Your insulated garage door might seem to be the same as any other garage door. If you compare the R-values of your door with another door, and you find them to be equal, this must mean that you are getting the same amount of protection for the money, right? Actually, that’s wrong! You might want to do some closer research into your garage door to see if it is equipped with top-performing weatherseals, effective thermal breaks, and other necessary equipment. If it isn’t, then you might be losing a lot of heat when faced with the outdoor elements.
So, if you’re ready to buy a new insulated garage door, there are several things you should know before making a final decision.
There are specific features you should be looking for if you want to get the most bang for your buck. In order to reduce the cost of your heating and air conditioning bill every month, look for these things in particular to help you save some money on your electricity expenses.
Wood end blocks
You’re going to need some good section end blocks to ensure that you have a good quality garage door. This helps to keep the insulation in place, so that it does its job most effectively. You also should look to secure the hinges to the ends of the door. Make sure this is done the right way! Then, complete and seal each section with weatherstripping and glue joints. This is what links the exterior and interior metal sheets of the garage door.
Most North American door manufacturers use the same process of cutting steel. The sheeting ends up being about 26″ wide (or 66 cm wide), with the length depending on how much is needed for the door. Steel caps are used to close the ends of these sheets. The one downfall of steel caps is that they can cause thermal bridging when heat is involved, as the metal can transfer heat in or out.
That’s why Garaga has its own unique way of manufacturing garage doors! First, Garaga uses a different type of manufacturing method where each section is made on its own. Then, wood end blocks are used to close the end of each section. That way, the outside temperature will not connect with the interior. That’s why it’s called a thermal break, which is exactly what you want in a garage door!
The joints that join the door sections
There are methods of attaching the two sides of those metal steel sheets together which cover the insulation. One method calls for the use of a metal staple to attach the two sides. This can be done with or without glue. But this causes the same problem as the steel caps, as it can make for the undesired transfer of heat from the outside in, or vice versa.
This is why Garaga has once again created their own method of developing a thermal break for the attachments of these metal sheets. This method uses a triple-contact PVC weatherseal to connect the sheets. That way, the exterior is kept from touching the interior. And thus, no thermal bridge!
Weatherstripping the outside of the door
The Garaga workmanship and quality makes itself known once again when it comes to weatherstripping. While many manufacturers use lower-grade PVC weatherstripping, which is prone to freezing and hardening, Garaga uses top-quality PVC weatherstripping. This material is double-lipped and stays flexible even when temperatures reach -15˚F (-25°C). It has earned arctic-grade status because of this!
Weatherstripping the bottom of the door
Garaga uses a TPE (also known as a thermal plastic elastomer)-based weatherseal that will stay incredibly flexible, even in extremely freezing temperatures. The problem with weatherstripping with poor quality materials at the bottom of the door is that it is prone to even more freezing temperatures than the weatherstripping around the door. Garaga combats this issue with weatherstripping that can withstand temperatures of -52°F (-62°C)!
So always remember…
Making a garage energy efficient requires the use of quality materials, both in its construction and in the components used.
While the RSI or R-value of a door does matter, it isn’t the only thing that matters. Use this time to examine your door and inquire about its manufacturing. Look at your door to see if there are any possible areas where the energy is lost, such as at the end of the sections, and with the weatherstripping around and at the bottom of the door.
In conclusion, you should not be focusing on R-values alone. There are other places to look.
For more information, you can contact us online at any time or call our toll-free number at 1-800-244-9253. We are the most knowledgeable about garage doors in the industry, and we can help you find the best choice for a new garage door based on your individualized needs. We are also happy to send you an online quote!
In the meantime, we would love it if you visited our showroom to see our selections in person. You can also visit our Design Centre to build the virtual garage door of your dreams. Check out our image gallery to see what others have made!
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