Energy efficent windows are a good investment.

I agree with Jared. You will need a high temp sealant.

The caulking mentioned is fine to seals the gape but you may need somethingto back it other thatn backer rod. in that case you may need a small amount of Rockwool insulation to pack into the void befor applying the caulk. This is a link to the product https://www.rockwool.com/applications/exterior-walls/firestopping/

If you only need a small amount check with a local insulation company to see if they will sell or even give you the smaill quanity you need.

Blow in, but will have to hide it with a new ceiling I believe...

Dan, Both Hardie Plank and a 3/4" and 1.5" insulating foam board are good options. There is also the choice of using Insulated Siding that is a custom contoured foam backer. It fits to the specifications of the siding panel you choose. Best, Ken

Blow Insulation 

John,

Are you referring to insulating the ceiling of the garage (i.e. cold floors above)?   Will you be dropping the ceiling or are you looking for options with minimal disturbance?

No need for s econd mositure barrier which is what the paper-face is. Just roll out unfaced insualtion atop the existing. Or, as an option, rent a blower and use loose-fill insulation. 

I think you really need to see both on a home and decide what looks better to you.  Vinyl will be cheaper and is a more modular system and less prone to leakage and installation errors. 

Hey Alex, 

?I would say that close cell spray foam insulation is the way to go if your budget allows for it.  Although it's much more expensive than batt insulation, the long term savings on your energy bills will be far greater.? Hope this helps! 

Cheers, 

Eric Consuegra, AROCON Roofing and Construction, LLC

Hey John,

This is a common problem with many homeowners with rooms above the garage. There really isn't a solution to completely remedy your problem. Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the harshness of the extreme temperature changes.

1. Check the insulation above the room and make sure its at least R-60.

2. Insulate attic kneewalls if you have some with R-19 and then with foam board.

3. Air seal any holes from wires, pipes, vents or ducts to that room.

4. Insulated Garage doors help a lot.

These are some things you can do yourself that will help make your room more comfortable. It's a good idea to hire a professional to perform a whole house energy audit and complete HVAC system check. 

We have had a lot of positive results with these options and I hope they help you too.

All the best,

Charlie

Aladdin Insulation and Home Improvements

Is your garage attached to the house or is it on its own? If it is attached is there living space above the garage? Are you looking to insulate the walls and ceiling? Are you going to drywall the garage? I would suggest using batt insulation, with a vapor barrier. I would then drywall everything. Before you drywall I would make sure that you have all the electrical and anything else that you want in the walls installed.

Definitely replace your air filters every single month as this is a big contributor to a home's energy efficiency when it comes to HVAC

I would encourage you to read up on SPF and if you do go that route, make sure you get a great and insured installer.  SPF does have additional benefit from and air sealing standpoint but beyond the airtightness improvements, does not (in the case of OC SPF) have any greater R-Value than traditional batting assuming that both are in an static air environment.  Best thing you can do from a real high performance wall assembly is to thermally uncouple the exterior wall from the framing.  This will net you a much higher performance assembly than SPF alone but should be done by someone that is familiar with this approach and applications. 

SPF is great but I prefer it to be used as an air sealant first and foremost. 

Educate yourself on the pros and cons before you engage in an insulation schedule. 

Eric Novotny