What Is a Garage Door R-Value?
One thing you may notice when comparing potential garage doors is the door’s R-Value. But what is a garage door’s R-Value — and how important is it when choosing a garage door?
R-Value, Explained
An R-value tells you the level of insulation a garage door provides. Thus, it’s only an issue if you’re seeking an insulated garage door.
There are many benefits to having an insulated garage door. For one, insulated garage doors, since they have that added layer of insulation, tend to be more durable and damage-resistant than non-insulated doors. Naturally, they also have energy-efficiency benefits, keeping heat in during the winter and keeping it out in the summer, reducing your heating and cooling costs.
How Does R-Value Work?
Specifically, R-Value is a measure of thermal resistance to heat flow, or how well the insulation prevents heat from penetrating. This is a factor of the chemical properties of the insulation as well as its thickness. The higher the R-value, the better an insulator your garage door is.
If insulating your garage is important to you, you should seek out garage doors with an R-value of at least 8, which represents a 90% heat flow reduction.
When comparing garage doors and R-values, however, it’s important to note that higher values represent only an incremental increase in heat flow reduction. A door with an R-value of 12 has only 3% greater thermal resistance than one with an R-value of 8. A garage door with an R-value of 16 has only a 2% greater thermal resistance than one with an R-value of 12. Once you go beyond R-value 16, gains are extremely small. A door with an R-value of 32 offers 97% heat flow reduction. A significant number, but only 2% greater than an R-value 16 door.
For this reason, while R-value is important when assessing an insulated door, it should only be one of several factors you weigh to decide whether a particular garage door is right for you.
Order Your Insulated or Non-Insulated Garage Doors From Continental Door Today
If you are looking for a garage door in the Spokane, Washington or Northern Idaho areas, Continental Door is an authorized Clopay® dealer of both non-insulated garage doors and insulated garage doors with R-values as high as 18 or even higher. We can help you choose the ideal door for your home and your family’s needs.
To learn more about the insulated Clopay® garage doors offered by Continental Door, please take a look at the following resource.
To learn more about the many quality garage doors we have to offer, give us a call at 509-792-3098, stop by our showroom at 12718 East Indiana Avenue, Spokane Valley, Washington, or contact us online today.
