Common Forms of Garage Door Materials and Insulation Types

In this blog entry, our professional Charleston garage door installation and Charleston garage door repair team will describe the most common garage door insulation types and materials in use on the market today.

Garage Door Materials

  • Steel garage doors are durable, requiring very little maintenance. They provide great sound insulation. However, they can get corroded and easily dented.
  • Vinyl garage doors last a long time, do not rust ,and never need repainting as it’s difficult to repaint them. They are best for areas with extreme weather. They do fade with UV damage however.
  • Aluminum doors are affordable and don’t need maintenance, but have unideal insulation, and aren’t suited for areas with cold Winters. They are rust and corrosion resistant, making them a good choice for rainy or humid areas.
  • Wooden doors are traditional and gorgeous, but need regular varnishing to keep up their appearance. Even painted wood doors require resurfacing every few years.

Garage Door Insulation

If your garage is connected to your home, you should insulate it. This will drastically lower your heating and cooling costs, as uninsulated garages can make your home lose heat in the Winter and cool air in the Summer. Some times of garage insulation include:

  1. Cellulose insulation – natural, fire resistant, efficient, and recyclable
  2. Fiberglass insulation – easy to install, fireproof, thick insulation sheets with great R-value
  3. Radiant barrier insulation – double layered interior insulation with a heat blocking reflective surface
  4. Rigid foam insulation – lightweight and very effective special sealant for installation
  5. Spray foam – cheap and easy application, but can easily fail or break

 

Garage Door Battery Backups

Make sure to get a garage door backup battery. Also consider getting a new garage door opener that has useful features that allow you to operate your garage door from any location with a smartphone, control who can access your garage door, monitor remotely the garage door actions, schedule temporary time sensitive garage access windows for deliveries, and fully integrate the garage door security system with your home security system.