Polyurethane vs. Polystyrene Insulation for Garage Doors
If you want to insulate your overhead garage doors, it’s important to be aware of the options available to you. The most common types of garage door insulation are polyurethane and polystyrene. To help you choose the best material for your garage door, we have examined the advantages of each:
- Polystyrene — The less expensive of the two, polystyrene is a popular choice for insulating overhead garage doors because of its good value and simple installation. It’s manufactured in sheets, and panels are cut and attached to your garage door’s individual sections. It’s also waterproof and comes in various thicknesses. The thickness of your polystyrene will directly affect your insulation factor or R value. Typically, you can count on a rating of R2 per inch up to a value of around R10. If thickness isn’t a limiting factor for you, polystyrene can be a great value for increased garage door insulation.
- Polyurethane — The higher density of polyurethane makes it more expensive, but also a better insulator than polystyrene. In the case of polyurethane for overhead garage door insulation, you can expect R values from approximately R10 up to R17.5. An additional advantage is the extra strength polyurethane insulation adds. Bonded directly to your garage door, it increases stiffness, making it more resistant. It will also make your overhead door more silent when opening and closing, and less susceptible to vibrations and shaking.
How to Choose Between the Two
Before choosing the type of insulation for your garage door, ask yourself a few questions:
- What is my budget for this project? What heating and cooling savings can I expect? Is my garage heated, or will it be a buffer between the outdoors and my home?
- What is my goal in insulating my doors? Is it just temperature control, or do I want more sound insulation and a stiffer, more robust door?
- Will the added thickness of insulation have any effect in my garage? Am I already tight for space when I park my car, and how much insulation thickness can I add?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you should have a better idea of which material suits your overhead garage door insulation project best. The same rules apply whether you have a heated, attached or stand-alone garage. In all cases, temperature control, soundproofing and solidity of your garage door will be affected by your choice in insulation material.
Whether you’re installing new garage doors and trying to make the smartest purchase, or looking to add insulation to your current overhead doors, there is a vinyl back polystyrene insulation kit that can be added. At Custom Door & Gate, we have experience with both polystyrene and polyurethane garage door insulation, and we can easily find the solution best adapted to your situation. Contact us today to get started. We’ll help you get the amount of insulation from heat, cold and sound you want at a price that suits your budget.
How to Choose the Best Garage Door
There are several reasons choosing a garage door is an important decision. It protects the contents of your garage from prying eyes, adds to the look and appeal of your house, and keeps the weather outside where it belongs. Another important factor that you might not consider is the effect that your choice in garage door can have on the heating and cooling of your home. When you’re choosing a garage door for your home, there are a few advantages an insulated residential garage door has over a non-insulated residential garage door.
The Buffer Effect
You may not think about it often, but your garage is more than a place to store your car, bikes and lawn equipment. It actually acts as a buffer to the rest of your home, and can have a positive effect all year round. For example:
- In the winter, your garage will be warmer than the outside. As a result, your furnace won’t have to work as hard to heat your home.
- In the summer, your garage acts as a buffer against hot, humid outside temperatures. This can make a noticeable difference on your A/C bill.
The next time you’re shopping, take a look at the entrance to many shopping malls and large stores. They usually include a buffer area or vestibule with one set of doors outside, and another set inside. This buffer space is almost always kept at a temperature somewhere between the inside and outside temperatures. This is the ‘buffer’ effect you want to create with your garage.
However, none of these tips are helpful if your garage door isn’t insulated. A non-insulated garage door allows heat to escape in the winter, and heat to enter during the summer. As a result, your garage is the same temperature as the outside, and the buffer effect is lost. Adding an insulated garage door is an easy way to take advantage of your garage and control your home’s temperature, as well as your heating and cooling bills.
Other Advantages
On top of the money-saving advantage, there are other reasons to choose an insulated residential door over a non-insulated residential door:
- Noise — An insulated garage door helps remove noise from outside that enters your garage and home. The additional layers of steel and insulation act as a barrier between the inside and outside. A non-insulated garage door also tends to make more noise when it’s being opened and closed. This is because it’s lighter and less solid, and tends to rattle and vibrate more than the insulated version.
