Did you know that the temperature of an insulated garage can be almost double the outside temperature?
A recent study found that when the temperature outside is 20°F, a garage with a non-insulated door can be at 30°F.
On the other hand, in a garage with insulated doors, the temperature is around 42°F.
This 12° difference in temperature can make a big difference to the well-being of your car and the size of your utility bills.
Plus, an insulated garage door is also more secure and creates much less noise, say experts at J & E Garage Door, specialists in garage door repair in Hoffman Estates.
After reading all this, you might decide to get an insulated door for your garage as well. But when you go out to buy one, you might encounter terms and choices that may leave you confused. So, here’s a guide to what you should know before buying insulated garage doors.
1 Layer, 2 Layer, 3 Layer?
There are generally 3 types of garage doors: 1 layer, 2 layer, and 3 layer. One-Layer garage doors are just a single sheet of metal and have no insulation at all. The 2-layer doors are the same as 1 layer, but with added insulation. You would be able to see the exposed insulation in these doors. Three-layer doors have insulation sandwiched between two sheets of steel. These are much more long-lasting than the other two types of doors.
Types of Insulation Materials
The commonly used materials for insulation in garage doors are:
· Polyurethane
Polyurethane is sprayed on the garage doors. The sprayed material then expands and binds into the surface. Upon expanding, polyurethane fills all the holes and crevices. This helps in producing a high level of temperature control and sound insulation. The strength of the door is also increased due to this. They also have a greater R-value than many of the other insulation materials. If you want polyurethane insulation, you can get it from the best garage door opener and installation service providers in Hoffman Estates.
· Polystyrene
Another commonly used insulation in garage doors in polystyrene. Expanded panels of polystyrene are sandwiched between two layers of metal, to provide insulation. Since entire panels are used, there can be spaces where air can remain. This means that they are not as good at temperature control as polyurethane. But their advantage is that they are usually more affordable than their foam sprayed counterparts.
· Reflective Foil
The temperature of the garage can also be regulated by lining the garage door with a reflective foil. They can also be sandwiched between layers of polyurethane foam to increase the insulation. They do not have an inherent R-value but can protect against cold or heat.
Commonly Used Terms
You might see and hear some terms while choosing insulated garage doors. Here’s what they mean:
· R-Value
R-value is the ability of a material to resist the transfer of heat. When it comes to insulating materials, the higher the R-value, the better.
· U-Value
This value is generally used for windows. It signifies how easily a material can transfer heat. Here, the lower, the better.
When getting your garage door insulated, it is best to seek the services of experienced garage door opener and installation providers, such as J & E Garage Door in Hoffman Estates.