Hey everyone! I'm looking to insulate my garage and install an AC unit. It's an attached tandem garage for three cars, and currently, the exterior walls and attic have no insulation at all. There's also no living space above it. I live in Phoenix, AZ. I noticed that there isn't a vapor barrier between the studs and the drywall in my garage, which is framed with stucco over wood. The stucco has a layer of black paper and chicken wire on it. My question is, can I just cut a hole at the top of the drywall to blow insulation in, or do I need to remove the drywall entirely and put in insulation along with a vapor barrier?
2 Answers
In Phoenix, you typically don't have to stress too much about vapor barriers. Since your garage is already somewhat finished, blowing insulation into the walls should work fine. I'd recommend taking a look at the attic as well—make sure to air seal around the ceiling, and it could be helpful to use a radiant barrier on the roof before insulating the attic. But really, vapor barriers aren't necessary here.
Don't forget to insulate your garage door! It really makes a big difference in temperature control. Just keep in mind that you might need to adjust the spring tension if the added insulation makes the door heavier.