Garage Doors that are Energy Efficient Are Becoming More Common

Garage doors account for more than 30% of a home’s exterior. It’s a large opening where heat can escape from. And with heating bills on the rise, anything a homeowner can do to save is helpful. Installing garage doors with insulation is a great way to save energy.

Look for the Following Qualities in Insulated Garage Doors:

• The higher R-value the better. Make sure when comparing R-values that you find out what the manufacturer is basing it on – their overall door or the center of a panel? You want to be comparing apples to apples.
• Steel doors with Polyurethane Foam Insulation injected inside have the highest insulation value.
• Garage doors with weather seals between the sections.
• Bottom seal to keep drafts out.

How do you know if a steel door is a quality door?

• By its thickness as well as the thickness of its cladding
• Premium steel door is 2 inches thick, filled with insulation and clad in 24-gauge steel
• A less expensive steel door is thinner and made of 28-gauge steel
• A quality steel door also has weather-stripping
• Best made garage doors have a full-width vinyl bubble weather-stripping along the bottom edge of the door that conforms to the floor. Also have a vinyl top cap, weather seals between each section, and rigid vinyl end caps along the sides of door

What to do if you Have a “Bonus Room” Over the Garage

• Really try to plan and budget for installing an insulated garage door.
• Noise consideration:
  • Opt for nylon rollers versus steel rollers to cut down on noise
  • Aluminum door to reduce the noise because they are lightweight
  • Garage door openers with belt-driven drive rather than chain-drives are quieter. Screw-driven with plastic tracks also cut down on noise.