Preparing Your Garage For Winter
A variety of tasks await homeowner as the seasons change from fall to winter. Winterizing your home usually involves checking windows, doors and other spaces that may allow heat to escape. The more warmth that escapes the home, the greater the energy bill you pay throughout the season. One of the prime candidates for heat loss are old or flimsy garage doors that allow heat to escape, drawing warmth from the rest of the household, forcing your HVAC system to work harder to maintain the level of comfort you desire. Consider the following factors when you're in the process of choosing the best garage door before the coldest season arrives.
What Type of Garage Do You Own?
The first factor to think about when choosing a garage door is the type of garage to which the door is being attached. If the garage isn't connected to your home and you don't spend very much time in the space, you may not consider insulation to be important whatsoever. Also, if the space doesn't have a source of heat, insulation won't keep your garage warm - it will simply trap the cool air within, which may actually result in a garage that's colder inside than out.
However, if the garage is attached to the home or if it's a place where you, your family and friends often gather, the garage should be well insulated to reduce the utility bill.
Contents stored within the garage also matter. Valuable items and climate sensitive materials require additional protection than a simple garage door provides.
Garage Door Materials
Just like any other choice a homeowner faces, there are pros and cons that you must consider when selecting the material of your new garage door.
A wooden garage door provides very little natural protection in terms of R‑value, but tends to be valued due to the enduring aesthetic appeal of wood. Different types of wood create different looks. Mahogany provides dark, dramatic flair the to external look of your home while cedar gives a lighter, friendlier impression to those who visit. Wood tends to be a bit more expensive and does not last as long as other garage door options. Also, wood garage doors are very heavy, which can cause frustrations if the opening mechanism somehow breaks down.
Garage doors made out of steel provide a versatile option that's stronger than wood or aluminum but may begin to rush if the surface coating is scratched. Part of the appeal of steel is the fact that it does a good job taking on the appearance of aesthetically‑pleasing options such as wood without dealing with the high cost or maintenance requirements.
Aluminum tends to be a popular option as it is inexpensive, lightweight, requires very little maintenance and performs very well under humid conditions. Similar to steel, aluminum may take on the appearance of many different styles. Ultimately, aluminum is typically weaker than steel or wood, but ends up reducing the stress on door opening mechanisms.
One of the more recent options consists of pvc/fiberglass overlay, which is prone to cracking if struck forcefully, but tend to be more durable than wood or steel if properly maintained. This type of material costs less than wood but more than steel.
To Insulate Or Not To Insulate
Choosing whether or not you need to insulate your garage door depends entirely on the type of garage that you own and the rooms adjacent to the area. If a bedroom, den or living room is attached to the garage, insulation that's rated R14 or better will ensure that warm air remains inside the home. Selecting a garage door with superb weather stripping ensures that warm air doesn't sneak out from underneath the door.
There's no point spending a lot of money on an insulated garage door if the space doesn't need to keep warm air trapped within. Avoiding an insulated garage door reduces costs and the maintenance necessary to cocoon the space in warmth. This frees you to focus more on the aesthetic look of the garage door instead of worrying about functionality.
The most important choices you'll make when consider a new garage door for the winter are the material of the door and whether or not to purchase an insulated unit. Fall provides a superb opportunity to work out the details involved in purchasing a new door.
Garaga manufactures a wide variety of garage doors and opening mechanisms that meet the needs of all different types of homes and homeowners. Visit us to learn more about the options available for your family's home.
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