I looked through the archives and didn’t find much, either here or over in breaktime. I have an old brick/stucco garage with a newer metal garage door. The walls and roof I can deal with but the door has me puzzled. I am thinking of putting up styrofoam, angling it so it will clear as it makes the bend.
Any tricks for getting clean cuts on the styrofoam? I realize the fire hazard but since there is so much else to burn, I am not worried about adding one more hazard.
Any other useful product that might be easier or provide some other benefit?
Thanks in advance.
Replies
I have seen kits of insulation panels at the Big Boxes.. Bit expensive and the foam not that thick..
Get some 2 inch rigid foam and cut to fit the door panels..
I have used just caulk to them in by running a bead around the edges.
It is light so not much weight on the door.
Then I would guess you will need outside or inside weather stripping.. Also available at the Big Box.
Do you know the manufacturer of that door. If you do call them.. They may sell a kit?
You can cut it with almost anything. A handsaw works OK but whatever you use there will be a mess!
Edited 9/19/2005 7:14 am ET by WillGeorge
Layers of 1" ridgid foam board will cut cleaner than styrofoam and offer more r-factor insulation per thickness than regular fibreglass. Neither is a fire hazard when cutting on the saw.
My door is a 4 panel metal garage door, 16' wide. I bought 4x8 sheets of 3/4" thick styrafoam (with the reflective foil backing) and cut them like 46-1/2" x 18" to fit in each hole. Putting 2 in each hole, required a total of 32 of the size stated, or, 8 full 4'x8' sheets. I cut them with a sharp box knife. Worked like a charm. They were cut just a little oversize so that after snapping in, they would hold in place.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Michael PD,
I cut 2 in pink foam for the individual sections of my garage. I then covered it with a thin covering of tileboard. Even though I didn't think I added much weight, I couldn't (nor the garage door) could get the garage open. I ended up needing a garage contractor putting a new heavier duty spring in. All I can say is, be very cautious about any weight added it doesn't take much for the spring not to work. Or just plan on upgrading the springs and insulate it with what ever you want. After seeing put the new springs in, it is actually pretty easy to do. There are several sites online showing how to do it. Probably the hardest problem would be getting the right spring.
Good luck.
Dave
I am getting ready to do the same thing to my garage doors and am considering just using a radiant heat barrier called Attic Guard from American Dream Windows (http://www.americandreamwindow.com ). I gave up on the styrofoam panels after looking at the R value of about 3 for a 1" panel. I am also considering just getting insulated doors but haven't priced them yet.
Steve
Being an old HVAC man I learned that the R value of the door isn't nearly as important as the heat loss due the air infiltration.A simple solution might be to use a flexible sheet of reflective bubble wrap offered at the big box, I think its called reflectix and comes in rolls. If the door isn't used too often it might stand up. The edges of the door would still need weatherstripping.
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