Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors
Garage doors create a barrier between the outside environment and your home, insulation can greatly benefit both your garage and home as a whole. Insulated garage doors have a handful of benefits from smooth operation to temperature control and more. Here in Colorado we get not only the hot dry summers but also the windy freezing winters, and insulated garage doors can help improve your home's energy efficiency all year long. Insulation also adds structure and strength to garage doors making them more durable than non-insulated options. An additional benefit is not only smooth quieter operation compared to non- insulated, but also keeps outside noise down (for example living on a busy street the insulation will decrease noise from passing cars). Lastly insulated garage doors come with a variety of insulation options which can be chosen from to get the best garage door for a homeowner's needs.
Insulation and temperature control
Garage doors are commonly insulated with polyurethane and given a rating in terms of an R-value. Standard insulation R-values start between 3 and 7.4 with higher options on most models. Simply put the higher the R-value the more insulation the garage door has. Insulated garage doors' most common benefit is temperature control. Homes with attached garages especially those with finished walls within the garage are the perfect candidate for an insulated garage door. This is ideal to effectively control temperature during all types of weather not only for the garage but also any rooms above or hallways attached to the garage. Overall insulated garage doors can improve your homes’ energy efficiency keeping you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. According to majority of garage door manufactures homeowners can safe up to 20% on their annual energy bills by insulating and sealing their garage door properly. Many times the price of insulated garage doors is higher than a non-insulated door, but the value of insulation and its role in making a home more energy efficient will considerably pay itself off.
Increased durability with insulation
Increased durability is another key benefit to insulated garage doors. Insulation can come in two separate styles: vinyl back and steel back. Vinyl back garage doors have added structure with the insulation alone filling the space where uninsulated steel doors bend and bow. Steel back garage doors also referred to as “sandwich doors” have additional structure when compared to vinyl given that the insulation is fully wrapped by steel creating a more rigid product that is less likely to dent or warp easily. Insulated garage doors with additional struts are also great options for areas with high winds to brace the door from high pressure. If you live in an area with high winds or use your garage for common activities (workshop, gym space, kid play area) Insulated garage doors are a great option to consider.
Better Noise Control
One of the least talked about facts of an insulated garage door is that they are quieter than non-insulated doors. Everyday operation of a garage door causes vibration and friction that non-insulated doors manifest in noisy operation. Insulation seals the gaps absorbing the vibrations and decreasing noise, and at the same time providing structure preventing them from bowing. Insulation also helps absorb exterior noise such as a busy street with lots of cars or kids playing loudly outside. All in all, insulated garage doors not only operate smoother and generally quieter but also help decrease exterior noise.
In closing insulated garage doors have many benefits over generic non-insulated garage doors. Making your home more energy efficient is the first and most cost-effective benefit where homeowners can see and feel a return on their investment. In addition to climate control the insulation adds structure making insulated garage doors stronger and more durable so you can use the garage how you like and not have to worry about the garage door becoming damaged so easily. In our expert opinion Insulated garage doors are the most cost effective way to get the most out of your garage. It allows you to spend less time worrying about elevated cost in the summer and winter months, noisy busy streets, and incidental damage to your garage door and more time focusing on what really matters, enjoying your home.
