Guide to Insulated Garage Doors

For many homeowners, the garage is one of the primary entrances to the home. It is often also the largest entrance on your home’s exterior. Because of this, the garage can be one of the most significant problem areas for heat loss in your home, impacting your home’s energy efficiency.

One of the best ways to prevent heat loss and improve your home's energy efficiency is to upgrade to an insulated garage door. Insulated garage doors can provide several other benefits, such as quieter operation and increased overall door strength and durability. 

5 Benefits of Garage Door Insulation

The benefits of installing an insulated garage door are numerous. Expect the following advantages when you install one in your home:

1. Money Savings

An insulated garage door prevents heat from escaping through your garage in the winter, meaning it may require less energy to heat your home. In warmer months and climates, insulation staves off any excess warm air from entering your garage, meaning lower cooling costs and more savings!

2. Enhanced Comfort

Because many garages are attached to the rest of the home, they can significantly impact your home’s overall comfort. For example, many garages lead into a high-traffic area of your home, such as a hallway or kitchen, making it easy for cold winter air to spread as it enters through your garage. Choosing a garage door with insulation minimizes the heat loss that occurs even while your garage door remains closed.

Adding an insulated garage door can translate to increased comfort while spending time in your garage and home. Want to see the impact for yourself? One homeowner put their new Clopay® insulated garage door to the test to see firsthand the difference insulation can make. In the figures below, the homeowner compared their old non-insulated garage door to a door with Clopay® Intellicore® insulation.

3. More Noise Control

Insulation also means your garage door operation will operate more quietly.

While you can sometimes reduce garage door noise through regular maintenance, an insulated door will dampen sound more than a non-insulated door. Insulation can also reduce outside noise. The figures below represent the difference in decibel levels between a non-insulated garage door and a residential garage door with Clopay® Intellicore® Insulation technology.

4. Better Protection

An insulated garage door can better protect your car and other belongings from extreme temperatures, moisture and pest infestations. Freezing temperatures can significantly impact your vehicle, while a lack of moisture control can lead to mold and mildew growth when it gets humid and hot outside.

5. Improved Durability

You'd be surprised to learn how much damage garage doors can endure, whether from powerful weather events or simply due to the wear and tear of raising and lowering them. It will also fare easier in warmer temperatures, meaning less warping for any metal components and a prolonged life span. 

Before Clopay® Insulated Garage Door

With Clopay® Intellicore® Insulated Garage Door

Better Sound Isolation

Insulation also reduces means your garage door operation will be quieter. The figures below represent the difference in decibel levels between a non-insulated garage door and a residential garage door with Clopay® Intellicore® Insulation technology.

Comparing Insulated Garage Doors

So, what is an insulated garage door and what should you look for before deciding on one? If you are shopping for a garage door with insulation, you may see a few different numbers provided that measure the effectiveness of the insulation. Here is a brief definition of each:

R-Value

R-value, or the ability to slow heat transmission, is the most widely used measurement for a garage door’s energy efficiency. A higher R-value means slower heat transmission, which ensures less cold air entering your garage in the winter and less heat in the summer. When it comes to choosing the best insulated garage doors, the higher R-value, the better!

Clopay® uses door section R-values for our garage door insulation testing, per the Door and Access Manufacturers Association guidelines provided in TDS-163. Clopay garage door R-values range from 6.3 to 20.4. These values depend on the door’s material, thickness and type of insulation. See each Collection or sell sheet for options.

U-Factor

Though not used as often as R-value, U-factor is another number you may see when shopping for a garage door. U-factor represents the flow of heat through a material, meaning the lower the U-factor, the better the door's insulation. Because not all residential garage door manufacturers use this factor, Clopay’s energy efficiency calculations currently focus on R-value instead.

Polystyrene vs. Polyurethane Garage Door Insulation

Polystyrene and polyurethane are the two most common types of garage door insulation. Knowing the difference between the two is necessary to compare doors and fully understand which is best for your home.

Browse Our Insulated Garage Doors Today

The best insulated garage doors are the ones that enhance your comfort and provide optimal energy efficiency. When you're ready to make the upgrade, choose Clopay® for your insulated garage door.

Clopay® provides a wide selection of garage doors that will transform your home's curb appeal and protect your family and belongings. With more design and insulation options than anyone in the industry, you're sure to find an attractive, energy-efficient garage door that will last for years to come.

When you're ready to upgrade, browse our garage doors today!