Since garages serve a lot of different purposes than before, people now have increased uses for them. Not only do garages keep cars safe, but they also have a role in increasing the curb appeal, and the energy efficiency of the house, aside from being a place to spend your leisure.
This is why you must choose between an insulated garage door and an uninsulated one.
Both insulated and uninsulated garage doors have unique traits that make them desirable. Insulated doors provide greater insulation to the garage, making it more comfortable and energy efficient. It also protects the car inside the garage better.
On the other hand, uninsulated garage doors are cheaper and suitable for moderate climates.
Let’s take a look at a comparative analysis of insulated vs uninsulated garage doors to help make up your mind.
Insulated garage door vs uninsulated garage door
With time, the functions of garage doors have increased exponentially. Gone are the days when they were only used for keeping the car safe. Nowadays, people use their garages to store things, spend their leisure by playing indoor games, or on their hobbies.
So, the comfort of the garage is also important, in which, the garage doors play a vital role.
Now, one of the biggest issues with garage doors is that some garage doors don’t protect the garage, the house, and the inhabitants from the weather conditions outside very well.
Not only does this make the garage uncomfortable to be in, but it also restricts the functionality of the garage. This is where insulated garage doors come in.
On paper, insulated garage doors seem like a great idea. But is the reality the same? Or are insulated garage doors better than uninsulated ones? Let’s take a look at the comparison of insulated vs non-insulated garage doors to find out.
Insulated garage doors
Usually, garage doors are either hollow or have a single panel without any insulation on them. But insulated garage doors either have insulation between the two panels, or they themselves have two panels, one of which is insulated. Sometimes these doors are manufactured as insulated doors, while other times regular garage doors are insulated later.
There are some pros and cons of insulated garage doors. They are:
Pros of insulated garage doors
Insulated garage doors have the upper hand in many people’s minds in the insulated vs non-insulated garage door debate, and here’s why:
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They make the garage comfortable:
One of the biggest advantages of having insulated garage doors in your house is they will ensure the heat or the cold won’t cause you any discomfort.
A lot of people think insulating the garage walls is enough, and that they don’t need to insulate the doors, which is a misconception of the highest level.
Since garage doors are mostly made of metal, they conduct and radiate a lot of heat. So, if you do not insulate your garage door, it will continue to radiate heat and cold, which will make staying in the garage impossible.
Also, if your garage is attached to your home, this will make your home warmer in the summer and the opposite in the winter.
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They increase energy efficiency:
One of the biggest reasons people insulate their homes is to make sure they don’t have to consume a lot of energy. This also goes for insulated garage doors.
Since your garage also has heating and AC, if the place is too warm in the summer and cold in the winter, you will have to increase their usage.
As a result, your energy consumption will increase, causing a decrease in energy efficiency. Also, due to the increased energy consumption, you will have to pay a lot more on energy bills than before.
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They are quiet:
One of the underrated aspects of insulation is they can block out a lot of noise. This also applies to insulated doors, as not only do they absorb a lot of noise, but they are quieter to operate as well.
This makes them an excellent choice if you are coming into your house at late hours, and don’t want to bother your neighbors.
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They are very durable:
As we have mentioned before, insulated garage doors either have a layer of insulation in between the panels or an insulated panel itself. This gives them an extra layer, which can absorb a lot of shocks.
This makes insulated garage doors durable and able to withstand damage from backing cars, children playing, etc.
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They protect the cars better:
If you own a car, you will know that they don’t do very well in extremely cold weather. Either their oil freezes up, or they need to be warmed up for a long time before you can start them. Sometimes, extreme cold can even crack various parts of the car, ruining them.
Insulating your garage doors will solve most of these issues. As the temperature inside the garage doesn’t drop too much, the car will have no problem starting and operating.
You will also have no parts of the cars damaged as they won’t be affected by the cold.
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They keep belongings safe:
Just like cars, people also tend to keep a lot of other items inside their garages. But if the garage is too cold or too warm, it restricts their storage options. Having your garage doors insulated is a great way to keep your belongings safe and increase your storage options.
