Insulated Garage Doors Top Tips

Not all homeowners need insulated garage doors, however, there are certain climate conditions where a property would greatly benefit from garage doors that are insulated. In this article we offer a process to help you decide if you should consider the investment and then which level of insulation you decide is best for your property. Read on to learn more.

Insulated Garage Doors: Are They Worth It for Your Home?

insulated garage doors on a house in a winter scene

Yes, insulated garage doors are a good choice for most homes. This is true if the garage is attached, has a room on top, or you use it for more than just parking. An insulated door helps keep the garage at a steady temperature. It also cuts down on energy loss in the house. The door makes less noise and is stronger. A standard insulated garage door costs around $1,500 with installation. This is usually a few hundred dollars more than a garage door without insulation.

For people who leave home often and ask someone else to look after their house, the garage can be more useful than you might think. The garage may have things like the washer and dryer, another fridge, or things for your pets. Sometimes, your pet may even stay in the garage during the day. If the garage gets very hot in the summer, or too cold in the winter, it can be hard for anyone to use it when you are not at home.

What Makes a Garage Door “Insulated”?

An insulated garage door has foam placed between or behind the panels. The kind of foam the garage door uses and the way it is made will decide how good it is at stopping heat and cold.

Polystyrene vs. Polyurethane Insulation

Polystyrene is set in stiff foam boards inside the door panels. It is often used, costs less, and is better than having no insulation.
Polyurethane is put by spray or injected in the panel. It grows to fill all the spaces. It gives better insulation for its width and makes the door feel more firm.
If two doors look similar, ask what foam they use. That one thing can show why the prices change.

Understanding Garage Door R-Value

R-value tells you how well a material stops heat flow. A higher number means the insulation is better.
Most insulated home doors have an R-value between R-6 and R-18. A door with a higher R-value is better if you live in a place that is always hot or cold.
Make sure you compare R-values from doors that are tested the same way. This is because not all companies measure the R-value in the same way.

Single-, Double-, and Triple-Layer Doors

Now, there are insulated garage doors and insulated garage doors. What is the difference between your various options:

A single-layer door is made of a sheet of steel or other material. It does not have any insulation.
A double-layer door has insulation added to the back of the steel. This helps control temperature and noise.
A triple-layer door puts insulation between two steel skins. It is the strongest door and gives the best insulation.

Contains: New House Sits
News, Offers and Discounts

Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors

The biggest benefit is comfort. But there are more reasons than that. Insulation can change how the door sounds when it opens or closes. It can also help the door last longer. The garage will not affect the rest of your home as much with insulation.

More Stable Garage Temperatures

An insulated door keeps heat from coming in during summer. In winter, it stops heat from going out. The garage then stays closer to the shade outside instead of getting hot from the sun.
A steady temperature helps keep things in the garage safe, like paint, electronics, tools, and pet food.
Cars inside are better for their batteries and fluids because the garage temperature does not go up and down a lot.

Lower Energy Loss in Attached Homes

In an attached garage, the wall you share with your home and any room above it can get hot or cold, depending on the garage. An insulated door helps to cut down how much heat or cold gets through.
Your heating and cooling system may not have to work as hard to keep the rooms near the garage comfortable.
The energy savings you get will depend on the weather where you live and how well you seal the rest of your garage, so think of energy savings as a nice extra, not the main reason to get an insulated door.

Quieter and Stronger Doors

Foam insulation helps cut down on shaking, so doors with this in them are quieter when you open and close them. This is important if a bedroom is next to or above the garage.
Insulated doors, like ones made with three layers, do better against dents than thin doors with only one layer.
A stronger door can keep its shape for more time. This helps it stay balanced and makes sure it closes tight as the years go by.

When an Insulated Garage Door Is Worth It

insulated garage door in the snow — Wintery conditions mean your property will likely benefit from insulated garage doors
Photo credit – Alari Tammsalu

For some homes, having an insulated door can really help each day. If your home matches any of these cases, paying more is often worth it.

Attached Garages and Rooms Above the Garage

Bedrooms or offices above an attached garage are some of the hardest rooms in the house to keep at a good temperature. A garage door has a lot to do with the problem.
When your family or guests say that one room is always too hot or cold, you should see what is under or next to that room.
A door from the garage going into the house brings in heat and cold, too. If you have an insulated garage door, it helps stop that heat or cold from reaching the entry in the first place.

