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How Effective is Garage Door Insulation?

How Effective is Garage Door Insulation

Many do not think about making sure that their garage door is insulated but they make sure the actual garage is.   When you insulate your garage door you are helping your air conditioner and furnace to not overwork. 

In today’s market, you can find insulated and non-insulated garage doors.  If the garage door you have now is non-insulated, there are ways you can change that too insulated.  Read on to see how effective an insulated garage can be and how to insulate it better.

How Effective is Garage Door Insulation?

Is it really important to insulate your garage doors?  Is it worth the cost? 

The answer is yes but how effective will depend on a few different factors:

  • Climate:  The climate where you live makes some garage door insulation more effective than others.  For example, if you live in frigidly cold temperatures, you will need more intensive insulation.
  • Type:  Polyurethane and polystyrene are good insulations but the first type is denser and is better at maintaining a constant indoor temperature and reducing sound pollution.
  • Rest of the garage:  If the rest of your garage has structural issues and gaps, then you will not notice a significant change if your garage door is insulated or not.  Make sure that your entire garage is insulated to get the most effectiveness out of your insulated garage door.

Why is Insulating Garage Doors Important

Insulating your garage door is important because it will add an extra layer of protection and durability to the door. 

When the garage door is well insulated, it will keep the temperature in the room at a constant rate to help you save money on your energy bills. 

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It can also help to protect the valuables in the garage from break-ins and inclement weather.

Pros of Insulating Garage Doors

In addition to being effective, there are also some pros you can get from installing insulation in your garage door.

  • Noise reduction:  If you use your garage as a place to work-out or for a workshop it can become quite noisy.  The insulation will help to reduce noise pollution, from both inside and outside your garage.  This is good if you are a musician and you and your band use the garage to practice.  It will not mask the noise entirely but help reduce it.
  • Energy-efficient:  It is recommended by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) that when it comes to insulation, you should insulate everything, from the roof to the door to the foundation.  This will help on energy savings
  • Durability:  Garage doors are designed with extra layers of wood, steel, or aluminum protection so they will be durable and stronger than garage doors that are not insulated.  They also will be less likely to warp, dent, or rust.  This type of durability means less maintenance, fewer repairs, or replacements.
  • Safety:  As mentioned, an insulated garage door is much stronger than one that is not so it makes it harder for a burglar to get in through your garage door.
  • Comfort:  When your garage door is insulated, it will help to regulate the amount of hot and cold air escaping from your garage and what comes in.  With a stable temperature, it will make it more comfortable to be in the garage.

Cons of Insulating Garage Doors

  • Cost upfront:  Insulated garage doors are usually more expensive but though they cost more, there are also a lot of pros, especially energy savings.
  • Environmental factors:  Sometimes the extra expense is not feasible.  For example, if you live in a year-round warm temperature it may not be worth the extra expense. 

Types of Garage Door Insulation

Although there are many materials from which you can make an insulated garage door but there are two common ones that are mostly used.

  • Polyurethane:  This one is a more complex synthetic polymer.  It is also the more expensive of the two.  The biggest difference is this one is thicker and denser.  This makes it more effective at reducing noise and makes it more structurally sound.  The cost of this type is $200-$500.
  • Polystyrene:  This is a synthetic polymer that is made from Styrofoam.  This type is waterproof and affordable.  It can easily be customized and modified to fit any size garage door.  This type costs $100-$200.

Tips for Choosing the Right Garage Door Insulation

  • For lighter insulation, you should choose either reflective paneling or foam board.  These are good for areas that do not have extreme temperatures.  The one main difference between the two is that the foam board is thicker so it is more effective but it can be more expensive.  You can get either from your home improvement store.
  • For more effective insulation you should consider getting a garage door insulation kit.  They are more expensive and less customizable but more effective.  If you live in an area that gets very cold or hot or you need a lot of installation then you need to use the kit.

Conclusion

  • When you are trying to decide whether to purchase an insulated garage door, weigh out all the pros and cons to see if it is worth it. 
  • With the correct insulated garage door, you will enjoy a comfortable temperature inside your garage to exercise, do projects, or whatever else you use your garage for besides to park your car.
  • You will be able to say on your electric bills.
  • Insulated garage doors can help you reduce power consumption; get the most out of your heating and AC units.
  • You can also install your own insulation in your garage door using a kit and if you do it correctly it will not affect the operation of the garage door opener.
  • Before you use a garage door installation kit or make your own insulation, you need to make sure that you clean your garage door so that the insulation will stick better.

Here is a great garage door insulation that seals well (link to Amazon).