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You don’t have to endure cold temperatures if you want to continue knocking off those items on your project to-do list late into the year and early into the next one. By investing in a few upgrades, you can keep your workshop warm enough that you won’t have to don a pair of gloves and a parka to work in it. Adding a space heater, improving the insulation in your garage, and installing flooring are just a few of the upgrades you can make to warm up your workshop. Ahead, we’ve assembled seven cold weather workshop upgrades you can complete to prep your workspace for Old Man Winter.
Space Heater
Comfort Zone Ceiling Mount Garage Space Heater
Buy at AmazonA heater is a vital upgrade if you plan on spending a lot of time in your garage during the winter months. You can use a portable gas or electric space heater, but a better option is to upgrade to something more permanent, such as this 7,500-watt hard-wired ceiling mount space heater, the top pick from our Best Garage Heaters guide. Its wattage and powerful fan give it ample power for warming up a large two-car garage. And since it’s ceiling-mounted, it won’t get in the way. It also comes with a remote, so you can control it from anywhere in your shop.
Insulation
Owens Corning R-15 Kraft-faced Fiberglass Roll Insulation
Buy at The Home DepotOne of the best ways to keep your garage warm and cozy through the winter is to add insulation. This upgrade is especially crucial to prevent your utility bill from spiking if you add a garage heater. We recommend Owens Corning R-15 fiberglass roll insulation, which is thick enough to keep your garage well-insulated while still being affordable.
Garage Door Insulation
Photo: Amazon
It doesn’t make much sense to invest in heating your garage and insulating its walls and ceiling unless you also do something about the door. Reach Barrier 3009 is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to insulate your garage door. It consists of a bubble layer sandwiched between two layers of reflective aluminum. The kit comes with eight 4-foot-by-32-foot adhesive panels that install easily to the inside of the garage door.
Garage Bottom Door Seal
Photo: Amazon
Just as with the exterior doors in your home, a garage door also offers numerous places for cold air to get in. So, sealing the gaps around the garage door is vital to keeping the interior warm during the winter months. Joobon Garage bottom door seal creates a tight seal between the floor and the door, preventing air from passing through when the door is closed. It comes in a variety of lengths and is easy to install.
Garage Weather Stripping
Elvone Garage Door Seal Top and Sides
Buy at AmazonAir can come through the sides and top of your garage door unless it’s properly sealed with weather stripping. This kit from Elvone is easy to install, works with a variety of different garage door dimensions, and comes in three different color options, so you can match it to your garage door.
LED Shop Lights
Photo: Amazon
If you’re going to work in your workshop safely during the colder and darker months of the year, then it’s a good idea to upgrade the lighting. We like the Lithonia LED flat panel light. Its large surface area was enough to light up a 20-by-20-foot garage when we tested it. Its flush-mount design is also more attractive than the typical utilitarian-looking garage lighting.
Garage Flooring
American Floor Mats Heavy Duty Rubber Flooring
Buy at AmazonMost people think of insulating the walls and garage door when working to make their garage warmer, but the concrete slab floor can also be a place where cold gets in. Adding rubber floor mats is an effective way of insulating the floor. We like these American Floor Mats, which are often found in commercial gyms. They’re durable, easy to install, and attractive. They consist of ⅜-inch thick rubber that provides a good layer of insulation for your workshop floor. Your knees and hips will also appreciate the cushioning they provide.
Winter Work Wear
Ororo Men’s Light Weight Heated Vest
Buy at AmazonAlong with heating your shop, you can also warm up yourself by donning a cold-weather work vest like this one from Ororo. This top pick from our Best Heated Vests guide impressed our testers with how comfortable it was to wear and how well it heated. The vest kept them toasty warm for hours thanks to its three heating zones and 7.4-volt rechargeable battery. Well constructed from durable material, it should be a staple in your winter workwear wardrobe for years.
