Newbie
 

Closing on a Villa in Bonita at end of this month. Looking forward to moving down from South Alabama. Will be getting new golf cart.
Wondering why many people insulate their garage doors. It seems that, since the garage is not heated or cooled, it would quickly assume the outside ambient air temperature.

You are correct. A waste of money.

Unless you plan to spend a lot of time in the garage.

Take your time and observe and ask questions. Some people get new shrubs and bushes and trees right away. Wait a while. Find out if you really WANT Palm Trees.

Don't buy anything from people who come knocking on your door. Talk to your neighbors and ask them questions.

The garage may get significantly warmer than ambient temperature due to radiant heat depending on direction garage is facing.

The need for insulation also depends on the direction the garage door faces, West in the summer can be brutal.

Don't do anything for a year. Be sure you will be staying in the villa. Lot of people moved multiple times.

Garages that face east heat up really quick. If your house faces east, talk to your neighbors, who's houses face east.

Most people do not insulate their garage doors.

garage door insulation
 

After you move in, and when the sun has been on your garage door for several hours, stand in the garage and hold your hand about an inch away from the door. Since I do not have a surface thermometer, this is what I did, and it felt like an old hot water radiator. I insulated my 18 foot door as well as my cart door for under $100.00. Yes, it does help.

If your garage faces East, as mine does, then the sun will heat it up every morning. It will be hotter inside than outside, even if you have a screen door instead of a steel door. Does insulation work? It could if you used, say, four inches of foam, but even then I’m mot sure. How most of us heat our garages the most is driving a hot car into the garage. It’s like having a huge iron stove burning in your kitchen. I guess the ideal garage door here faces North, but that isn’t easy to arrange. Or buy a house with a car port on the Historic Side of The Villages.

If the garage is insulted, the door would be the weak link.

If your house is facing south ( or in the sun for a good part of the day) you may need it during the summer to keep it cooler. If it faces north you probably won't.

It is a waste if all you do is the garage door. You need to at least insulate the ceiling and better yet install a radiant barrier. The ceiling area can easily get over 150F.

a lot of people just use the flexible aluminum stuff,not much use...try the 1 in or 1.5 in see if you like it..if you are out there a lot ????

A lot of people here have excess cash to burn because they sold inexpensive house somewhere else and homes are much cheaper here. If I were you I would do nothing for at least 6 months. And here's the best tip of all never ever ever give a deposit to anybody for any work in advance. Florida is known for lazy landscapers and contractors and those who just never show up after they get your cash

Most important. ..Give thought to what direction your lanai faces if you want to enjoy it. We chose south so we get no direct sun in the am or pm making it enjoyable any time of day. This means our garage faces north and we did have it insulated when we built our home earlier this year . No regrets...

Just wait - as others have said. I've got a temperature-controlled exhaust fan in the garage ceiling. My garage never gets too hot and I am not insulated at all.

I have a friend who put in a mini split and insulated the door and ceiling. Simple to do, and his garage can stay cool year-round.

Depends on how much time you plan on being there and if you are going to have a workshop, etc. in there.

Another easy thing to do is park you car outside when you get home from wherever. Pull it into the garage a few hours later, when it has cooled down.

Right on. 100 degrees

Live in your house first. My garage is east facing and gets extremely hot, especially in the summer. It was insufferable. I installed insulation myself from Texas Garage and probably dropped the temp about 25 degrees. Do not listen to people who are giving you ignorant information. You will know what to do when you get there.

You would think so BUT it gets VERY HOT & HUMID in the summer months which is a difficult ambient air. Hence, the reason for insulation - it keeps the inside of the garage at a more even temperature. Those who have screens on the outside of the garage doors find it difficult to keep an even temperature.

Insulation helps minimally, maybe a degree or two, which I had done. But, in our third year here I had a split unit installed in the garage and it was money well spent even if you don't spend a lot of time working in the garage. It's so much nicer just drying the car off in there after washing it in the driveway.

:what:

I use to insult my garage when I pulled the Plymouth in. :a040:

You ain't right. But we still like you.

HA HA HA -omg, I needed that! great catch!!

Its best to see what the heat gets like in the garage during the hotter months. It also would depend on which direction your garage is facing. Florida heat is brutal during the summer months and depending on how much time you will spend in your garage could help sway your decision. You could always open your garage more to keep the heat out and that doesn't cost much.

30 years in Florida 21 in the villages in 6 different homes I or anybody I know has ever insulated the garage , a complete waste of money and believe me I’m the king of wasting money

Welcome to The Villages. We are originally from Alabama (me-Mobile; her-Cullman/Huntsville). As the others have said, ask questions, get to know your neighbors, learn your way around and take things slow. We've been here 11 months and have met SO many people and are staying as busy as we want to be.
Also, be sure to join the Alabama Club!

Reality. You will find no shortage of OPINIONS. This is Florida it is hot. You get used to it. South Alabama, it too is hot. As an ex-New Yorker, I sort of miss snow a little. A snow ball fight. The Floridians hum, would need instructions.

As far as insulating your garage door. Any insulation will slow heat gain or loss. It does not stop it. Moving air, a fan, makes you feel cooler. Air conditioning, more expensive that a fan pumps heat out.

Since, no one. as far as I know has a basement, I sorely miss mine, we use our garage for storage, as well as the car and golf cart. Stuff that will be destroyed by heat candles sort of stuff you can't put in your garage.

I definitely miss the basement and it's cool storage. The above-garage storage, though decent sized, is dangerous to put things in as the heat up there can get very oppressive.

What have people found that can be SAFELY stored above the garage?

Sound could be one reason

Hi, hope to meet you in the Alabama club. Moved here from Fairhope, Al.

And whatever you do NEVER GIVE A DEPOSIT TO ANYONE. Landscapers, lawn maintence, painters, driveway works all have the money to buy what they need. And hold off a few bucks just incase there's a problem. Seriously!

Garage door insulation
 

Do what is best for you and your home. I bet mist telling you that it’s not necessary don’t even have theirs insulated so they can’t give you an accurate response. If done right, it makes a huge difference. Insulate your garage and get an exhaust fan instead in your garage ceiling if you want it done right.