When choosing a new garage door for your home, you want a high-quality, durable option that will protect your vehicles and stored belongings. However, you also want to consider insulation. A well-insulated garage prevents energy loss by regulating temperatures, helping you avoid wasting money on excess energy use — but that’s not the only advantage.

Does an insulated garage door make a difference? Learn all about insulated garage doors, how they work and their benefits here.

What Is an Insulated Garage Door?

An insulated garage door is reinforced with material that prevents outside air from entering your garage, and vice versa. These types of doors help ensure cold air stays outside in the winter, so your garage is warm, and hot air doesn’t enter in the summer, so your garage is cool. In comparison, standard garage doors without insulation may have sections that allow air to enter or escape.

Insulation and R-Value

The resistance value (R-value) of garage door insulation relates to the thickness of the insulation and its ability to combat heat flow. The R-value measures the heat conductivity of the insulated material.

Different materials have varying R-values ranging from low to high. The higher the R-value, the better the garage is protected from heat transference. The thickness of the R-value in inches determines how well it insulates. For example, polyurethane spray foam has an R-value of six per inch, an R-value of 12 per two inches, an R-value of 24 per four inches and an R-value of 44 per eight inches.

Garage doors for detached and attached garages have different R-value applications:

• Detached garages: Since they’re not part of the home, detached garages don’t need heavy insulation. Lower R-values like four and six should be sufficient.
• Attached garages: An R-value between 12 and 16 works well with attached garages, although higher values will provide even more protection against heat.

Consulting with a garage door professional can help you better understand R-values and how to choose the right one for your garage door.

Benefits of an Insulated Garage Door

When choosing a new garage door, you should almost always opt for an insulated garage door, especially if you have an attached garage. Why? Here are the main pros of insulated garage doors:

1. Energy-Saving Potential

Installing an insulated garage door helps control the temperature so surrounding rooms don’t experience hot and cold spots due to temperature fluctuations. With fair and even temperature distribution in the garage and adjoining rooms, there is a reduced need to use your heating and cooling system in those spaces. As a result, you can save on your energy bill.

2. Noise Reduction

Do you use your garage as a work area? Installing an insulated door can help create a quieter environment in rooms near your garage, as the insulation creates a sound barrier. This ability also means outdoor noise will be muffled. As a result, the noise of power tools and other equipment you might use in your garage won’t be as loud to others nearby.

3. Increased Durability

Garage doors are sturdier and more durable with added insulation. Depending on the type of insulation, it provides an extra layer of cushioning that supports the door against wind and other forces. You can rely on your insulated garage door to stand up against many kinds of weather and last for years to come, providing you with a great return on investment.

4. Improved Storage Space

Any valuables you’re storing in your garage are better protected when your garage door is insulated. It helps keep cold air out, which can damage fragile items, and helps limit humidity, which can cause certain materials to rust. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can continue storing your belongings without worrying about damage due to temperature fluctuations.

5. More Comfortable for Alternative Uses

If you’ve converted your garage into a hobby room, you’ll enjoy the benefits an insulated door offers. By ensuring your garage stays warm and cool according to the seasons, you’ll maintain a comfortable atmosphere for your work area all year. Those who work on art in this area can enjoy a regulated environment to store their pieces.

Types of Insulated Garage Door Materials

There are two main types of garage door insulation — polystyrene and polyurethane.

Polyurethane Insulation

This insulation material is foam-based and offers more protection and energy efficiency. The polyurethane foam is inserted between the garage door’s panels behind the door on the inside. The injected foam fills the surface, covering all cracks and openings.

Polyurethane insulation provides improved durability due to the foam’s consistency, as it expands and contracts to accommodate the door’s mobility. It also provides better protection against dents and impact. Most garage door manufacturers prefer using this foam for insulation because of its numerous benefits for residential and commercial properties. 

Polystyrene Insulation

Polystyrene is less expensive but offers less protection than polyurethane insulation. A garage insulated with polystyrene consists of polystyrene sheets precut to fit into the garage door panels. This material is lightweight and easy to install, but the drawback is that it doesn’t cover tiny holes and gaps like polyurethane foam, so air can still pass through.

Polystyrene insulation’s advantages include being waterproof and preventing leaks during heavy rainfall. It also prevents mildew from forming. The sheets come in various R-value thicknesses, though they’re ideal for homeowners in warmer climates because they can’t keep cold air out as well as polyurethane insulation.

Call Oregon City Garage Door for an Insulated Garage Door Quote

Oregon City Garage Door has an extensive range of garage doors and services for every requirement. Whether you need your current door repaired or serviced, or you want to upgrade to a new insulated door, our professional, efficient and friendly technicians are ready to help. 

We’ve served Portland and the surrounding areas since 1992 and have established ourselves as reputable, reliable and trustworthy in the field. Our loyal clients have supported us for years — we’re eager to welcome you to the family!

Let’s discuss your garage door needs. Call us at (503) 662-7665 or request an estimate through our contact form.