Which Garage Door Insulation Works Best?

I bought, installed and tested 6 different types of garage door insulation to see which ones work best and which are the best value. #diy #garage #weekendwarrior

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[willusher]

Thanks for all the effort put into this. A couple tips to improve accuracy:
1 - The laser dot is marking the center of a circle and the temp is averaged within the circle. The diameter of the circle is dependent on the distance and the angle set by the manufacturer. Check the manual for this info.
2 - the paper wasn't making good contact with the insulation, so there was very little conductive heat transfer.
3 - paint a black matte section directly on the insulation and read the temp off of that at a close range for the best accuracy (verify w/ a thermocouple taped to the service, or similar).

[MrFredsDIY]

Great video comparison! Having a 100° garage was very unpleasant! After 2 years with my insulation I have to say that my garage is much more people friendly now. Thanks for the shout out!

[BriBox]

By the way, I've also installed a mini split AC in my garage. I used the 24, 000 BTU unit from Senville for our 3-car garage, which is much cheaper than most units at $1250 US dollars at the time I purchased in Feb of 2023. A guy in my neighborhood installed one before me and he recommended it based on their price, and phone support. He called all of the main companies and Senville's support was the best. I can attest to the support because I ran into an issue with the AC drain pan connector leaking, and they sent me a whole new inside unit. I was initially considering the 18, 000 BTU unit, but I'm glad I went bigger. I left unit going nonstop during the hot months and set to 76 degree, it felt really cool in there. It's so nice! One thing I'll warn you of is be thinking about what you'll do with the condensation. These units can fill a 5 gallon bucket in a day, and the ground will be saturated where the drain line drips. I ran PVC to a flowerbed about 10 feet away and the plants in that area love the extra water.

[gremilllion]

As some one who lives in PA. It would be amazing to have this test done in the winter.

[jimh]

I did the 1" foam board on my door a few years ago and have had excellent results.

[aplleyva]

This is one of the best videos of DIY projects I've ever seen. Well presented, way comprehensive for all factors to consider. Thanks

[rrome]

I really appreciate thorough comparison of the techniques, their effectiveness and cost!

[Keifsanderson]

Great tip on the rebalancing the garage door spring. I hadn't thought of that.

[charlieman]

I still haven't done the insulation because I was wondering what method to use from the different videos on Youtube but you did the work for me, now I know which one I'll use. Just EXCELLENT !!! Great video, Thank you !

[Bama]

I just used the Owens Corning fiberglass insulation on my 2 car garage 8 panel door and I only had to pay $142 from Lowe’s for the 2 kits. Not only is it warmer in my garage but the door is remarkably quieter when it’s operating.

[alexnelson]

The double reflective insulation is a radiant barrier and needs an air gap. If you install it on the inside ridges of the door with polyseamseal, it will seal the segments of door and have the highest R value with the least amount of weight.

[Favs]

IR thermometers measurement is dependant upon the emissivity of the material. If you want accurate results then stick some black pvc tape on and ensure it completely covers the field of view ( touch it against the material or cover a much larger area than you're measuring.)

This can completely change the readings.

[ecoomber]

Awesome video as always!

I live in London in a 1960s era apartment block with no insulation (it's crazy, I know). I'm on the 10th floor and have a wall of windows that are 80s-90s era but so drafty in the winter wind. I've done all the rubber strips and plastic sheeting stuff, but what really works is putting in foam panels in the windows! Yes it blocks the view, but when I wake up for work in winter it's dark outside and when I get home from work it's dark already, so it's no big deal. The foam is pretty easy to work with for beginners and is renter friendly.

[brunodemelo]

The thin reflective sheet could be mounted with an air gap. So they could have been mounted to the door frame rather than the door panels.

[TomahawkDIY]

Very interesting! Thanks for the summary at the end - I love that the top two in performance didn't add too much weight, were economical, and one is pretty quick and easy to install. Could be interesting to add in the insulation installed by a garage door company to the test.

[amurika]

Omg even tho I wasn’t gonna do anything with my garage door, your video made me watch the whole thing😂 super interesting and informative!

[kstack]

After watching this i was about to go get some OC Foamular boards for my garage but luckily did some quick research. Owens Corning warns against using their boards in this manner because they are combustible and require a thermal barrier. I hope you put up a disclaimer.

[martinkasemsan]

My garage is south-facing and very hot in the summer with internal temperatures slightly higher than the ambient temperature. This test was very helpful, thank you!

[johnqpublic]

I use my 2 1/2 car garage as a large fish room and a mini wood shop. I am in South Florida heat is a year round issue. I have watched dozens of videos in the passed year about insulating the door. You have just solved my dilemma. I guess I am a nerd too. LOL Thanks for the video. I am going shopping right now to finally get my door done.

[Alerok]

A few years ago I did an install using the owens corning kit and then went around the edges with foil tape. It was a literal night and day difference in the garage temps. I did have to have a local company come out and replace my springs due to the added weight on a double door, but it was completely worth it! I also want to add, you should have your door springs adjusted regularly, it’s cheap to have them come out and they do lose tension over time and tend to stabilize after about 2 years of daily use. It’s not really a one and done thing.