A lot of homeowners believe that having exposed garage ceiling insulation can provide extra protection while enabling them to save up money. In reality, that’s not the case. Having exposed insulation (no matter where it’s done) poses health risks.
If you want to save up money, you can always find other alternatives instead of having the exposed type. You will be considered violating the garage ceiling insulation code and may spend more money than you intended.
Read also: What Is the Cheapest Way to Insulate Garage Ceiling?
Can I Leave Insulation Exposed in Garage?
The answer is a definite no. If you have exposed garage ceiling insulation, cover it up. Some homeowners who bought a house discovered their garages had exposed insulation.
And they decided to do something about it because exposed insulation isn’t only bad for their health and poses fire hazard risks. The exposed ceiling can irritate your lungs and skin.
Cheap Way to Insulate Garage Ceiling
As mentioned before, instead of having exposed insulation, you can find other ways to insulate your garage, including the ceiling.
- Air Leaks Sealant
The most inexpensive way to insulate your garage is to seal the air leaks, any of them. Such a leak can happen on doors, electrical outlets, windows, and other openings – whether on the walls or ceilings. Don’t underestimate it because the airflow can lead to heat gain or loss.
Read also: Basement Ceiling Insulation Cover
One way to deal with this issue is by using caulk. Apply it to cracks and gaps, and you are ready. However, there are different caulk types out there. You need to pick the right one to make sure that you seal everything properly, such as latex or silicone caulk.
Another option is to weatherstrip the leaks or use a gap filler. The previous one can come in the form of door sweeps, V-strip, or foam tape (with adhesive back), while the latter comes in spray foam. It’s super convenient and easy to use.
- Foam Board Panels
This rigid board isn’t only inexpensive and easy – making it perfect for your DIY projects. You can easily cut it and then glue it to metal, wood, or concrete. Since the board is available in different R-values and thicknesses, pick the right one for your garage.
- Rockwool or Fiberglass Batt
You can find the most common insulation types anywhere, including houses, garages, basements, and attics.
Another Alternative
If you have the budget, you should consider having the spray foam insulation. This is the most effective type of insulation, but it’s pretty costly. It’s not exactly included in the cheap kind of insulation for your garage.
Radiant Barriers
You may have heard radiant barriers being suggested for cheap garage insulation. However, you should know that it doesn’t always work well in different settings and conditions.
Radiant barrier refers to reflective insulation material created to prevent and reflect heat. It’s only effective in hot climates and it’s not very good for colder climates or winter months.
Moreover, it only works by reflecting the heat to the source. If you install it in your garage, it will keep the heat in. It is great for the winter period, but it’s bad for the summer months. Imagine the heat being trapped there!
Final Words
Ultimately, choosing the right ceiling insulation for your garage requires extra effort. The best thing to do is to consult a professional who can guide you in the right direction and help you with the arrangement.
Whatever you do, don’t do exposed garage ceiling insulation, or you and your loved ones will be paying for the consequences.
