A new garage door can add to your home’s beauty and functionality, improve safety and security, and reduce energy costs. One study found that you can recoup over 75% of the cost of a new garage door when selling your home. While choosing the style, color and accessories are key factors, have you thought about insulating it?
Many homeowners are using their garage as an extension of their home by converting it to a fitness area, man cave, office, or kids’ play room. Therefore, keeping the garage warm in the winter and cool in the summer makes it more important than ever. Today we’ll talk about insulated vs. non-insulated garage doors from Aladdin® Doors.
Uninsulated Garage Doors
The uninsulated garage door is a single layer steel hollow door. It’s the least expensive option, best suited for a detached garage, and is appropriate for a mild climate. Because it can be easily damaged, it wears out faster. All it takes is a hit from a bicycle or stray ball to dent the door. Non-insulated doors are noisier, and less durable due to their construction. The main disadvantage is that they can have a significant effect on your heating and cooling costs.
Insulated Garage Doors
An insulated garage door impacts the comfort of your garage and the price and quality of your door. Is your garage attached to your home? Do you live in an area with extreme temperature changes or harsh weather? Is your garage used for something other than just to park your car? Do you keep pets in your garage? Are you planning to sell your home soon? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the extra layers of steel and insulation makes it a great long term investment.
- Saves energy – Your HVAC won’t have to work as hard to cool your home. Lower energy costs = $ savings.
- Stronger – More resilient door panels are made to last longer and reduce the stress of constant opening and closing.
- Increased durability – Resistant to dents, damage, and warping.
- Quieter – Dampens most of the door’s vibration and quiets outside noise, especially on a busy street.
- Protects your car and belongings better.
R-Value is a measurement for a garage door’s energy efficiency. The higher the R-Value, the better the insulation, and the lower HVAC costs. R-Values depend on the thickness of the door, the material, and the type of insulation, ranging from 6.3 to 20.4. There are two types of garage door insulation.
- Polystyrene (styrofoam) is placed into the garage panels. While not an exact fit, it’s still effective.
- Polyurethane (spray foam) is sprayed into the door which expands and bonds to the surface. It has a higher R-Value and is best if your garage door is the primary entrance to your home.
Schedule a Free Consultation
You’ll love coming home to a brand-new door from Aladdin® Doors. Call to schedule your free consultation today to see if an insulated or non-insulated garage door is best for you.