Cons of insulated Garage doors
As with everything in this world, the seemingly impeccable insulated garage doors also have a few downsides. They are
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They can cost a lot:
Whether you buy an already insulated garage door, or you insulate your previously non-insulated garage door, the cost of an insulated garage door vs an uninsulated one is much higher. Although they save a lot of money eventually, if you have a small budget, this door is probably not for you.
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Some doors are high maintenance:
Regularly maintaining your garage doors, no matter what their type is, or what they’re made of, is the best way to ensure their functionality. But some garage doors need more maintenance than others, and doors that have been insulated after they’ve been bought are one of those.
Once you insulate a previously uninsulated door, you always need to be on the lookout for any damage the insulation suffers. These garage door damages include leaks, holes,
and tears, which can seriously mess up the insulating prowess of your insulated garage doors.
Uninsulated garage doors
Most traditional garage doors have no insulation layer on them when they were manufactured. These garage doors are also very prominent, although their popularity is on the decline.
These doors either have a single panel or two panels with nothing between them. Here are the pros and cons of uninsulted garage doors for your consideration.
Pros of Uninsulated Garage doors
Even though they are traditional and have an ever-reducing popularity, that doesn’t mean the uninsulated garage doors have become obsolete. Here are the advantages of having uninsulated garage doors.
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They are affordable:
One of the biggest upsides of uninsulated garage doors is they are cheap, so most people can afford them. You only need to pay around 50% of the cost of insulated garage doors to buy an insulated one. So, for people with low budgets, uninsulated garage doors can be a great option.
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They are excellent for moderate weather:
If you don’t live in extreme weather conditions where summer temperatures can soar to around 40 degrees celsius or the winter temperatures can go below the freezing point, you don’t really need an insulated garage door. In that case, you can invest in an uninsulated door since you won’t need weather protection.
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They work very well for detached garages:
If you have a detached garage, then you won’t have to worry about your house’s HVAC units working overtime or the house getting warm or cold. You can easily install uninsulated garage doors in those garages.
Cons of uninsulated garage doors
Since uninsulated garage doors are becoming less and less popular, it is evident that something is wrong with them. But what is it? Here are a few disadvantages of uninsulated garage doors.
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They are energy inefficient:
One of the biggest drawbacks of uninsulated garage doors is they make the garage extremely hot during summer and cold during winter. Because of this, you will need to increase the use of your HVAC units, which will result in energy inefficiency.
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They make the garage uncomfortable:
Apart from making the garage as well as the home itself energy inefficient, uninsulated garage doors also make these places extremely uncomfortable to stay in.
So, if you spend quite a bit of time in your garage, installing these doors is a big no-no.
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They limit your storage options:
Because of uninsulated garage doors radiating heat, they can damage the goods as well as the car you keep in your garage. It might cause the parts of your cars to be damaged.
Since a lot of goods can not be kept inside your garage like you wanted to, your storage options will be limited.
Difference between insulated and Non-insulated Garage Doors
| Insulated garage door | Non-insulated garage door |
| They are costly | They are affordable |
| They make the house comfortable and energy efficient | They make the house uncomfortable and energy inefficient |
| They are quieter | They are noisy |
| They are high-maintenance | They may not be very high maintenance |
| They are durable | They have a lower level of durability |
| They provide better storage options | They limit your storage options |
Author’s opinion
If there is anything to be learned from the above comparison of Insulated vs Uninsulated garage doors, is that both of these doors have something going for them that makes them desirable.
If you want a garage door that not only makes your garage and your home energy efficient and comfortable but also saves you a lot of money, then you can go for insulated garage doors.
On the other hand, if you live in an area with moderate weather conditions or you have a detached garage and a low budget, you can opt for uninsulated garage doors.
Whether you want to insulate your garage door or install a new one, we offer professional garage door services to help you.
FAQ’s
1. Is it worth it to insulate a garage door?
Since insulated garage doors can cost a lot more than uninsulated ones, it might not seem worth it to insulate one. But when you realize how much money they end up saving you over their lifespans, it is absolutely worth it to insulate a garage door.
2. What is the best garage door insulation?
The best type of garage door insulation is fiberglass insulation. Not only is it the best, but it is also the most popular form of garage door insulation as well.
3. Is it OK not to insulate a garage?
If you live in a moderate climate area and have a detached garage, then it is OK not to insulate a garage. But if the conditions are different, then you must insulate your garage.
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