A warm, insulated garage can provide you with usable workspace all year round but, as the colder months of winter approach, making sure the garage is in tip top condition is an essential autumn job. Winter proofing your garage is beneficial on many levels. Getting organized saves hassle in the spring and summer months when it comes to finding things, and it prevents damage.

Freezing temperatures can cause all kinds of problems too. Water will freeze no matter where it is; for example, the water left in the rubber hose of the power washer will freeze, leading to damage when the thaw finally arrives. Other liquids and even furniture can also be damaged by colder temperatures so how can you protect your garage and its contents this winter?

Tip 1 – Seal Draughts

You may not sit in your garage for hours on end but ensure that windows (and any gaps) are sealed means that you keep as much of the cold air out of the interior of the garage as possible. Inexpensive to buy and easy to fit, weatherstripping around garage doors, other doors and windows is the perfect way of cutting down draughts.
If you already have to weatherstrip fitted to windows and doors, examine it – is it still doing an effective job? Spend time in autumn removing old weatherstrips and applying new, ready for winter.

Tip 2 – Insulate Garage Walls

Garages can also be single-skin structures meaning they can become damp and cold. Just like your home, adding a layer of insulation can make a huge difference – even without heat in the garage, insulated walls and ceiling can prevent items from being frozen or becoming too cold. However, fitting it correctly is important. Insulation needs to be a snug fit, but not jammed into space. There is no doubt that taking the time to insulate garage walls is a cost-effective means of keeping your garage warmer.

Tip 3 – Replace The Garage Door

The major issue with keeping the garage warmer during the cold winter months is the fact that it has such a large opening in the shape of a garage door. A well-fitting and well-maintained garage door makes all the difference to keeping the interior of the garage drier and at a temperature above freezing. Sometimes, the only really effective solution is to get a new garage door from Garador.

However, if this is out of your budget then there are other things you can do:

Insulating the garage door using specific insulation kits can make a huge different. Cut the insulation to size and shape, and make sure there is plenty of adhesives to secure it to the back side of the garage door.

Painting the garage door, ensuring that it is weather and waterproof can prevent it breaking down any further.

Tip 4 – Install a garage heater

Weatherstripping, insulation and a new insulated garage door will protect the garage from the worst of the winter weather but, if you are intending on spending any time in the garage, you will need some warmth.

Garage or unit heaters are an efficient way of heating the space. Some garage heaters are wall-mounted, tubular heaters with a protective ‘grate’ over the top. These can be plugged into an electrical socket and can cost pennies per hour to run. They don’t provide a roasting-level of heat, but a gentler, background heat that ensures anything important being stored in the garage is not being damaged by freezing temperatures. Like oil heaters, maximum efficiency is gained when these heaters are left on over a period time, a great way of preventing condensation.

Taking care of all these jobs now will help to make springtime a little brighter, as it will make you less likely to make nasty discoveries of damage to your garage or its contents!