- Longevity — Thanks to the extra layers of steel and insulation that go into an insulated residential garage door, you can expect less trouble and a longer life. More solid and robust than the non-insulated alternative, your insulated garage door will resist dents and damage better.
The Best Choice in All Climates
An insulated residential garage door makes sense no matter where you live. When you consider the savings on your heating and cooling bills and the benefits of decreased noise and longer door life, the decision is an easy one! To choose the insulated garage door that makes the most sense for your home, contact Custom Door & Gate today.
LiftMaster
Custom Door & Gate works with LiftMaster to develop Swing and Slide Gate operator UL 325 and ASTM F2200 site planning safety checklists. Nicole Lemieux and Rich Bila met to review the steps needed to complete a check sheet that will contribute to the public safety for operation of motorized gates. Common areas of concern are pinch points, entrapment areas, protrusions and other safety issues in gate installations
Vannoy Construction
Custom Door & Gate works with Vannoy Construction and Rooms To Go installing 240 dock doors, dock levelers, edge of docks, seals and other equipment to complete the 1.25 million square foot facility in I-95 near Dunn, NC. One of the largest, if not the largest retail warehouse and distribution facilities in North Carolina, Custom Door & Gate has expertly coordinated dozens of vendors to meet the needs of Rooms To Go
New Team Member – Peter Scholz
Peter Scholz has joined Custom Door & Gate as a Sales and Project Manager. He brings 9 years of fencing and access control experience to Custom Door & Gate. Peter will be teaming with Rich Bila to develop new customers in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill area as well as coordinating sales and installation efforts in Fayetteville and Greenville NC
A Homeowner’s Guide to Garage Door Operation
One of the most overlooked ‘appliances’ in your home is the garage door. You press a button. It goes up. It goes down. Seems simple enough…right?
Not really. Like every other mechanical device you own – your cars, your kitchen and laundry appliances, and your heating and cooling systems, etc. – your garage door and its operating system needs to be properly adjusted and regularly maintained in order to function correctly. Never take a garage door system for granted; always use extreme caution when working on it or near it. While at it’s face, a garage door can seem like a simple machine that only goes up and down, the mechanics involved, it’s size, and it’s weight make it one of the most dangerous ‘appliances’ in or around your home.
You can perform some simple safety and maintenance tasks yourself to keep your garage door operation smooth and safe. Other tasks – such as spring repair/replacement, track and roller repair/replacement, and door installation – are jobs best left to trained service professionals. You can learn more about routine maintenance, safety procedures, and when to call in a professional for an inspection in our blog.
Just as it is common practice to have your home’s heating and cooling systems checked annually, it’s also a good idea to have your door checked annually by a qualified service technician to ensure that it continues to work properly and effectively. We have service professionals located throughout North Carolina who serve your local area. If it’s been a while since your garage door and it’s operating system has been inspected, or if you’re having trouble with the door, it’s mechanics, or the opener, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Simple Things to Remember about Garage Door Safety and Security
Garage Door Safety and Security is Critical
The garage door is typically the largest moving object in your home. Properly maintained and operated, the door and its operating system allow you, your family, and your vehicles convenient access to and from your home. They also provide security, protect against the elements, and newer, insulated garage doors even help save energy.
But, moving garage doors can also cause serious injury, or even death. While there are some garage door system maintenance chores that you can – and should – perform yourself on a regular basis, there are other tasks (including installation and spring replacement) that are best left to the pros. This regular maintenance ensures your doors and their operating systems are working properly and that also provides you the piece of mind to know that it is safe for you and your family.
If you have children, you should take some time to teach them that the garage door and its operating system are not playthings, nor are they to be used casually. They must know that garage doors are machines that have to be used for their intended purpose in order to keep running smoothly for years to come. After all, the safety and security of your family is paramount.
Take time with your family to review how your garage door works and ways that everyone can keep it working at peak performance. Please take some time to review our site and the services we offer. In addition, you may want to read our blog for more information about simple maintenance you can do to keep your garage door and operating system working well. If you have any questions about your door, it’s operating system, or need service, feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our service professionals.
