A tuck-under garage is a garage with living space above it. It’s typically seen in homes that are built on an incline.
A tuck under garage on the West side of Madison
We see a lot of these in our work because they were often incorporated into homes built in the 60s and 70s — homes that are often very inefficient anyway and may already have serious comfort problems and high energy bills. Rarely is there an air barrier between the garage ceiling and the living space above meaning that air can travel freely (and through fiberglass insulation) into the living space above.
Especially in these cold winter months, many homeowners start their cars in the garage and let them run for a few minutes to warm them up. Even in summer months when cars aren’t left running, the noxious fumes of the cars can easily float up into the room above. For some reason, the majority of the rooms above the garage tend to be a child’s bedroom which is now a very serious safety issue. Not only can carbon monoxide enter the living space on a daily basis, but if there isn’t a proper firewall (which we also find often) then a fire can spread easily to the room above. And garages are the most likely place in the home for a fire to start.
In addition to safety issues, the living spaces above tuck under garages are often the coldest and draftiest rooms in the home. In some homes we’ve seen the rooms above the garage are 10-20 degrees colder than the rest of the home!
Even with carpet, this floor in a home in Middleton was 20 degrees cooler than other areas of the home!
So how do we correct this very important safety and efficiency problem? It first depends whether or not there is a firewall. If so and if there is enough room, the garage ceiling can be dense packed with cellulose. If done right, this will not only insulate but it will air seal as well.
Before -- A tuck under garage on Madison's south west side. You can see the dirty fiberglass insulation and non-fire rated wall paneling.
If there isn’t a proper firewall then we recommend pulling down the existing paneling and removing the old fiberglass. That fiberglass is always dark grey or black because of the amount of fumes and chemicals that have been moving through it. We then install fire-rated drywall and dense pack the empty cavity full of cellulose insulation.
After -- drywall has been installed and the cavities have been dense packed with cellulose. The room above is now the same temperature as the rest of the house!
You now have a safer and more comfortable home! Piping Plover is the only company in Dane County that can manage a project like this from beginning to end. Our whole house energy analysis (energy audit) identifies a home’s inefficiencies. Instead of stopping there, we bid work out to drywallers, handymen and insulation contractors so that the work is getting done quickly, cost effectively and, most importantly, is getting done right! Call us today to schedule an appointment.