As energy bills spiral out of control, we’re all looking at ways we can insulate our properties and effectively reduce the amount we spend on keeping our homes warm.
Any aperture with a window or door is a potential point where heat can be lost, so you could literally be throwing money out of the window.
Modern entrance doors and double-glazed windows have reasonable thermal values. You may remember the TV advert showing the feather floating naturally past the window whilst an industrial fan blasts against the window from the front garden.
In most homes, the largest door on the property is given the least consideration when it comes to insulation: the garage door.
Why is it important to have insulated garage doors?
Often, the garage is linked to the property and ensuring warm air doesn’t penetrate through or around the garage door has a massive effect on the fuel efficiency of the whole property.
It’s also fair to say that the garage as a space has changed in its functionality. Rather than being a home for the car, garages have become a more functional area. Home gyms, offices and playrooms are now common uses for the space. With this in mind, maintaining a consistent temperature and keeping the area draft free should be important considerations when choosing a garage door.
In the past, insulation was never really considered to be a major factor when replacing a garage door. Most doors were either single-skin steel or timber, designed primarily to fill a hole. Most doors would have a working tolerance around the door, which is salesman speak for “a gap”. Since these early days, there’s been a considerable change in garage door manufacturing, led mainly by demand for wider choice. Designs and finishes have evolved to suit modern trends and a desire for individuality, but what seems to be a driving force in today’s market is a need for a product that offers insulation.
The most common way of presenting the thermal effectiveness of any building-related product such as a garage door is in the form of a U-Value. The U-Value is a measurement of how much heat is lost through a product or material. The effectiveness is measured in watts per metres squared kelvin or W/M2K. Basically, a lower U-Value indicates superior insulation, a figure close to zero is the main aim.
So what are my options for insulated garage doors?
There are a number of different options when it comes to garage doors. Let’s take a look at them.
Up and over doors
Whilst offering a wide range of design, finish and colour options, these doors are normally single-skin with a gap between the door leaf and the frame. Weatherstrips and floor seals provide some level of protection from the elements, but if insulation is a consideration, then up and over garage doors aren’t the best option. A typical steel up and over door has a U Value of around 7 W/M2K.
Aluminium roller shutter doors
Aluminium roller shutter doors are made up of aluminium laths that are attached together. The laths are double-skinned, with a polyurethane foam interior.
Generally speaking, an aluminium roller shutter door installed behind the structural aperture will provide reasonable levels of insulation, especially when fitted with a full box hood. Brush strips within the guides and heavy-duty seals fitted to the bottom of the door will also help to reduce gaps. A note of caution when it comes to roller shutter doors: although insulation may be a factor, safety and security should a primary consideration. It’s fair to say that not all roller shutter doors are the same and it’s important to talk to a reputable supplier/installer when considering your options.
It’s difficult to accurately give a thermal value for a roller shutter door, but as an example, a single-size Hörmann RollMatic door installed behind the opening will achieve a U-Value of around 5.1 W/M2K.
Side hinged doors
Similarly to up and over doors, side hinged garage doors offer a wide range of options when it comes to designs, materials and finishes. As the popularity of this door has increased, so has the investment into the range from manufacturers. Single-skin options satisfy those working on a budget or where garages are away from the property and don’t require any insulation. Insulated doors are manufactured from double-skin steel sectionals with a ‘PU’ foam or polyurethane core. Various thicknesses are available up to 42mm.
With many options available, it’s difficult to accurately calculate a thermal value for these doors. A premium door such as the insulated Hörmann NT60-2 can achieve in the region of 2.9 W/M2K.
Sectional doors
An insulated sectional door offers an ideal solution where excellent thermal insulation is required. The doors are available in an ever-increasing range of designs, finishes and colours.
Doorfit are a Hörmann Partner Standard supplier/installer, so it would seem logical to explore their range of sectional doors. Hörmann sectional doors are available in two versions – the LPU42 or the Thermo LPU67. Both doors are manufactured from a double-skinned steel section sandwiched around a PU foam insulation.
LPU42 (42mm thickness) Thermo LPU67 (67mm thickness)
Both doors include the latest sealing technology, ensuring a good seal is achieved all around the door.
As you may expect, sectional garage doors offer excellent thermal properties.
The Hörmann LPU42 door can achieve a value of 1.4 W/M2K and the Hörmann Thermo LPU67 door can achieve a value of 1.0 W/M2K. Additional thermal efficiency can be achieved by fitting the Hörmann ThermoFrame, a frame connector which creates a thermal break between the door frame and the brickwork and can improve the thermal insulation by 15%.
Choose Doorfit for insulated garage doors
To find out how insulated garage doors could help keep out the chill and save energy this winter, contact Doorfit today.