The garage door you choose makes a huge difference to your home in many ways. It’s one of the first things people will notice about your home’s design, and a quality garage door immediately adds to the overall value of your home.
More importantly, it’s one of the most frequently used pieces of moving equipment in your home. It can completely throw off your day if your door suddenly doesn’t work or has other issues. One of the most valuable additions to a garage door is insulation. Insulating a garage door can offer you many benefits. If you want a warm, energy-efficient home, you won’t want to pass on getting an insulated garage door.
What Is an Insulated Garage Door?
An insulated door better withstands the elements thanks to a layer of insulating material attached to the door. We call a non-insulated garage door a single-layer door, because it has only one layer of material with no insulation. Insulated doors come as double-layer and triple-layer doors. A double-layer garage door will have padding on the inner face of the garage door. With a bit more power to resist heat flow, a triple-layer door will have insulation between two layers of garage door material.
There are two basic types of garage door insulation.
- Polystyrene insulation: This less expensive method involves installing a stiff board of padding that will sit flush against the inside surface of the garage door.
- Polyurethane insulation: This method has twice the insulating power of polystyrene insulation. It involves spraying a binding foam between two layers of garage door material.
The 5 Greatest Advantages of Insulated Garage Doors vs. Non-Insulated Ones
Does insulating a garage door make a difference? Even though the benefits of these doors are mostly functional and work to improve your way of life, you can find insulated garage doors in almost any size, design and material. So, you’re sure to find an attractive door to complement your home. Once your installation is in place, you’ll notice many improvements.
Warmth and Convenience
Many people use their garages for more than just a storage and car parking area. You might work out there or use it for arts and crafts or other hobbies. Even if you don’t, you still need to move groceries, children, pets and other family members through the garage daily. You can keep the buffer zone between your home and the outdoors a lot warmer by taking steps to avoid heat loss. One of the top ways you can do this is to choose an insulated garage door.
Summer Weather Comfort
An insulated garage door also keeps warm air out in warmer temperatures. For garages hit by direct sunlight, insulated doors keep your garage cool and comfortable all season long. You’ll pay less for air conditioning because your home won’t let in nearly as much hot air.
Energy Efficiency
The additional warmth in your garage from an insulated door, in turn, creates a more energy-efficient home. Few people know that garages have different construction standards than the rest of the house. They are usually one of the least energy-efficient spaces because of gaps and air leakage.
Many people don’t consider how the air temperature in their garage can affect the rest of the house. A garage usually connects to a high-traffic area of your home, such as a hallway or kitchen. They also often have rooms directly above them.
So, cold air in your garage can draw heat away from the rest of your house. Warm air in your garage can also make it harder to cool your home during hot weather. This air leakage can cause your heating and cooling system to run extra hard. Choosing an insulated garage door will increase temperatures in your home during the winter and lower them in the summer, saving energy and money.
Another plus: When your heater doesn’t have to work as hard, it will last even longer, saving you money in repairs, too. An insulated door can make a world of difference in your home’s energy efficiency.
Protection of Your Belongings
When your car is in the garage every second you’re not driving it, it’s vital to protect against extreme highs and lows in temperature. Cold weather conditions affect your car’s tire pressure, fluids, battery life, wiring systems and more. An insulated garage door can extend the life of your car and keep it running smoothly when it might otherwise break down. Paint, fertilizers, motor oil and cleaning supplies also stay in good condition longer without exposure to the elements.
Insulated doors can also prevent moisture buildup in your garage. A drier garage has less mold, so it’s safer to store clothing and paper items such as photographs. Although we don’t recommend your garage for long-term storage, an insulated door can create a temporary storage area for delicate belongings.
No matter what you keep in the garage, it’ll be better off.
Long-Lasting Durability
Dents and other damage to the surface of your garage door caused by children, pets, cars, inclement weather or other equipment can decrease your home’s curb appeal and even cause the door to malfunction. One of the benefits of an insulated garage door is reinforcement. Because insulated garage doors usually consist of several layers of steel, aluminum and insulation, they’re more durable and resistant to all forms of damage. Their ability to keep it warmer inside the garage also protects the opener, spring and other components, saving you maintenance costs.
Peace and Quiet
Insulated doors usually make a lot less noise for several reasons, which can be a crucial factor if you have early or late work hours and don’t want to disturb those sleeping around you. The insulation works to dampen vibration along the door. You’ll notice your door opens and closes much more quietly. Insulation also keeps out outside noise when the garage door is closed. So, even when the door is not in use, your home will be a peaceful oasis. The insulation of your garage door will soften neighborhood sounds such as cars driving by and dogs barking.
If you notice your door making unusual sounds, you should check the lubrication on hinges, springs, tracks and other components and look for damage to any part of the door to make sure you don’t need repairs.
Insulated vs. Non-Insulated Garage Doors
Are insulated garage doors worth it? Let’s take a look at the numbers for insulated versus non-insulated garage doors.
- Sound isolation: An insulated garage door can be three times quieter than a non-insulated garage door.
- Temperature: For one homeowner with a non-insulated wood door, the average temperature inside the garage during cold weather was 21 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. That same garage with an insulated garage door averaged 49 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, creating a difference of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. The best-rated insulated garage doors can increase the temperature in your garage by anywhere from 10 to 50 degrees.
So, insulating a garage door makes a big difference. You’ll start noticing it immediately once you make the switch.
Choose Quality Overhead Door for Your Insulated Residential Garage Door Installation
Does an insulated garage door make a difference? If you’ve read this guide, you know the answer is yes. When you’re ready to take advantage of all the benefits of insulating a garage, whether you’re building a new home or just want a door replacement, Quality Overhead Door can provide excellent customer service and quality products with reliable warranties. We’re an authorized dealer for Clopay®, CHI, Wayne Dalton and LiftMaster, and our several awards will back up our abilities.
We service just about any brand of garage door, so no matter what your needs are, you can count on us to get the job done right.
We’ve been doing this throughout Southwest Michigan and Northwest Ohio for a long time, servicing Toledo since 1982. Our professionals aren’t subcontractors — they are well-trained, long-term employees. We have a vast selection of different products for you to choose from in garage doors and openers as well as other household products.
No matter what type of insulated garage door you want to have installed in your home, you’ll be able to trust Quality Overhead Door. Contact us for a free estimate on your new garage door installation.
Additional Resources On Types of Insulated Garage Doors:
- Garage Door Insulation Buying Guide for Homeowners in Ohio and Michigan
- Best Insulated Garage Doors
- Insulation and Wood Garage Doors
- What is Garage Door R-Value?