There are three doors each 2.5 x 2.1 I had thought about hanging duvets over the doors, no doubt this would work but they would be cumbersome to store when not required. My second thought was thin silver type insulation duck taped into curtains the right size. These would roll up and be stored above each door on the rollers. However I am not sure of the thermal efficiency of this. I just thought someone might have tackled the problem in the past.

Location: Sunny Devon

Hi Nick

what are the measurements of the door?

Location: Dover, Kent

Clearly Nick, the only fitting solution in your play room, are three heating / airconditioning units, one over each door, providing an air curtain much like shops often have. (I know Nick's Motor House and garage is far too coarse a term for it!) He muttered suffering garage envy!

Stuart

Popping out to his H&S nightmare hole, to look at someones engine for an hour....

I have a 16' up and over door in my garage. I also have a 12BTu wood burner. with old curtains fitted over the door. I go out and light the wood burner about 07.30 and go out and play around 09.00, it can get very comfortable in there even when it is freezing outside. I am interested in any suggestions to insulate the steel door, have thought about gluing 1" polystyrene sheeting, or the like, to the inside of the door. I have fitted rubber draft excluders all around the opening. the only trouble with curtains it is a bind to get the car out should I want too during the cold months.

Location: Oakley,Hants

Stuart that is a brilliant solution, actually combined with triple glazed bi-fold doors.........umm

Location: Sunny Devon

On the up and over doorI'd go for the "foil/foam blister/ type of roof insulation with a layer of Kingspan or similar as thick as the mechanism of the door will allow.
A wood stove would finish it off , nice dry heat but the disadvantage of soot and dust.
Roller doors are a nightmare to try to insulate but the warehouse/hospital strip push-through closures seem to keep the cold section of my workshop isolated from the warmer front shop where the stove sits.
They are usually 10-18 inch wide 1/4" thick polythene in various lengths and hang from a hooked S/S strip at lintel height usually overlapped by the width of two of the hooks. If they are cut to length to rest against a timber frame and threshold they should keep most of the draughts out.

I tackled the problem by moving 12'000 miles, worked a treat never have a cold garage these days!

Seriously, there is a rigid insulating foam used in the building industry that may work for you. It is very light has a foil skin on one side and is available in large sheets of various thicknesses so would be ideal for attaching directly too the door. I am afraid I have forgotten the trade term for it, but it is commonly used to insulate roof conversions in the UK, you would probably still need to install draft excluders.

Location: NZ

The foam sheets in various thicknesses is made by "Kingspan" and has a foil finish to reflect heat.
When I wanted to cut out the draughty cold steel door on my garage, I bought a sectional electric pre-insulated door found on Ebay. cost £62.00 worth every penny for a £700 unit.Now no draughts, no cold steel and it opens as I approach,very swish for a Seven.

Location: Piddle valley, Dorchester.

Ok so a serious suggestion.... in some commertial workshops they have a curtain of 8" wide vertical strips of heavy plastic which you can just walk through or drive a car through.

The foil backed insulation is called Cellatex or similar. Unfortunately Nicks doors roll up at the top, so you cant add any significant thicknes to them. It would work well to insulate the roof, although in effective thickness' it is quite expensive.

The gold and silver "space blanket" plastic film stuck to the inside of the door would stop the drafts through the door itself.

I will start thinking about this garage insulation business when I get old and decrepit.
Young Davie.

Location: Sheffield

Depends on how far you wan to go but you can get insulated roller doors. I lined the inside of my up and over doors with a foil bubble stuff, thought it was probably less flammable than other forms also reflects the light as I have now windows. I looked to seal off all the air gaps but then decided a bit of ventilation would help clear any fumes. Vinyl on the floor helps keep the cold out.

Location: Dorset

Dave,
its ok to get old , the decrepit comes from laying about on a cold garage floor. I'm off to Jewson tomorrow to get prices for the insulation

Douglas,
Vynil flooring, I have the old lounge carpet fitted , its about 3/4" thick, kettle ,microwave, radio and with the wood burner fitted the Mrs knows its a waste of time kicking me out as I would be just as comfortable in the garage.

Location: Oakley ,Hants

Thank you all for suggestions. As the doors are roller type I think it is agreed the only practical solution is to hang something against the doors, so back to either duvet, curtain or a foil screen.

Location: Sunny Devon

Is it feasible to make vertical window blinds this sort of size? they would provide a secondary barrier to the cold, and could be drawn open to allow access.

Perhaps panels could be made using rigid foam insulation such as Recticel and attached to the doors when closed. It comes in in 8'x4' sheets. Quite expensive but very effective.
The problem would be were to put them when the doors are opened. If only one door is usually used the loose panel could stand up behind one of the other doors.

Location: Melrose, Roxburghshire

Have been into Keyline building supplies this morning Celulite sheets @ 25mm thick x 8'x4' are £8.50 +vat and weigh very little. I am working on cutting them to fit the anels on the inside of the door

Location: Oakley ,Hants

Just an idea: cut them narrower and tape them into a folding screen?

The idea I'm taking from the above discussion for myself is curtains. That could either be second hand "real curtains" or old duvets or cheap sleeping bags but the idea of a rail and hoops and tie backs is such an obvious one for an insulating and draft proof screen that can be quickly and easily moved out the way.

This is the stuff I use in my workshop to separate warm room from the big cold one which has a large exterior metal door. I can work in there with the engine running if necessary and still have a hot spot to retreat to.

I think the picture is turned through 90* so you'll have to lie on your side to view it !

Location: Ripon

The ultimate solution but unfortunately the most expensive would be to replace the current roller doors with insulated ones.

Location: Oxfordshire

Decided to go the route of insulation board, three sheets per door duck taped so they can form a screen elsewhere when not in use. Derek those sheets are very cheap I can only find Celotex at about £20 per sheet. Do you know if Keyline only local to you or nationwide?

Location: Sunny Devon

Nick,

I've just Googled Celotex and found some cheaper than your £20 and in your County - Roofingsuperstore in Estover, Plymouth. Sheet size 1200 x 2400 x 25mm for £12.90 including vat.

I've also Googled Keyline Builders Merchants and they apparently have branches in Rockbeare, Exeter and Plympton, Plymouth and Newham Industrial Estate, Truro in Cornwall.

https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/product/insulation-2/pitched-roof-insulation/celotex/celotex-tb3025-zero-odp-rigid-insulation-board-25mm-x-1200mm-x-2400mm.html

http://www.keyline.co.uk/store-finder

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

Thank you, investigating the very best price today.

Location: Sunny Devon

I have found Celotex for £12.87 inc. Vat at RGB which is only 4 miles away. I will post results when I have fitted them

Location: Sunny Devon

Found a much cheaper solution - going to be 34C here today!

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Australia