Garage Door Spring Replacement – More is Better
Garage Door Spring Replacement Saves Time and Money
You may already know that, in some cases, certain routine garage door maintenance can and should be done by the owner. However, some of these projects, including garage door spring replacement, should be performed by a trained professional.
Whether a door has one or two springs, we always recommend replacing both at the same time. Our reasoning is that if the door has been used enough for one spring to break, it’s only a matter of time before the other one goes.
Most owners understand the logic and agree to replace both at once. For those that think we’re just trying to charge more, we explain that springs tend to last between four and seven years and coming back another time to replace the unbroken spring will actually cost them more as it will require another service call.
At Custom Door & Gate, we promise a buying experience, installation, and service after the sale will remind you how businesses should operate. We do what we say we will do, when we say we’re going to do it, at the price we quoted you. In addition, we are proud to offer free technical advice and troubleshooting over the phone avoiding unnecessary trips at your expense.
Our people make the difference. We have over 100 years of combined industry experience and each member of our dedicated staff is committed to our mission of fulfilling your expectations at every step of the process.
For more information about how your door works, maintenance tips, and other information, check out our blog.
Decorating for the Holidays? Don’t Forget Your Garage Door
Ideas for Decorating Your Largest Canvas – The Garage Door
‘Tis the season for decorating – the time of year to bring the warmth of the holidays to your home both inside and out. But, while many people string lights, trim with garland, and may even have a festival of inflatables on their lawns, most people forget the largest blank canvas – the garage door. This year, add some holiday cheer to a place you may otherwise leave off your list – decorate your garage door.
Need some ideas for decorating your garage door? We can help.
- Looking for something traditional? Hang a wreath in the center of your garage door.
- Buy too much wrapping paper at the school fundraiser? Wrap your door with the paper and add a bow for a special finishing touch.
- Want to brighten things up? Try battery operated or solar lights for a festive glow.
- Need a great look with little effort? Try garage door magnets or cling decals to create a joyful facade that can be re-used year after year.
- Looking for something that will last? Try a decal like those seen here.
No matter how you’re decorating your garage door, be sure to keep decorations away from hinges and check to make sure they don’t affect how your door opens and closes.
If you have other decorating ideas or want to show off what you’ve done, share a photo on our Facebook or Pinterest pages.
Selecting the Right Garage Door Dealer
With So Many Options, How Can You Select the Right Garage Door Dealer?
There are a variety of places where you can purchase garage door products, the most popular of which is a door dealer professional, such as an International Door Association (IDA) dealer.
With thousands of door dealers in business today, how do you the select the right garage door dealer for you? We suggest reviewing these five key points when deciding:
- Experience
- Workmanship
- Code and regulatory compliance
- Insurance coverage
- Financial integrity
Experience
Of all the five points, this is perhaps the easiest to validate. How long has the company been in business? If it’s a new company, do the principals have experience in the door and operator industry? How much?
Workmanship
This may be the most important checkpoint and is also easy to verify. Does the door dealer have satisfied customers? If so, do they have letters of recommendation from their customers? If so, you may want to talk to a customer or two.
Code and regulatory compliance
There are numerous requirements pertaining to safety and the installation of a garage door system. Federal, state, and local codes and regulations must be followed. Ask each potential dealer how they comply with the codes in your area.
Insurance coverage
It is important that the door dealer carry proper insurance on their business and employees. One way to find out is to ask for a copy of the company’s Certificate of Insurance. If they don’t have one or hesitate to comply with your request, we recommend finding another dealer.
Financial integrity
Depending on the size of your project, financial integrity of a door dealer can be very important. Although this is a sensitive issue, a dependable, honest door dealer won’t mind telling you about the basic financial integrity of their company.
Selecting the right door dealer is as simple as asking a few questions. Is the dealer dependable, trustworthy, and safety-conscious? These questions take only moments to answer, and yet they can help you avoid tremendous problems in the future.
Please explore our site to learn more about our company, schedule service, or hear from some of our customers.
Information provided by the International Door Association.