Rooms above garages

Rooms above garages are often built as “bonus rooms,” flexible space added at low cost to modern homes.  These rooms have a variety of uses, whether it’s as a guest room, home gym, or even a "man cave." When improperly insulated, however, homeowners often refer to these "bonus" rooms with much more... colorful language. They can be swelteringly hot or freezing cold - and all of that bonus space just becomes unusable.   

Challenges of Rooms Above Garages

Rooms over garages combine the challenges of cantilevered floors and, often, the issues associated with story and a half homes (see our pages on these topics for insights on these issues).

Heating & Cooling Hurdles

Heating and cooling systems that serve these spaces are usually tacked on as an afterthought to the main distribution system of the house. Often, these rooms are farthest away from the furnace or boiler. The hot and cool air has to be transferred by ducts and piping routed through attics or exterior walls.

The distance the air has to travel, combined with the room’s isolation from the thermostat that calls for heat and cooling, means that rooms over garages almost always don’t get enough heat or cooling in the first place. The rooms also have trouble holding on to that heat or cold. Even after fully insulating and air sealing a “bonus room,” supplemental heat or air conditioning may be necessary to control temperatures year-round.

Got questions about your room over the garage in your Minnesota or Western Wisconsin home? Get in touch with us to learn more.