The amount of insulation you need in your garage door depends on your region. Since we all know how harsh winters in Minnesota and Iowa can be, choosing the best insulated garage door for your needs is increasingly important.
When you’re in the market for a new garage or overhead door, you may ask yourself, “Do I need an insulated garage door? or “Are there different levels of insulation I should consider?” We’ll walk you through some information that can help you find the overhead door that is right for you.
Consider the Space. Is your garage attached to your house? If so, an insulated door helps keep warm air, which you’ve already paid for, inside. Think about the types of activities you use your garage space for. The majority of homeowners use their garage for many things other than parking their cars in it. In fact, we all probably know neighbors, friends or family who can’t park their cars in the garage because they are too full of other items, equipment, tools, etc. We continue to see homeowners transform their garages into additional living spaces, game rooms, man caves, home gyms and so on. The options are endless. Since your garage door is the largest moving object in your home, it’s important to consider insulation when choosing your garage door.
Differences in Insulation. There are differences in the types of insulated garage and overhead doors that are available and on the market today. The differences are not only in the types of insulation that are used, but also in how the door is constructed. Some doors use polystyrene to insulate. When polystyrene is used, it is secured in place with an adhesive. These doors generally have a steel or vinyl back (steel is stronger).
Another material that is used for insulating overhead doors is urethane. For an overhead door that is insulated with urethane, the material is blown in when the door is built. These doors usually have steel on both sides of the door and don’t allow for gaps between the steel and the insulation, which you can encounter with a polystyrene insulated door.
R-Value and U-Value. If you’ve already started shopping for a new garage door or overhead door, chances are you’ve read or heard the term “R-value”. The definition of R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow through a given thickness of material. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance.
If you hear garage or overhead door professionals use the term “U-value”, they are referring to the measurement of the overall heat loss from the door. This means that the higher the U-value, the worse the thermal performance is of the door. A low U-value usually indicates high levels of insulation. To sum that up, you want a high R-value and a low U-value when looking for a quality insulated door.
When visiting with The Door People, ask your overhead door professional to show you the difference in price when comparing a garage door insulated with urethane versus polystyrene. Often times the increase in investment is not as much as you might think. Not to mention the differences consumers experience such as sturdiness, heat and energy efficiency, etc. are great benefits from purchasing and installing an insulated garage door.
Stop into your local garage door showroom to learn more about your choices when choosing a garage door that is right for you.
