The Difference between Non Insulated and Insulated Garage Doors
Most homeowners fail to make the connection between having a non-insulated garage door and the fact that their living space over the garage is the hottest (or coldest) room in the house. When shopping for an insulated garage door, homeowners should consider “R-value,” where the greater the value, the greater its insulation properties. The type of insulation should also be noted, as a solid core is better than loose insulation.
A high-quality steel garage door is built with steel in the front, insulation in the middle and steel on the back. If it has an R-value of 6.5 for a two-car garage will cost about $1,000 including installation. Some insulated garage doors provide an insulation R-value of 10, depending on the model selected, and this is more than twice as much as common polystyrene insulation boards with the same thickness. It’s chemically bonded to each steel section, creating a composite structure with higher strength, greater rigidity, improved dent-resistance and better thermal protection. There’s no industry standard that measures energy savings for insulated garage doors, but it’s a wise investment.
Insulated garage doors actually have a number of benefits beyond its insulating value. They are much quieter than a non-insulated garage door and they are much more resistant to the bumps and dents of everyday living. The sandwiched constructed doors also have a much more appealing look on the inside and are easier to keep clean and maintain. However there are some insulated garage doors that do not have a full interior steel skin and may not offer all the same benefits as a double sided steel door.
If your garage door is not insulated, it could cause the biggest drain of energy in your home, on top of so many other bills to settle. Insulated doors will help to reduce the amount of energy loss from your garage, thus keeping it more comfortable for you if you are working in it. An insulated garage will keep temperatures stable when it is very cold outside.
If your garage is attached to your home, the insulated garage door can help reduce energy loss from exterior walls of the house. If your garage is below another room in your home, energy loss can occur through the ceiling of the garage into the floor of the room above. Older, non-insulated garage doors can allow cold air in the winter and warm air in the summer to enter the house, increasing heating and cooling costs. It can get very cold to the point that water in a jug can freeze up overnight. In your car, the oil gets thicker and the gas line freezes up. Starting your car when it’s cold can cause some problems in the long run. Warm batteries work well and last twice as long, oil stays thinner, and the gas line doesn’t freeze up. You save on oil changes when you can use the oil in your car longer.
Do seek professional help in choosing the best garage door for your needs. Most likely these professionals will recommend getting it insulated, because you can benefit from it in the long run.