everybody uses on their vette interiors & used aluminum tape to seal the sections. worked excellent, i live on a main rd w/lots of traffic but don't hear the traffic anymore



That exactly what I did, works awesome. When it is -20*C outside, I am woking in a t-shirt and shorts in my garage.
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Old Nov 10, 2006 | 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 7t2vette


That exactly what I did, works awesome. When it is -20*C outside, I am woking in a t-shirt and shorts in my garage.
Great minds think alike
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 08:00 AM
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I cheated and bought insulated doors from Home Depot. I keep the garage at 55 degrees in the winter, turn it up to 65 when I'm working in the garage, t-shirt and jeans in the garage are the only way to go. The wife also enjoys the fact that her car is never cold when she leaves the house.

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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 08:26 AM
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Same here I have a insulated 9x18 door working on insulating the rest of the shop now 2x 6 walls so r19 there and r38 top should be good to go. Cant wait to start wrenching again. 200r4 and exhaust next then paint.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:45 AM
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I also bought the insulated doors for my garage. They are a little more money but in the long run alot better than sticking insulation onto the inside of the doors.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 10:01 AM
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I went the cheep "pink" way too. Works great. Just remember to angle the top and bottom of the insulation so the door will fold correctly. I also went to a comercial door company and bought that aluminium strip/hair brush weather seal (that's a technical term) for the sides and top. Had to get creative, but made it all work.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 12:16 PM
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Hi stinger, If you intend to work in your garage you might conside "biting the bullet" and keeping it at 45f and raising the temp a few hours before you want to work, otherwise your reaction times and curing of the fiberglass glass will be difficult to predict, your tools and electric motors will rust from condensation. that is what happened to me here in michigan, if you live in a mild climate the condensation problem might not hapen to you,
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by capevettes
I also bought the insulated doors for my garage. They are a little more money but in the long run alot better than sticking insulation onto the inside of the doors.
Out of curiosity, why do you think that is the case, in the long run? My door has had the reflectix on it for over 10 years with no sign of wear or tear or failure to do it's job. You guys with the steel insulated doors could also use the reflectix on your doors to stop radiant heat loss; the stuff actually reflects the heat back into the space as opposed to slowly letting the heat radiate to the outside with just the insulated door. It reflects 97% of radiant energy. Some info: http://www.reflectixinc.com/technology/


Last edited by 7t2vette; Nov 11, 2006 at 02:50 PM.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 7t2vette
Out of curiosity, why do you think that is the case, in the long run? My door has had the reflectix on it for over 10 years with no sign of wear or tear or failure to do it's job. You guys with the steel insulated doors could also use the reflectix on your doors to stop radiant heat loss; the stuff actually reflects the heat back into the space as opposed to slowly letting the heat radiate to the outside with just the insulated door. It reflects 97% of radiant energy. Some info: http://www.reflectixinc.com/technology/

Because I think they are F----Ugly!
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:30 PM
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Do you guys still operate the door during the winter...or do you just leave it shut? I'm planning on opening the door almost everyday because I keep my other car in there...looks like you guys keep your other cars outside in the cold; or am I wrong?
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by stinger12
Do you guys still operate the door during the winter...or do you just leave it shut? I'm planning on opening the door almost everyday because I keep my other car in there...looks like you guys keep your other cars outside in the cold; or am I wrong?
We use the door every day. I forgot to mention that you will need to get heavier springs to make the door open properly. They are cheep and sold at most hardware stores. After you have the door insulated:

Disconnect from door opener (if you have one)

Disconnect the existing springs

Set the door on a bathroom scale (you will be surprised how heavy the door is)

Whatever the weight is, get the next highest spring set.

Install new springs

Work on car, be warm and happy.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by capevettes
Because I think they are F----Ugly!
Well, thats an entirely different matter. You are entitled to your opinion, but aesthetics has nothing to do with functionality; your use of the term "in the long run" led me to believe you were commenting on the products ability to last over a period of time, not how it looks. There is a lot to be said for clarity!

BTW, I think you are missing a "dash" from the censored swear word in your response, unless that is a new variation on the theme.

Last edited by 7t2vette; Nov 12, 2006 at 09:15 AM.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 7t2vette
Well, thats an entirely different matter. You are entitled to your opinion, but aesthetics has nothing to do with functionality; your use of the term "in the long run" led me to believe you were commenting on the products ability to last over a period of time, not how it looks. There is a lot to be said for clarity!

BTW, I think you are missing a "dash" from the censored swear word in your response, unless that is a new variation on the theme.
Sorry for the lack of clarity. Aside from the fact that I think the doors look "aesthetically challenged" with insulation tacked onto them, it surely must make them difficult to open and close without some effort. So, I think they will look nicer and be more user friendly if you just put the insulated doors on in the first place. Over the years, ie "in the long run", I think you will be happier with the insulated doors.
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Sacredgrooves


you can get polystyrene insulation from home depot etc...cut to fit.


I hot glued them to my fiberglass garage door....I also insulated the walls and ceiling, put a vapor barrier down on the floor and installed a racedeck type flooring system.

Along with a natural gas fired heater, a new lighting system, refrigerator, sound system, TV/PC/Phone.... I almost never have to leave.
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