FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Insulation

Guide Home
Chapter
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Air-Sealing
  • Choosing Insulation
  • Installing Insulation
  • Water Management
How-To

Exterior Insulation on a Garage-to-House Wall

Insulating the garage wall with mineral-wool insulation took 90 minutes (with 7 focused minds and 14 hands).

By Mike Guertin

installing Roxul IS 2-in. insulation on garage wallBruce and I installed Zip System wall sheathing to the garage-to-house wall so that the exterior air-control layer would be continuous around the house. The garage will be unheated, and temperatures will be roughly the same inside and outside, so we need to insulate that wall as well as the rest of the exterior walls. That’s why we’re installing the Roxul IS 2-in. insulation on the garage wall and 1×3 furring around the rest of the house. On the rest of the house, the 1×3 furring is primarily there to create a rain-screen vent space, but the garage-wall furring is a nailing base for the drywall.

Installation was lightning fast. In just 90 minutes, seven students from Warwick CTC tack-nailed the 2-in. Roxul insulation to the wall with 3-in. roofing nails, then screwed 1×3 furring strips over the face to fasten it permanently. Bruce and instructor Michael Haynes helped organize the installation and answered questions.

measuring Roxul IS 2-in. insulation

There were challenges, such as dealing with the sloping concrete garage floor (5 in. back to front) and pinpointing the studs through the sheathing and insulation.

installing Roxul IS 2-in. insulation on exterior wall students working on construction site

My critique: Four screws missed their mark, but that wasn’t the students’ fault. When I laid out the wall, I omitted one stud that fell directly alongside a 6×6 bearing post. So the students hit the 24-in.-o.c. layout. My bad for not warning them of the missing stud.

Now each time I drive up to the site, I admire the street-facing garage wall — nicely insulated and strapped. Unfortunately, we’ll have cover the work with a garage in a week or so.

installing insulation on garage to house wall

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
Previous: Working With ZIP R-Sheathing Next: Fiberglass Batt Cutting Guide

Guide

Insulation

Chapter

Installing Insulation

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Insulation

Insulation

Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for a home that is healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Insulation Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Energy Efficiency
  • Understanding Energy and Houses
  • Building Energy-Efficient Homes
Air-Sealing
  • Air-Sealing Basics
  • Air-Sealing Tools and Materials
  • Foundations and Floors
  • Walls, Windows, and Doors
  • Attics and Roofs
Choosing Insulation
  • Insulation Basics
  • Material Choices
Installing Insulation
  • Insulating Attics and Roofs
  • Insulating Walls
  • Insulating Floors, Footings, and Slabs
  • Insulating Foundation Walls
Water Management
  • Water-Management Principles
  • Materials
  • Installation Methods

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in