Contains: New House Sits
News, Offers and Discounts

Garages Used as Workshops, Gyms, or Pet Spaces

If you work out, take on projects, or do laundry in the garage, having good insulation can make your time there feel a lot better.
A lot of people keep pet supplies, litter boxes, or set up a place for their dog in the garage. A steady indoor temperature can be safer for pets. This also has benefits for a house sitter who needs to help care for the pets.
If you use a big shop or warehouse-type building for work or to run a small business from home, you may want to pick Commercial Doors with insulated panels. These might be better for you than just picking a regular garage door for your home.

Very Hot or Very Cold Climates

In the desert and in the southern states, an uninsulated garage will get very hot in the summer. This can get to be dangerous.
In the northern states, insulation can help to keep the garage from dropping below freezing. This will keep water lines, any stored liquids, and car batteries safe.
Places that have a large difference between day and night temperatures will see a benefit too. Insulation helps make the inside temperature in the garage more steady through the day and night.

When You Might Not Need an Insulated Door

Insulation is not the best choice for every garage, you may be able to save the expense you’d spend on insulated garage doors. In some cases, you may get more value by spending your money on something else.

Detached Garages Used Only for Storage

If the garage is not connected to the house and only keeps things like lawn tools or boxes, you may not need to worry about temperature control.
Things that do not handle heat or cold well can be brought inside the house instead.
If you think you will use this space as a workshop or hobby room sometime in the future, it can be a good idea to pick an insulated door right now. This will keep you from changing it later.

Mild Climates With Small Temperature Swings

In coastal areas where the weather is mild for most of the year, the difference an insulated door brings may not be big.
You might still want an insulated door for noise reduction or to help stop dents, but if you just want more comfort, it may not be a good enough reason to get one.

Garages With Bigger Air Leak Problems

An insulated door will not work well if the walls in the garage are not insulated, if the side door lets in a draft, or if there are big gaps in the ceiling.
When this happens, sealing the rest of the garage can give you more comfort for the money than just getting a new insulated door.
To see where the outside light and air come in, you can walk around the garage on a bright day with the lights off. This will help you find the problem spots.

Contains: New House Sits
News, Offers and Discounts

What to Check Before Spending on Insulated Garage Doors

It is good to check a few things before you buy. This can help you avoid paying for insulation that works badly. Most issues happen because the seal is not good, the opener is not right, or the work was done too fast.

Weather Seals and Air Gaps

Look closely at the seals on the bottom, sides, and top of the door. The best-insulated panels will not work well if air gets in and out around the edges.
Ask if the new door will have a bottom seal and side weatherstripping, or if you have to add those on your own.
After the work is done, look to see if there is any daylight around the closed door. If you see light coming in, air can get in too.

Opener Compatibility and Door Weight

Insulated doors, like triple-layer models, have more extra weight than simple doors. An older opener may not be able to lift this extra weight.
The springs need to fit the weight of the new door. If the springs are too weak or too strong, they can put more stress on the opener. It can also make the door unsafe.
Ask if your current opener will work with the new door or if it should be replaced when you get the new door.

Warranty and Professional Installation

Compare the warranties for the panels, insulation, and hardware. Each may be covered for a different length of time than the other.
When you look at Residential Garage Doors, do not focus only on R-value. You should also check how thick the panels are, what type of foam is used, and how well the sections fit together.
To install this door, you need to work with heavy panels and high-tension springs. A trained installer should do this job. It is not a job for you to do over a weekend.

Are Insulated Garage Doors Right for You?

If your garage is connected to your house, under a bedroom, or used as a workroom, place to do laundry, or for pets, an insulated door can be a good choice. This will help keep the garage warmer or cooler. It helps to protect what you keep in there. The space will feel better for you and anyone taking care of your home when you are away.

Final Thoughts on Insulated Garage Doors

If you are trying to choose the right door, R&S Wholesale Doors Inc. can help. They will help you look at insulation types, R-values, and door styles. This way, you can get the one that works best for your home and the climate you live in.

Insulated Garage Doors: Are They Worth It for Your Home?