Everything You Need To Know About Insulated Garage Doors
Insulated garage doors are an excellent investment for homeowners and businesses that want to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Garage door insulation, also known as an insulated steel door, is available in aluminum or metal with various thicknesses depending on how much heat they need to keep out of your house.
Insulating your garage door protects your vehicles from the cold and helps keep your home warm during those chilly winter nights. In addition to protecting against heat loss, insulated garage doors can also help maintain a more constant temperature inside your house, preventing excessive drafts from coming in through your door.
Is Your Garage Door the ‘Weakest Link?’
If you’re experiencing drafts in your garage, it may be time for a high-quality insulated garage door. Installing an insulated garage door will reduce the extreme heat and coldness from entering your living quarters. A properly insulated garage door will also reduce the amount of time it takes to warm up your house after returning from work and can even help keep your home more comfortable during those hot summer days.
If extreme weather is a staple of your daily life, you should make sure that the insulation on your garage door is high enough. The R-value tells you how insulated it will be if you buy a product with the said rating.
What is R-value?
The R-value measures the insulation's resistance to heat flow and is usually dependent on the unit's thickness. It indicates what insulating material provides for the best performance. A high R-value means that heat will have a hard time getting through because it takes more energy to do so -- that being said, it does not mean no heat gets in or out.
As the garage door is used more often, it becomes less insulated. In many areas, a residential R-value of 20 to 24 will suffice for most homeowners. But if extreme weather conditions and harsh climate are common in your area, you may want to consider upgrading to insulation with a higher rating, such as 30+. It can be challenging to tell if your garage door has enough insulation simply by looking at it because there's no way of telling what type or thickness without taking measurements on the spot.
Garage Doors: How Are They Insulated?
Insulated garage doors are made up of layers of polystyrene foam, polyurethane, or other insulation. Insulation in a garage door is typically found inside it between two sheets of metal like steel and aluminum.
Polyurethane is an excellent material for doors because it provides the highest possible rating. It's sandwiched with layers of steel to provide a highly durable and robust product that will last through years of use.
One of the best insulation for garage doors is polyurethane. According to a 2005 NIST study, polyurethane insulation reduced air leakage and increased energy efficiency by up to 83%.
Manufacturers increase the thickness of a door to improve insulation, but even a three-inch-thick door won’t work as well if you insulated it with polyurethane.
Garage Doors with Windows
Garage windows should be made of insulated glass if keeping heat out and reducing your door’s R-value is essential. Regular windows won’t cut it here - they will reduce the door's insulation power significantly.
If you live in a place where it snows often, consider installing insulated windows on your garage door to help keep more heat inside your home. Alternatively, if you live in a climate where your door can be left open during the winter without freezing, windows are an attractive option.
Another Factor to Consider When Buying a New Garage Door
Garage doors are an integral part of every home to protect your belongings from the elements. There is no shortage of options for garage door construction, but you want a high R-value and weatherstripping for energy efficiency. Just remember that other factors like sealant joints should be considered too!
What is the frequency of your garage door usage?
The R-value is zero when the garage door is open. This means that you should not focus on this alone and instead look at other doors' qualities, such as insulation or material type, in your search for optimal purchase.
If you have a garage door that rarely gets opened, the best insulation would be one with a high R-value. Since your closed garage door will act as an insulated wall, it is essential to choose one of these doors if you want maximum thermal comfort in your car.
If you leave your garage door open often to let cars in and out, or keep it wide open for extended periods while working inside the garage, then R-value won’t be as much of a concern. It can still help you, but remember that the rating is only applicable to an insulated closed door.
Insulated garage doors can help you save money on your energy bill.
Insulated garage doors are designed to seal in heat, and therefore can help you save money on your energy bill. They also come with an insulated frame for additional insulation that will prevent the cold air from coming into your home through the door area during the winter months. Many homeowners invest in these types of doors because they will stay warmer longer than traditional ones, which means less time heating up or cooling down once inside.
To Learn More Contact Matthews Garage Doors
Insulated garage doors are the best way to protect your car and belongings from the cold. They also help keep out unwanted pests, which means less time spent cleaning up after them. And because they’re insulated, they reduce heat loss in winter and make it easier for you to cool down in summer.
Matthews Garage Doors offer a variety of insulation options so that you can choose what works best for your needs. From steel to fiberglass, we have something for everyone! Contact us today for more information about how an insulated garage door can benefit you!