What Are the Benefits of an Insulated Garage Door?
One of the most significant improvements you can make to your home is replacing the garage door. If you consider upgrading to a new garage door, you will find that an insulated garage door can bring more benefits than an uninsulated one. In this post, we will learn the fundamentals of an insulated garage door as well as the advantages of having one for your garage.
What is an insulated garage door?
Non-insulated garage doors are typically limited to a single metal or wood panel and provide minimal benefits other than acting as a barrier to your garage. On the other hand, insulated garage doors have panels filled with an insulating material to prevent heat from escaping through the door. The more layers a garage door has, the higher its thermal resistance.
The door’s insulation property (or the capacity to restrict heat transmission) is indicated in its R-value. A higher R-value translates into a slower heat transmission, so generally speaking, garage doors with the highest R-value are the most insulated and energy-efficient. The R-value ranges from R-8 to R-32, and residential garage doors typically have R-values of around R-16. The U-factor is another rating you may encounter, albeit less commonly used. This indicates the rate at which non-solar heat flow is transmitted through the door. The lower the U-factor, the more energy-efficient the door.
The insulating materials generally used in insulated garage doors are polystyrene and polyurethane. Many garage doors use rigid panels with a vinyl back of polystyrene insulation. These panels are installed behind the single layer of garage door material or between the two layers of it. On the other hand, polyurethane is injected between the door’s layers. Since the foam swells into every part of the door and adheres to the frame as well as the door itself, it delivers a higher level of sound isolation and energy efficiency than polystyrene.
Why go for an insulated garage door?
Increased thermal efficiency
An insulated garage door helps in maintaining the right temperature inside your garage. Having an energy-efficient garage door, and thus a warmer garage winter and cooler one in the summer, is important if you use the garage as a craft area, gym, or another type of room. Did you know that cold temperature affects the items stored in your garage? Maintaining a proper temperature during cold seasons may help extend the lifespan of your car and everything else you store in your garage.
Reduced energy consumption
Is it expensive to heat your home in the winter? If that is the case, your garage and, by extension, its door could be the culprit. Suppose cold air easily penetrates your home through the attached garage. In that case, your heating system will have to work harder to provide enough heat to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. An insulated garage door prevents the hot (or cold) air from escaping through the garage, regulating the interior temperature and saving you as much as 20% on annual energy bills.
Quieter door operation
A quiet garage door is a lifesaver if there is a living or sleeping space above your garage. Insulation dampens the vibration along the door, so it opens and closes considerably more softly. Insulation significantly reduces outdoor noises when the garage door is closed, such as passing cars and barking dogs.
Turn to Palms Garage Doors for your garage door service needs. We serve the Greater Bay Area from San Francisco to San Jose and Oakland with reliable garage door installation and garage door repair services. We are available 24/7 for garage door opener repair, garage door spring replacement, and other emergency repair services. Call us at (833) 833-3361 to request Free Estimates.
