What Is an Insulated Garage Door?
What is an insulated garage door and why might a residence require one? Garage doors are generally sold with varying degrees of insulation, depending on your location and your persona needs. Some doors are simply a thin layer of metal: though they may serve to keep the harsher elements out of your garage, they won’t do much to keep the cold out or the heat in. Other garage doors have additional internal insulation, made with a variety of materials. These doors don’t just insulate your garage from the climate — they also work as soundproofing.
The Types of Garage Door Insulation
Garage door insulation is generally rated by an “R-value.” An R-value is the material’s ability to stop the transmission of heat through the medium, which in this case is your home’s garage door. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The most common type of garage door insulation is known as expanded polystyrene insulation. Each garage door section is filled with panels of a foam-like material, which acts as a buffer. This foam panel both reduces the amount of noise that passes through the garage door and ensures that the temperatures remain stable within. Because polystyrene is simply a rigid foam sheet that is placed within the garage door, it doesn’t have exceptionally good insulation — but it’s good enough for most homes. This type of insulation generally has an R-value of 3 to 7, approximately.
A more advanced form of garage door installation is known as polyurethane foamed-in-place insulation. This insulation is more expensive but can be more than twice as effective as polystyrene insulation. Polyurethane insulation is more effective because it is inserted into the door as a foam and then expands to fill the entire interior cavity of the garage door. This ensures that the entire door is insulated throughout, rather than also containing air and empty space. This type of insulation can have an R-value of 7 to 14, approximately.
The Benefits of Garage Door Insulation in Dallas Tx
Garage door insulation is usually installed for the purposes of cost and comfort. Many homeowners find that their home is more energy-efficient after insulating their garage door; otherwise both heat and cold can infiltrate the home through the garage. Homeowners also find that it’s more comfortable in their home; it’s easier to maintain the house’s temperature, and the garage itself can be used for additional activities. However, there’s also a third reason that homeowners may opt to insulate their garage doors: sound. An insulated garage has better soundproofing, which can make it a better option for entertaining, hobbies, and other loud activities.
Do you think that you might be interested in the purchase of an insulated garage door? If so, you can contact the garage door experts at Action Garage Door today. Action Garage Door can go over your options and help you determine whether insulation is the best solution for your home.