An Insulated Garage Door Benefits Your Home

Common Questions, General

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.

Reviews

"Brandon and crew were very easy to work with. Doors were put in in a timely manner and everything was cleaned up when done. Would definitely recommend to anyone."
- Jane Heiny
5 Stars
"Everyone from the salesman to the tech that installed the equipment were very professional. Great job!"
- Jason Brown
5 Stars
"I’m very pleased with the work done, and in a timely manner. The guys were friendly, answered all my questions, and left the property cleaned up. I love the quiet door movement."
- Lorna Thompson
5 Stars

"Excellent service very friendly and knowledgeable high quality. love our doors thanks overhead doors!!!!!"
- Dianna Weaver
5 Stars

"I’ve had nothing but pleasant experiences! The individuals on the other end of the phone are always so kind and organized. We have received quick service twice and have been so pleased with the level of professionalism and courtesy shown by technicians. Great and honest company!"
- Olivia Hildebrand
5 Stars
"Torsion spring broke on my garage door. Called Overhead Door and spoke with Brandon. He scheduled the techs for the next day which they came out and replaced both torsion springs on the door and adjusted the door so it worked perfectly!! The technicians were very knowledgeable and experienced and had the new springs installed very quickly. Great job!!"
- Dale Rogers
5 Stars
"Very professional! Completed the repairs in an hour and gave the rest of the unit a checkup. Would definitely give them my business again. "
- James Edmonson
5 Stars
"Had a very good overall experience. They arrived within one hour of my request for a quote and provided a written formal quote an hour later.They arrived on time, completed the job in a couple of hours and left the garage spotless. Very professional installers. Highly recommended!"
- Bruce Costigan
5 Stars
"HI called them and they were extremely friendly and made you feel comfortable. I told him my problems and he knew what was wrong. They scheduled me for the next day and they came when they said they would. The two men that came were very professional. Upbeat and knew their job. The job took them 15 minutes. They oiled everything up. (above and beyond) I will use them again I hope I don’t have the need anytime soon. But I would recommend them highly."
- Yvonne Berryman
5 Stars
"The technician did a very nice job replacing the springs. He was very proficient in his work. He also shared ideas for lubricants for maintaining the opener."
- Paul Johnson
5 Stars
"I called on Friday at 11am with a broken garage door spring. I was told the soonest they would be able to get to me was early the following week. By 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon to my surprise they arrived and fixed the spring. I had a very positive experience recommend them!!"
- Chris Beaver
5 Stars
"Workers were friendly and did good work."
- Robert Hanson
5 Stars
"We and a non-emergent problem with our door. They were there the same day."
- Phillip Blake
5 Stars

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Overhead Door Company - Mason City, IA

Overhead Door Company of Mason City™, Overhead Door Company of Albert Lea™ and Overhead Door Company of Olmsted County™ proudly serves customers in each nine-county area and beyond.

OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF MASON CITY™: Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Howard, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Butler, Hancock, Bremer, Kossuth, Chickasaw, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Franklin, Worth, Wright

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