As long as your garage door is functioning, you have nothing to worry about, right? Wrong! Your garage door does more than ensure that your home and properties are safe from unknown entities. Your garage door also helps protect your home from unpredictable weather. Its goal is to keep your garage and home cool when it is extremely hot and humid outside and vice versa. This is why garage door installers always recommend that homeowners insulate their garage doors.

An insulated garage door usually has two layers of whatever the primary material is, plus a layer of insulation between them. Non-insulated designs or models have only one panel of wood or metal. Insulated garage doors are thicker, sturdier, and able to withstand extreme temperatures. 

Types of Insulated Garage Doors 

There are four types of insulated garage doors: steel, aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. 

Steel insulated garage doors are made using faux wood cladding and other composite materials. An aluminum insulated garage door is lightweight, rust and corrosion-resistant, and durable. It has an extra layer that provides additional protection against dents. 

The wood type is favored by homeowners who want natural-looking insulated garage doors. These doors are made of redwood, hemlock, or cedar. Wood insulated garage doors have two layers of wood and a layer of insulation, or one layer of wood plus a layer of veneer. Their rich and warm looks can make your garage and home more aesthetically pleasing. 

Fiberglass insulated garage doors are created using a steel frame and fiberglass sheeting (two layers). They are lightweight but can easily get damaged. Additionally, they are made to look like wood.    

Regardless of type, an insulated garage door is measured through its R-Value. If it possesses a high R-Value, it allows slower transmission of heat and is, therefore, more energy-efficient.

Benefits of Using Insulated Garage Doors 

Homeowners who have been using insulated garage doors for years enjoy many benefits. Some of these advantages include heat loss reduction, protection from outside weather, and increased energy efficiency. 

Here are the reasons why homeowners should insulate their garage doors. 

Energy Efficient (Better Temperature Control) 

Insulated garage doors increase energy efficiency because the indoor temperature is more consistent and will not fluctuate. If it’s the summer season, the heat won’t penetrate your garage because of the insulation. During the winter season, the insulation will protect your garage from the freezing cold. 

You do not have to open the garage doors because it’s too hot in the summer months or too humid in winter (as you are cooped up indoors). Also, you do not have to keep raising or lowering the thermostat in your home. Thus, you save on energy consumption and bills. 

The Department of Energy suggests that homeowners insulate not only their garage doors and walls but also the home’s foundation and roof. 

Durability 

As mentioned above, insulated garage doors have several layers of the chosen material (steel, wood, fiberglass, or aluminum). Thus, they are rust-resistant and more durable than the non-insulated designs. Insulated garage doors also require very minimal maintenance. Likewise, you do not have to keep replacing them only a few months after use. 

More Functional 

Insulated doors make your garage more homey and comfortable. You can use some of the space and turn it into something functional. For example, you can turn one corner into an area for entertaining friends and visitors. You can put in a small couch, coffee table, and a couple of armchairs. 

You may also want to convert the extra space into your living area or a small playroom for the kids so you can watch them while you’re working on your car. Another idea would be to build a small workshop space where you can conveniently work on your crafty projects. 

Your garage is cozier and more relaxing because its insulated doors protect it from extreme weather conditions. Temperature is stable, consistent, and comfortable. This makes it more useful and functional. 

Quieter and Lesser Noise Pollution 

Insulated garage doors do not rattle and creak as much as non-insulated doors. The doors are sturdier, steadier, and stronger because of the insulation, so they do not vibrate and create a lot of sounds.

Additionally, your insulated door also blocks off external sounds, such as those coming from outside the garage. The insulation works somewhat like a sound barrier, so sounds or noises are muffled. 

Safer 

Your sturdy, steady, and strong garage door will help protect your home against burglars. The insulation adds an extra layer, which makes your door difficult to destroy and penetrate. Heavy-duty designs are even more challenging to break.

Set up an appointment with an insulated garage door specialist and start making your garage and home safer, cozier, more energy-efficient, and comfortable.

Guest Contributor: Irene Trentham