If you’d like more livable space in your home, you may want to complete a garage conversion. One of the most important aspects to having a comfortable garage is having a garage heater or the proper garage insulation. Keeping your former garage space warm will also make it feel like a real addition to your home.

Common Garage Insulation Types

There are three types of insulation that most garage conversions use. These are the following:

• Flexible insulation: Glass fiber and mineral fiber quilts
• Rigid insulation: Plastic foam board
• Thermal lining boards: Mineral wool or plastic foam insulation, bonded to plasterboard.

Install Your Own Garage Insulation

Hiring a professional is the easiest way to ensure your insulation will be done right. However, if you are going to create your own garage heating and insulation you’ll need to follow a general process. The basic steps are the following:

• Install fiberglass insulation: Staple the insulation into place between the studs with a staple gun.
• Add 2x4s: Nail 2x4s over the insulation and across the studs.
• Secure wood: Secure the nailed wood with screws.
• Add weather stripping: Secure weather stripping will fill the gaps, such as where the garage door and floor meet.

Creating your own garage insulation can cost about $100 to $200 for supplies. Check out a how-to video online for a detailed look at how to properly install insulation in your garage.

Use Garage Heaters to Heat Your Space

If you are converting your garage into a livable space, you’ll need some source of garage heating and insulation. Insulation will make for maximum heat efficiency. If insulation doesn’t provide enough heat for you, consider purchasing a garage heater. If you decide to go with garage heaters in order to make your conversion more comfortable, please consider the following:

• Available space: Place the heater at least three feet from furniture and drapes. Keep out of reach of your children or pets.
• Garage heater cords: The space heater cord should be in good condition, not frayed or overloaded on a power strip.
• Garage heater safety: There are garage heaters on the market that have added safety features, such as turning off when the grille is touched or when knocked over.
• Types of garage heaters: Convection electric space heaters are used for heating the entire room, while electric space heaters heat a small area.

If not used properly, certain space heaters can cause fire, injury or even death. Be sure to read all instructions thoroughly before using a garage heater in your conversion.

Garage Heating and Insulation Safety

Check with the department of building and safety in your city to ensure that you are meeting all required codes for a safe garage conversion. This is an important step, as professionals will be able to gauge if you’ve installed garage insulation correctly.