Insulated vs. Non-Insulated Garage Doors: Is The Upgrade Worth It In The Austin Heat?
It’s mid-August, and you’re driving home from running errands. You pull into the driveway, push the button on your visor, and walk into your garage. Before stepping foot out of your car, you get hit with a wall of Texas heat. It’s over 120 degrees in there. Your feet are sticking to the floor. That freezer you keep in the corner is working overtime to keep your ice cream from melting, and upstairs your bonus room feels like it’s located in a different zip code than the rest of your house.
Sound familiar? Odds are, if you live in Austin, you know the struggle.
You may not realize it, but your garage door is the largest surface area on your home. If you have a typical non-insulated door, it’s a single piece of thin steel that absorbs all of that afternoon sunshine, then cooks your garage (and indirectly your home) all day.
That brings us to the question we always hear when it comes time to replace that garage door. Is an insulated door really worth it?
Short answer? Yes. But here’s the longer explanation.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip Insulation in Austin
As we install garage doors around Austin, Round Rock, and the surrounding communities, we get asked about insulation a lot. So what’s the big deal? Isn’t insulation insulation? Let’s dive into the details.
What’s the Difference Between an Insulated and Non-Insulated Garage Door?
Insulation. R-Value. Polystyrene vs. Polyurethane. It can get a little confusing when you’re trying to understand the differences between garage door types. Here’s a quick primer on why insulated garage doors are the way to go:
Non-Insulated Garage Door = 1 Layer of Steel
An uninsulated garage door is just that. A single layer of steel. It does fine for what it needs to do (open, close, keep rain out) but offers no protection from heat or cold transfer.
Insulated Garage Door = 2-3 Layers with a Sandwiched Insulation Core
An insulated garage door is comprised of three parts. There’s the steel skin on the outside. The steel skin (or finished interior panel) on the inside. And a thick core of insulation in between. That insulation is what separates your garage from the outside elements and keeps your garage cool in the summer and warmer in the winter.
What Should I Look For in Insulation?
If you do your homework, you’ll quickly learn that not all insulation is created equal. Here’s what to know when comparing your options:
Know Your R-Value
When comparing garage door insulation, you’ll hear dealers talking about “R-value”. What does that mean? R-value is how well an insulating material stops heat from transferring through it. The higher the R-value, the better that insulation material will work. Here in Central Texas, you want a moderate to high R-value. You don’t need the garage attic version of insulation but you also don’t want something with little to no value. See below for more on garage door insulation types and their respective R-values.
Garage Door Insulation Options: Polystyrene vs. Polyurethane
There are two main categories of insulation you’ll find in garage doors:
- Polystyrene comes in rigid panel boards. It’s cut to fit perfectly inside each panel of your door. It works, and it’s cheaper than polyurethane.
- Polyurethane is an expanding foam that completely fills every cubic inch of the panel. It bonds to the inside and outside layer of steel, creating a higher density, higher R-value per inch, and an overall stronger door.
Both options are better than no insulation. Polyurethane is just better than polystyrene.
Benefits of Insulated Garage Doors in Austin
Alright, let’s review WHY you should be opting for insulation with your next garage door replacement.
Save Money and Cool Off
Alright, this is the big one. If your garage is attached to your home (and most Austinites are), then that garage door is affecting how hard your AC has to work.
A non-insulated garage door allows that heat to soak into your garage, then flood every room that shares a wall with your garage. Kitchens, hallways, offices, and most importantly, any rooms above the garage. Extra heat = More work for your AC = Huge energy bills.
Where we live, an insulated garage door keeps your garage up to 10-20 degrees cooler than it would be with a non-insulated door. That can make the difference between “comfortable” and “need to crank the AC” for your air conditioning system.
Anything You Keep In Your Garage Will Thank You
Paint cans explode. Car batteries die sooner. Freezers work harder than they need to. Kids’ bikes get ruined. Electronics break.
Do you know what fixes all of those problems? Lower temperatures. Sure, we can’t make your garage 72 degrees, but we can drop the temperature by over 20 degrees on those 110+ degree days. Everything you store in your garage will last longer.
You’ll Actually Use Your Garage
Maybe it’s a home gym. A workshop. Office space. Maybe you’re a musician, and you’ll use it to practice. Whatever the reason, Austinites are using their garages for more than just cars these days. But when it’s 100+ degrees with those western (or southwestern) facing garages, you’re not going to be comfy, comfy cool in there without some serious air movement.
Drop the temperature with an insulated garage door and maybe add a little vent or box fan. Now you’ve got a legit THIRD bedroom.
Insulated Doors Just Feel Sturdier
Listen, we’re not here to sell you something you don’t need. But garage doors with insulation do feel more durable. That’s foam inside each panel adding rigidity and strength to the entire door. Insulated doors are significantly more dent-resistant than flimsy single-layer steel, the way you might expect a non-insulated door to be.
Is an Insulated Garage Door Worth It If I Never Use My Garage?
NO INSULATION = Heat Can Enter Your Garage Easily
Yes, insulation helps keep heat OUT of your garage. But it also protects you from heat that’s already inside your garage.
If you’ve got one of those extra refrigerator/freezers in there, your garage is your extra fridge is pumping out extra heat every time the compressor kicks on. Add in summer sunshine beaming through windows, melting cars… whatever you do or don’t have in your garage, it’s HOT in there. Don’t let it bake your saved-up kids’ summer camp money.
If You Still Have Questions, We Have Answers
Of course, we recommend insulated garage doors! Are there times when a non-insulated door is better? Here are a few scenarios where you might opt against insulation.
Detached Garage? Go Ahead and Skip It
Garage doors for a garage that doesn’t touch your house. While insulation will help keep temps DOWN in your garage, it’s less likely to impact your energy bills.
Using it for Parking/Cool Storage? You Could Skip It
If you’re only using your garage to park vehicles and store items that don’t mind the heat, you probably don’t need to drop the extra cash on insulation. Your garage will still get hot. But if you aren’t using that garage for much else, it’s okay to save up the money for that dream door.
On a Budget? Stick With What Works
Sure, an insulated garage door is gonna cost more than a non-insulated door. But if you need a new door and money is tight, we’ve got great-looking doors that will work perfectly.
We carry insulated and non-insulated garage doors in just about every style and color you can imagine. Traditional. Modern. Stone. Wood. If you can dream it, we’ve got it.
Insulated Garage Door = Worth Every Penny
If your garage attaches to your home, you use your garage during the summer months, or you keep anything in your garage that doesn’t love 100+ degree weather, then YES an insulated garage door is worth every penny.
The added cost is minimal when you consider savings on your monthly energy bills. Not to mention a more durable door that won’t dent, withstand wind like a boss, and run quieter than non-insulated garage doors.
Ready to learn more? Ready to see the difference between insulated and non-insulated garage doors for yourself?
Give the Experts at Two Brothers Garage Doors a Call
It’s never too early or too late to start thinking about your next garage door. Whether you need a brand new garage door installation or are looking to replace your old door with something similar, now is the time to explore your options and ask questions!
Here at Two Brothers Garage Doors we’ve been helping Austin families find the perfect garage doors for their homes for over a decade. No high-pressure sales. We’ll show you the differences, walk you through your options, and help you pick out the best door for your home and budget. Lots of options. No pressure.
Fill out our Request Service form to get your free no-obligation consultation started. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and proudly service Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Georgetown, Leander, Hutto, Kyle, Buda, and much more. Don’t wait. Call today!
