If you’re a homeowner in southeast Florida, you probably know the garage can be a hot and uncomfortable place. The heat and humidity can affect your home’s energy efficiency and damage the items you store in the garage. Prolonged wear and tear could even shorten your garage door’s life span.
Installing a garage door containing insulation is an excellent way to mitigate these factors. Insulation acts as a barrier between the hot outside air and cooler inside air, regulating your garage’s temperature throughout the year.
What Are the Different Types of Insulation?
While some garage doors contain versions of fiberglass insulation in other areas of your home, they’re not necessarily the best choice for moisture protection.
Most garage door insulation consists of either polystyrene or polyurethane. These materials are polymers, which are plastic substances featuring longer molecule chains.
Polystyrene Insulation
Polystyrene insulation is available as panels designed for placement between the door’s steel layers. The material is waterproof, helping to protect against heavy Florida rains. The panels are also easy to customize — they can fit virtually any garage door product, making polystyrene insulation an excellent choice for aftermarket projects. Many homeowners opt for polystyrene due to its lower cost and relatively simple installation.
Polyurethane Insulation
Polyurethane offers a thicker insulation alternative to polystyrene. The installation process entails injecting a spray foam between the two steel layers. The foam then expands to fill all areas of the door. It bonds to the frame, resulting in a sturdier layer of insulation that protects against dents and other damage.
While polyurethane is generally more expensive than polystyrene, its thicker and denser composition provides several advantages for homeowners. It lowers utility costs by making the door more energy efficient, and it adds support and rigidity to the garage’s structure. The door will also operate more quietly with less shaking and vibrating.
Choosing Between Polystyrene and Polyurethane Insulation
Are you trying to decide which insulation type is better for your situation? If you’re like many homeowners, the cost is an important factor. If you want basic protection and aren’t worried about noise or energy efficiency, polystyrene insulation will likely meet your needs. It may also be the more practical option if you have an irregularly shaped door requiring a custom fit.
Conversely, selecting polyurethane insulation makes sense if you spend a lot of time in the garage — for example, you might use some or all of the space as a workshop or home office. Extra insulation makes a difference when a cooler, more comfortable environment is a must. Installing polystyrene insulation will also help make a more significant dent in your utility bills. The enhanced sound-dampening properties can be an additional advantage if you want a quieter garage environment.
Contact Us for Insulated Garage Doors in Southeast Florida
The Doorman is your one-stop headquarters for high-quality insulated garage doors from Clopay®. These advanced products contain Intellicore®, a proprietary insulating material formulated to improve comfort, enhance door strength and lower energy costs. Beyond that, you’ll love the way your new door looks on your home.
Contact us to learn more about the different types of insulation and request an estimate today.
