Your garage may not be something you think about often, but did you know that the right door can make your home more efficient and comfortable? An insulated garage door is much better at keeping a consistent temperature in your garage and interleading rooms. Exploring if your Arkansas home needs an insulated garage door can be a simple but significant way to save on heating and cooling costs and can provide a host of other benefits.
The Features of an Insulated Door
Most regions in Arkansas enjoy a warmer or milder climate. However, there is also intense subtropical humidity during summers and occasional periods of freezing cold during the winter. With these temperatures and conditions, having insulated garage doors is highly beneficial. Garage doors secure the largest opening in your home, but even the smallest openings in the door’s construction can lead to a significant loss of heat and higher utility costs.
An insulated garage door is built to minimize heat transfer from inside the garage. Its main feature is the layers of insulation material sandwiched between the door’s primary metal or wooden frame. The most common types of insulation materials for garage doors are polystyrene and polyurethane. Both materials have advantages for insulating garage doors:
- Polystyrene is a durable but lightweight and economical material that insulates doors well.
- Polyurethane is a more expensive option, but it does have superior insulating properties.
Garage doors also have a measure called R-value that indicates how well the door insulates a room. The right R-value is one of the most important considerations, as it measures the door’s overall thermal resistance. A higher R-value demonstrates better insulating properties — such as having multiple layers or bonded reinforcement — but a big number doesn’t necessarily mean that door is the best choice for you. Polyurethane insulation tends to have a higher R-value than polystyrene, but both are good options.
Signs That You Need an Insulated Garage
Whether you have a residential or commercial property, an insulated garage door can serve you well. If you are not sure if an insulated garage door is the right feature for your home, consider whether any of these scenarios apply to you and your home:
- The door is part of an attached garage: Insulating the door for an attached garage helps regulate the temperature and protect the connected rooms from inconsistent heating and cooling.
- Your garage is too hot or too cold: If your garage does not retain heat or cool very well — regardless of if the door is open or closed — an insulated door can help.
- You use your garage often: It is important to have a comfortable and efficient area for your vehicles, storage, home gym, office or any other functional or recreational features your garage houses.
- Pets sleep in the garage: Pets sometimes sleep in the garage or stay there during the day. Having an insulated garage door is especially important if you do this during inclement weather.
- The garage is a living space: If you have converted or want to convert your garage or the room above it into a guest suite or living space, be sure to choose an insulated garage door to keep guests comfortable.
- You want to boost your home’s marketability: Upgrading your home with valuable features like a durable, energy-efficient insulated garage door is a great way to boost your property’s resale value and marketability.
- You want to increase privacy: Insulated garage doors help prevent noise transfer from inside and outside the garage, ideal for living spaces and offices that require quiet and privacy.
The Benefits of Garage Door Insulation in Arkansas
Having an insulated garage door is beneficial for several reasons, especially with the weather extremes Arkansas homes experience throughout the year.
Energy Efficiency
The entire design of an insulated garage door is geared toward regulating temperature by minimizing the transfer of heat or cold. Garage doors are typically the largest opening in your home, so having an insulated one is often the greatest barrier between outside temperatures and your home. Since the insulated door helps maintain a more constant temperature in your home, it can directly impact your energy bill and help you lower your costs.
Cost Savings
Insulated garage doors in Arkansas can reduce your energy bill, but they can also be an excellent investment that saves you costs on other fronts. They have layers of thick insulating materials that make them more durable and longer-lasting. With a quality insulated garage door — and the right routine maintenance plan — you may enjoy fewer costly repairs and replacements.
This energy efficiency also ensures your heating and cooling unit isn’t working too hard to compensate for temperature fluctuations, ultimately prolonging the unit’s life span and reducing unnecessary repair expenses.
Environmental Impact
Another benefit that goes hand in hand with energy efficiency is the environmental advantages of an insulated garage door. Since garage doors lower energy usage, your home’s carbon footprint is reduced. With an insulated door, you use less fossil fuels to keep your home warm — and every small bit counts toward lowering the environmental impact of having functional homes.
Comfort and Functionality
Having an insulated garage door keeps your space more comfortable throughout the year, even on hot summer days and frigid winter mornings. When you have access to an area that is functional year-round, you have the freedom to get creative with how you use the space.
Home Resale Value
Potential buyers look for homes with certain features, and garage door storage is at the top of many people’s lists. If you’re competing with similar homes on the market that offer garage storage, you can set yourself apart by ensuring your garage is far more efficient and functional. The most simple but effective way to do so is by having an insulated garage door. Since they are often more durable, they can also help enhance your home’s curb appeal.
Contact Integrity Overhead Door to Upgrade Your Garage Door
Now that you understand why you should choose an insulated garage door and how your home can benefit from energy savings, comfort and increased functionality, it’s time to take the next step. If your current garage door is not as efficient or durable as you want it to be, the professional technicians at Integrity Overhead Door can assist! We provide garage door services and repairs, including installation, all while focusing on excellence and client satisfaction.
With our expertise, you can have your insulated garage door installed for your home in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville or the surrounding areas in Northwest Arkansas. Contact us today or explore our garage door options online to get started.