Homeowners know how important insulation is to keep a house comfortable. Without adequate insulation, it would be difficult, if not downright impossible, for a home to maintain its heat in the winter or its cool air in the summer.

At Ponderosa Garage Doors, we also understand the importance of having insulated garage doors, which may be something that not many homeowners consider. But if a garage is connected to the rest of the home, installing insulated garage doors may reduce heating and cooling costs.

Insulated doors do more than save money on utility bills, though. Insulation also dampens noise from the street, reduces the sound of the door opening and closing, and makes the door stronger and more resistant to thieves.

If you are considering a garage door replacement, this can be an affordable home improvement project that can add value and curb appeal to your house. To make your garage door even more energy-efficient, many homeowners are choosing to install an insulated garage door. Here are some additional reasons to consider insulating your garage door.

5 Reasons to Insulate Your Garage Door

Durability

An insulated garage door is constructed differently from traditional single-layer garage doors, making them durable and able to withstand a variety of elements and use. Insulated doors are generally made with aluminum or steel frames and are designed to be lightweight.

Energy savings

Saving energy is not only great for the environment, but for your bank account. Garages are often one of the least energy-efficient areas of your home, but if you can insulate your garage door, it can help reduce the amount of air leakage that occurs.  This, in turn, reduces energy waste and reduces your utility bill.

Quiet

Insulation creates a sound barrier that allows for supreme peace and quiet. If your current garage door makes a lot of noise as it opens and closes, this can be annoying, especially if the garage backs up to a bedroom or living room inside. The insulation can diminish vibration from the door and reduce noise from outside of the door, too.

Comfort

An insulated garage door will help keep the temperatures inside the garage comfortable, meaning you can use it for activities or as a workspace.

Protection

Your vehicle and other belongings are likely stored in the garage and with extreme weather conditions, an insulated garage door can help control temperatures. That means you can prolong the life of your vehicle as well as other items in the garage that you store there for safekeeping.

Still, deciding to insulate a garage door isn’t necessarily — if you’ll pardon the expression — an open-and-shut case. There are several things to consider. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a shortlist of things to think about.

4 tips for insulating a garage door

1. Make sure insulation doesn’t interfere with the functioning of the garage door.
Most home garage doors get heavy use. In order to operate at maximum efficiency for many years, they need to open and close smoothly. Home insulation, such as spray foam or batts, works well when added to walls but isn’t ideal for garage doors. Furthermore, retrofitting a garage door with insulation can over time cause the material to flake and pull apart during normal garage door operation. Finally, adding weight to a door may strain an automatic opener’s capabilities. In any case, insulation will wear out and the owner will need to replace it.

2. Don’t judge a door by its thickness.
A better choice than aftermarket add-ons is to install a garage door that is already insulated. A thick, heavy door isn’t necessarily more efficient at preventing heat loss. Polyurethane, often used in combination with steel, is thin and lightweight. It’s also helpful to remember that insulation is rated by its R-value. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation. Thus, extreme cold or hot climates would require a higher R-Value than milder climates.

3. Insulate the rest of the garage.
An insulated garage door will be much less effective if the garage itself is not insulated. If a homeowner is willing to invest in an insulated garage door, it’s wise to consider insulating the garage floor, walls, and ceiling, as well. An insulated ceiling, in particular, will reduce energy loss especially if there’s a room directly above the garage. A homeowner should check both interior and exterior walls for insulation, adding more if and where necessary. The better able homeowners are at controlling temperature fluctuations in the garage, the better able they’ll be at maintaining the temperatures within adjoining spaces.

4. Decide if it’s necessary to insulate a garage door
Not every home needs an insulated garage door. If the home’s temperature remains comfortable year-round for its occupants, then it’s unlikely that the addition of garage door insulation will make much difference. However, if general heat loss seems to trace back to a drafty garage and a poorly insulated garage door, Ponderosa can help. Our friendly and experienced techs will evaluate the garage and advise homeowners as to whether an insulated garage door might help.

Ponderosa Garage Doors

At Ponderosa, we sell, service, and install garage doors and garage door openers. We also dismantle, replace and repair existing garage doors. Whether you have a residential or a commercial need, Ponderosa has the garage door solutions you need.

Plus, all our work comes with the “Ponderosa Promise,” our lifetime warranty on both material and workmanship. If something goes wrong, we’ll make it right — guaranteed!

Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors for a Get Started or to schedule a home visit.