If you’re in the market for a garage door, consider whether you want a door with or without insulation. Many people associate insulation with heat — thick layers of material that prevent heated air from escaping. This addition to your garage door saves energy and lowers those skyrocketing monthly energy bills.
As a homeowner in Southeast Florida, you might believe insulation offers little value and will only produce an unnecessary expense. After all, the weather remains hot and humid for most of the year, so what benefit can you derive from adding insulation to your home? Explore the reasons why you should insulate your garage door below.
What Is Garage Door Insulation and Why Is It Important?
Garage door insulation goes between the panels of your garage door and guards the garage against heat and sound transfer. While you may know that insulation keeps a home warm in the winter, it also protects from the heat. If you’ve walked from your air-conditioned home into your attached garage on a sweltering, sticky Florida morning, you know the garage is usually the hottest area of your property.
An insulated garage door helps fix this issue by acting as a buffer against the hot air outside. Since it keeps the garage cooler throughout the year, less hot air will enter your home. As a result, you may save money on your energy bills because your air conditioner won’t use as much effort to cool your living space.
Garages typically aren’t manufactured to the same standards as the rest of your property. The walls can have cracks and crevices that allow air to seep into your home’s living space. By helping to create cooler air inside the garage, an insulated door reduces the indoor air temperature of the whole house.
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Other Reasons to Consider an Insulated Door in Southeast Florida
While an insulated door can create a more comfortable garage, it can also deliver several additional benefits:
- Reduced energy bills: Warm air that enters your home from the garage makes your A/C work harder. Garage door insulation lowers the interior temperature to save energy and reduce energy costs.
- Preserving your belongings: Most homes in Florida don’t have basements, and attics are usually the size of crawlspaces. Garages become the primary storage area. Extreme heat can damage some items stored in garages, but insulation creates a cooler temperature to minimize risk.
- Quieter operation: Many homeowners find a rattling garage door to be annoying. Insulation acts as a sound barrier that reduces the noise when the door opens and closes.
- Increased durability: An insulated garage door handles stress much better than a traditional one. You’ll have better protection from the severe storms that frequently rock the region and any impact from things such as basketballs and even minor vehicle collisions.
Types of Garage Door Insulation
Depending on the garage door material, there are different insulation methods you can use. These are two of the most common options for residential garage doors:
- Polystyrene:Polystyrene is a synthetic material that comes as panels you place between steel layers of your garage door. It’s a waterproof and budget-friendly insulation method that you can get customized to fit any garage door size, type or shape. You may see aftermarket insulation kits made from polystyrene at a local home improvement store. While this material makes your door quieter and more efficient, it’s not as energy efficient as polyurethane insulation.
- Polyurethane: Polyurethane is thicker than polystyrene, so it’s better at controlling the temperature and sound in your home. Garage door manufacturers inject this spray foam insulation between the two layers of steel as it expands to fill every part of the door. Since the foam bonds to the frame, it makes the door more sturdy and helps prevent dents. Keep in mind that it comes at a higher price than polystyrene.
What Is Insulation R-Value and Why Is It Important?
R-value measures an insulation material’s ability to slow down heat transfer, usually ranging from 6.3 to 20.4. A garage door with a high R-value means that it’s more effective at insulating your living space from drafts leaking out of your garage door, though it’ll increase how much your garage door costs. As you shop for your steel, wood or composite garage door, look for a product with a higher R-value based on your desired thickness and required energy efficiency for your product.
It’s important to think about your insulated garage door’s R-value as you shop for the right fit for your home. The best R-value for your residential garage door depends on your home’s HVAC system and the climate of your local area. Discuss your options with a professional to determine a garage door with a suitable R-value for your property.
Contact The Doorman to Learn More About the Benefits of Garage Door Insulation
The Doorman of Southeast Florida can provide your home with an insulated garage door from Clopay® that will create a more comfortable garage and boost your home’s curb appeal. We also have the expertise to help you choose the right product for your needs and budget. Contact us to learn more today.
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