September 9, 2016

What is the R-value of Insulation?

R-Value

By now, most of us realize that reducing our carbon footprint means getting firm control over our use of non-sustainable resources, like home heating oil or energy used to cool a home. This means we can each do something to halt climate change by simply opting for more sustainable practices. With that in mind, we encourage you to read on and discover what “R‑value” means and why the R-value of your garage door is important.

What Is R‑Value?

The “R” in R-value means resistance, and it is describing the level of thermal resistance in different materials. As an example, the R-value is going to be used to explain the level of thermal conductivity (which can be cold or heat) in a wall. If the R-value is a higher number, it means that the material is capable of insulating better. Often, you can consider the overall value of materials in combination, such as insulation with a higher R-value being paired with some sort of siding with good R‑value.

What Types of Insulation Have R‑value?

There are only two forms of insulation on the market: polyurethane or polystyrene insulations.

The polyurethane varieties are superior to the polystyrene types, when considering garage doors, for a few reasons. The first is that they typically have higher R-values, meaning more thermal resistance. They are sturdier due to their higher bending strength and they adhere easily to the walls of a garage door.

You will find polyurethane insulations in many products, including entry doors and even vehicle bumpers.

Polystyrene is a bit different, and you see it in a wide range of places. The foam “peanuts” used as packing materials and even disposable coffee cups are made of it, but it does not have such high R-values. It appears in three-layer garage doors where it is fitted between the interior and exterior steel walls. It can also appear in two-layer doors. Here, there is only an exterior steel wall with the polystyrene exposed, but glued to back.

What Else, Apart from Insulation, is Important?

As is the case with many materials, even the finest are not going to perform as expected or desired if all of the other materials or building techniques are not up to par. The finest insulated door is not going to do what you want if it is not weatherproof or properly constructed. For instance, thermal bridges are problems with doors in which exterior metal panels contact interior panels – directly transferring heat or cold inside. Weather stripping is another issue, and if it is failing or does not appear between sections or along exterior framing, it won’t perform well.

What is the Optimal R-value for a Garage Door?

So, if you know that a good weather proofing system must be in place and that the design of the door is important, you can then determine the right R-value for your needs.

The first issue to consider is whether the garage is attached or free standing. For the detached garage that is also properly insulated, you can use a door with a value of R-10 or higher. If your detached garage is un-insulated, you can go with a door at R‑6.

If a garage is attached, it is likely to be well insulated too, particularly if you have a living area above the garage. For such spaces, you will want to have a value no less than R-12, and you will want to invest time assessing the quality of the door to resist cold weather.

With an R‑16 Door, Do I Have to Heat the Garage?

Unfortunately, there are no firm answers. It depends on the weather in your area, and if you experience below-freezing conditions often. If you do, heating is not a bad idea. Also, if you use the space to work or play, heating keeps it comfortable. Keep in mind that areas of high heat and humidity will benefit from R-16 doors as they block heat from the outside.

Remember too that pulling a car into the garage generally puts the temperature above freezing, and each time you open the door from the home, the temperature increases too.

If you have more questions about a new garage door, feel free to set up a service call online, or contact us at 815-657-8173. Our staff is happy to answer your questions and guide you on the best purchase.

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