Why Insulate Your Garage Door?

Garage door insulation is an important part of home ownership. An insulated garage will provide energy efficiency for your entire home, lowering your energy bills. It's an earth-friendly measure. 

Additionally, an energy-efficient garage door will promote a more comfortable environment in your home. It will fortify your garage door to protect your stored items. This article will tell you all you need to know about garage door insulation to ensure you can enjoy its benefits. 

Types of Garage Door Insulation Materials

There are several garage door insulation materials to choose from. Your choices include: 

• Polystyrene Foam: Alongside polyurethane foam, polystyrene is one of the most popular garage door insulation materials. It is available as foam panels cut to size with a vinyl backing and sandwiched into your garage door. R-values typically range from 4.23 to 6.65, depending on thickness. 
• Polyurethane Foam: Polyurethane foam is more expensive than polystyrene foam due to its higher R-value rating and steel backing. It is only recommended for homes and businesses exposed to extreme weather conditions. 
• Reflective Insulation: Reflective insulation blocks most radiant energy transmitted into a garage door interior. It is better quality than polyurethane but may be more expensive and harder to install. 
• Fiberglass Insulation: Fiberglass is less expensive than polystyrene but less energy efficient. 

Tips for Enhancing Energy Efficiency

You should take several steps when you insulate garage doors to improve energy efficiency. They include: 

Weatherstripping the Edges of the Garage Door

Weatherstripping will seal air leaks, improve energy efficiency, and prevent pests from invading your home. There are several ways to weatherstrip your garage. You can install weather stripping into the wood doorstop or use v-shaped panel weatherstripping to seal gaps between the panels. 

New weatherstripping comes in rolls that can be cut to the appropriate length and installed with nails or screws. Ensure the flange of the weatherstripping is pressed against the door to create a reliable seal. 

Insulating the Garage Walls and Ceiling

Insulating garage walls and ceilings is a multi-step process. First, clear the walls. Then, look for cracks and gaps to determine which areas require insulation. 

Staple the foam into the wall studs. Then, cover the installation with drywall. 

Garage door ceilings and walls require different insulation methods. Insulate garage ceilings with thick R-40 insulation. Cut insulation to fit between rafters. Cover the entire ceiling, ensuring there are no gaps. 

Insulating garage doors will vary depending on the materials used. For a steel door, you must cram the insulation into the frames or fit it around them. 

Secure the insulation in the recesses between the door frames if you have a wood door. Foam board is a good choice for flat garage doors. 

Installing a Bottom Seal

A bottom seal is a long strip of rubber attached to the garage door's bottom edge. It keeps out water, dirt, pests, and cold air. If you see light, debris, or water coming through your bottom seal, it’s time for a replacement.

The bottom seal type will vary depending on your garage door material. Wood doors typically have a strip-style seal that is angled to seal the area from the door to the floor. Metal doors have a gasket that slides into small tracks on an aluminum channel for installation. 

Using a Garage Door Threshold Seal

A threshold seal serves a similar purpose to a bottom seal, but it’s attached to the garage door floor rather than the bottom of the garage door. It blocks surface water from garage doors at the bottom of a sloping driveway and can also fill gaps on the garage door floor. 

Vinyl thresholds may be more durable than bottom seals. They are installed with an adhesive that is usually included in the package. 

Remember that thresholds are just as effective in keeping water in as they are at keeping water out. This could be problematic if you have water inside your garage. 

Conclusion

Insulating garage doors boosts energy efficiency, lowering energy bills and helping save the earth. It also protects your belongings and creates a more comfortable environment inside your garage. 

Your garage door insulation will only be as good as the installation techniques and material quality. You can DIY the project, but a professional service can give you better, longer-lasting results and save you time and money in the long run. 

Raynor Door Authority provides garage door insulation you can trust. We are known for our extensive experience and community-focused service. We also offer parts and repairs around the clock. 

Contact us for garage door insulation that withstands the test of time.