[Blackie]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

That is exactly the type of fan I was looking at, but you say it only helps "a little." Would it be worth the effort and expense?

The insulation helped a lot and keeps the inside a little cooler than outside but once you open the door then the temperature equalizes with the outside. When you return with a hot car the insulation keeps more heat in so the fan we installed (it has a thermostat) helps with that.

We removed the fan throughout the winter.

This is our second summer with it and it definitely helped beyond the insulation - but it's not an air conditioner.

[LndLocked]

I disagree that any of the garage door insulation kits that use a rigid foam or getting/cutting/installing rigid foam panels is simple and easy.

It has been my experience that the required by building code "hurricane reinforcement bars" that run the width of garage doors makes it more than a little problematic to properly install foam panels .... it can be done with the bars in place but it is not easy and removing the bars, insulating and reinstalling the bars is also not a day in the park.

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by DangeloInspections

Understand that typically your garage is NOT conditioned space, so your goal here is insulating the door from the heat gain you get from the sun hitting it. This is especially needed on south facing garage doors. Stopping this radiant heat from entering your garage is your goal. Close your garage door and walk next to the inside of it during the heat of the day...if you feel a lot of heat radiating from it, you most likely would benefit from insulating your door.

Frank

Frank your comments are basically correct - however we have a south facing garage door and with the soffit and gutter overhang we find that the sun, being very high in the summer, does not hit the door as much as you'd think.

I think a west facing door would be worse.

[Blackie]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

I disagree that any of the garage door insulation kits that use a rigid foam or getting/cutting/installing rigid foam panels is simple and easy.

It has been my experience that the required by building code "hurricane reinforcement bars" that run the width of garage doors makes it more than a little problematic to properly install foam panels .... it can be done with the bars in place but it is not easy and removing the bars, insulating and reinstalling the bars is also not a day in the park.

We removed the stiffeners across the door - we just have one door for a 2 car garage.

It was very simple and easy and the entire job didn't not take very long - about 3 hours I think including measuring and cutting the panels.

[Cedwards38]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

I disagree that any of the garage door insulation kits that use a rigid foam or getting/cutting/installing rigid foam panels is simple and easy.

It has been my experience that the required by building code "hurricane reinforcement bars" that run the width of garage doors makes it more than a little problematic to properly install foam panels .... it can be done with the bars in place but it is not easy and removing the bars, insulating and reinstalling the bars is also not a day in the park.

Yeah, that was my experience too. I tried to install the foam insulation panels on the inside of my garage door but trying to work around the hurricane bars drove me crazy. I finally gave up. You say Romac has an installation?

I'm still interested in the fan too. Seems like you could suck out hot air, but I guess with creating air flow you are sucking out hot and at the same time sucking in outside hot air. It's a dilemma!

[Cedwards38]

Originally Posted by Blackie

We removed the stiffeners across the door - we just have one door for a 2 car garage.

It was very simple and easy and the entire job didn't not take very long - about 3 hours I think including measuring and cutting the panels.

So, you removed the hurricane bars, installed the insulation, and then put the hurricane bars back on the door?

[Blackie]

Yes - removed and reinstalled. Very easy - just a few bolts per stiffener.

They needed to be removed to pop in the insulation boards per the installation video I posted the link to earlier.

[LndLocked]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

So, you removed the hurricane bars, installed the insulation, and then put the hurricane bars back on the door?

That can be (and I have done) exactly that .... but:

- removing and reinstalling the bars is difficult for 1 man.

- the bars are held on with self tapping sheet metal screws and about 20-25% of them will strip the old holes in the door ribs. That means you have to try and slightly move the screw enough to get fresh metal (and you do not have a lot of room to do so) and redrill with the self tappers.

All of that being said ... it is worth the effort to do this on a WEST facing garage door as they get the most direct afternoon sun.

[DangeloInspections]

To the more recent comments...I agree, that afternoon sun from the west can be just as bad if not worse.

I apologize if I offended anyone with my statement of this project being easy...on a typical 4 panel door, two of those panels have two hurricane bars. For some folks they may find it easier to remove one of these bars on each of the two sections to install the insulation panels for that section, then bolt them back on. They are typically just held on with lag type bolts that easily come off and on with a socket set. It was just that I've spoken to folks who have ordered the kit from Ro-mac and told me that they installed the kit themselves with good results and no problems. Of course, we are all different with our own individual strengths.

We all have areas of expertise and areas that we would consider challenging. For those comfortable with weekend DIY projects, this job would most likely be easier then most home projects. For those whose areas of expertise do not include tools, it is nice to know that Ro-Mac and other companies can handle both the sale and installation.

Respectfully, Frank

[Fanman]

Always remember to take air out you must allow for air to come in from outside to replace it, so you will need a door or window open. If you have gas appliances in your garage and don't allow for make-up air you will have a negative effect on them. You'll essentially pull air down the flue along with the by-products of combustion and may also blow out the pilot.

[villagetinker]

I have a fan in the garage, and I agree completely with previous post. My garage door was insulated and had windows, so I removed the windows and installed screens, all was well until one storm about 2 weeks ago, had significant rain inside the garage. So I went on a search for suitable vents, and never found any. However, I was able to find plastic (aka Lexan) that is 20 times stronger than glass, which I cut to size, and then cut a hole in the center for soffit vents and screen. The result is plenty of air flow, I still get light in the garage, and so far no rain!
Here are some photos of my installation.

[Gary7]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I have a fan in the garage, and I agree completely with previous post. My garage door was insulated and had windows, so I removed the windows and installed screens, all was well until one storm about 2 weeks ago, had significant rain inside the garage. So I went on a search for suitable vents, and never found any. However, I was able to find plastic (aka Lexan) that is 20 times stronger than glass, which I cut to size, and then cut a hole in the center for soffit vents and screen. The result is plenty of air flow, I still get light in the garage, and so far no rain!
Here are some photos of my installation.

This is an excellent thread. :-)
Question for villagetinker: Thank you for the photos. I have seen some garage doors with the vents at the top ... and other garage doors with the vents at the bottom of the doors.
Is there a reason they are put on either at the top or the bottom?
Thank you,
Gary

[red tail]

Originally Posted by alanmcdonald

I have an air conditioner for my garage in Georgia that vents out the window, but it just looks like a flat piece in the window and does not extend beyond the window casing.

Wonder if the ARC would have a problem with that when I bring it with me.

you can do most anything if no one complains. if a someone does then your district guy will check and see if its good or bad. the rules are complaint driven. no one drives around checking anymore.

[villagetinker]

Gary7, when I was doing my research for garage door vents, all of the vendors that had vents were for the bottom of the door, TO LET WATER OUT!!! I actually found very few garage door vendors with any form of vent to replace the glass windows. My opinion, it does not matter if the vents are high or low, as the outside air is all the same temperature. I also figured if I used the existing window locations, less chance of complaints, and more protection from existing overhang. My total cost was around $100 for the supplies, and several hours cutting the plastic, installing the vent on the plastic, sealing, and then installing the assembly in place of the glass.
Hope this helps.
Oh by the way, several neighbors mentioned how much cooler our garage is.

[Uberschaf]

Our CYV (2006)has combustion air intake grill in the ceiling.