Bedroom Talk

How do you insulate bedroom over garage and cold closets?

I have recently purchased a 10 year old home and have very cold closets that I can't seem to keep warm in the winter. We have 2 bedroom located over the garage that are also not staying warm Does anyone have any tips or tricks that can offer to help with this problem? We have replaced the windows in the bedroom which has helped a little but i have noticed that if I put my hand next to the wall that is facing the outside it feels very cold. Like there might not be little to no insulation... but then again first time home owner so I don’t know what I am talking about! Can someone please offer some advance or who might be able to answer this question? What kind of professional takes care of these kinds of issues?

Public Comments

1. Companies that do insulation will come to your house and give you an estimate for the job. This benefits you in two ways one is if you want to pay for the job then you can accept the offer or you can look at the bill and see what they would have done and do it yourself. Usually this doesnt cost a person as they hope to get the work but you are not obligated until you sign a contract.
2. Probably no insulation in the walls. Drill holes in various spots in the exterior walls and shine a flashlight in to check for insulation. This applies to both the closets and the bedrooms. Also in the bedrooms over the garage is the ceiling in the garage covered with sheet-rock or anything? If so drill there also the floor may not be insulated. Any insulation company can come in and install insulation with either Batts or blowing it in. You could even do the same. One thing you will have to find out is if there are fire breaks in the ceiling and or walls. If not for the walls cut a 12 inch section out of the middle and push the batts both up and down into the cavity. In the ceiling unless you are good at sheet-rock repair call someone in to do them. Anyone could do the batts however you might run into plumbing and electric that would make you think you have filled the cavity and leave gaps.
3. keep your garage door closed as much as possible and add heat to your garage that will help witth floors being cold. new insulation would help too
4. Blown Cellulose insulation is probably the cheapest and best solution for what you are describing. Have the contractor also dense pack the garage ceiling/bedroom floor to both insulate and air seal. Dense packing/Airsealing this connection, and all shared walls with the garage performs two feats. One it insulates those walls increasing your comfort and saving you money on fuel bills and Two, It keeps all those nasty air quality issues out of your home. Idling cars belong outside, not in your bedroom, as well as all those other chemicals we tend to store in our garages. Have the insulation contractor do an assesment on the insulation in the rest of your home as well because under insulation will eat you alive in added fuel costs during heating/cooling seasons. One last caveat, ask if the contractor is familiar with a blower door, as this can measure the amount of air sealing needed, quantify the work scope allowing you to target specific problems and also insure the quality of the installation.
5. I would get professional advice.......most areas have specific building codes regarding what's between the garage ceiling and living space...IE protection from fumes. Good luck