Insulation is important when converting a garage to living space
Q. We are older and have sold our car. For more living space, we plan to convert our garage into a home theater and may also finish the basement. How should we insulate the brick and concrete walls?
A. With homes not selling well and construction costs still increasing, many families have decided to make major improvements to their homes instead of moving or building a new one. Converting a garage or a basement into additional living space is popular.
The methods to make the conversions and to insulate the walls of the basement or garage are basically similar. The direction of moisture movement is generally opposite, though, making the placement of the vapor barrier different. For below-ground walls (basement foundation) moisture typically moves from outdoors to indoors. Concrete actually is porous.
One option for converting the rooms is to have a contractor install a predesigned room conversion system made specifically for this purpose. These systems typically include a wall mounting systems for insulated panels. Special materials are used to block moisture and minimize mold and mildew.
Champion offers a particularly nice room conversion system. A vinyl attachment system is connected to the walls and fabric-covered insulated panels are snapped into place. They have R-13 insulation level and the special fabric covering absorbs sound, making it good for home theaters. The fabric panels can easily be snapped out to gain access to the walls.
If you decide to do the conversion yourself, there are several methods to insulate the walls. The simplest method is to build a two-by-four studded frame against the garage or basement walls. Insulate it with fiberglass batts and cover the walls with drywall or paneling. A drawback to this method is you will lose floor space because the new walls are fairly thick.
This project requires only a minimum skill level, but there are some important details. Pay attention to the proper location of the vapor barrier depending upon your climate and whether it is below or above the ground level. Repair any current or potential problems with the existing walls because future access to them will require cutting through the new wall surface.
If you will not need high levels of insulation, several companies make rigid foam insulation panels designed to fit neatly over furring strips. This makes the installation easy and provides a nailing base on 16- or 24-inch centers to attach drywall or paneling. Insulation values range from about R-3 to R-10.
Don't forget the floor because it also loses heat and carpet over concrete may not be comfortable. Consider installing a breathable resilient insulating board over the concrete floor.
The following companies offer wall insulation materials and systems: Certainteed, (800) 782-8777, www.certainteed.com; Champion, (800) 875-5575, www.mydreambasement.com; Dow Chemical, (800) 441-4369, www.dow.com; Owens Corning, (800) 438-7465, www.owenscorning.com; and Pacemaker Building Systems, (800) 669-1176, www.pacemakerbuildingsystems.com.
Q. I try to be as energy efficient as possible so I keep one-gallon jugs of water around the house during winter for thermal mass. Should I keep them full next summer or should I pour the water on the garden?
A. Having much thermal mass in your house can reduce your utility bills and keep your family more comfortable. With more thermal mass, temperature swings in your house are reduced, particularly if you try to use some passive solar heating.
Keep the jugs filled year-round. During the summer, thermal mass can slow down how fast your house heats up each morning. This should keep your air conditioner from coming on as early in the day.
• Write to James Dulley at 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit dulley.com.