Insulated Garage Doors vs Non-Insulated Garage Doors

Many of our customers ask us if they need an insulated garage door vs. a non-insulated garage door. In our beautiful Cache Valley we have a huge range in temperatures from summer to winter. Choosing the right garage door can help regulate those temperatures, making your garage a more comfortable environment to be in and saving you in energy costs.

Most traditional garage doors constructed in steel and come in three basic styles; Single-layer steel doors or Non-insulated doors, Double-layer steel doors or Vinyl back insulated doors and Triple-layer steel doors or Steel back insulated doors.

Single-layer or non-insulated garage doors

These garage doors are made of a single sheet of galvanized 24, 25 or 26 gauge steel. They are the cheapest price and are a good choice if you have a detached garage, or for when sound-proofing and thermal comfort do not matter. Even though they are a hollow door, steel doors are strong and won’t warp, crack, delaminate or fall apart due to the effects of the weather. Most non-insulated doors are made of a hot dipped, galvanized steel with a baked on enamel finish. Non-insulated garage doors are a favorite of contractors due to the price and the many styles available.

Double-layer or vinyl back insulated garage doors

Double-layer garage doors have a galvanized 24, 25 or 26 gauge steel skin on the outside and a layer of polystyrene insulation bonded to each section on the inside. The inside vinyl skin is quite hard and is good for soundproofing and has a higher R-Value than the non-insulated door. Again the outer steel is made of a hot dipped, galvanized steel with a baked on enamel finish. The price of a vinyl back insulated garage door is quite reasonable and the insulation will also help with energy costs. The vinyl back insulated door is heavier so the door runs quieter and smoother. It’s a great choice if you want insulation and an attractive inside look at a low cost. Most of our new home owners bump up to a vinyl back insulated garage door for their new homes.

Triple-layer or steel back insulated garage doors

These garage doors are top of the line when it comes to insulation, R-value, sound proofing and thermal comfort. Steel back insulated garage doors have an interior and exterior hot dipped galvanized pre-painted steel skin and are pressure laminated to a polystyrene core. This forms a true and natural thermal break. Most steel back insulated doors are 1.5 to 3 inches thick with R-values ranging from 9.0 to 19.0. If you have a shop in your garage or a room above your garage then a steel back insulated door is the way to go. You will see a big savings in energy costs. Of course, being top of the line they are also the most expensive. Typically they are $200 to $400 more expensive than a vinyl back insulated garage door but the long term energy savings far outweighs the one time cost for the more expensive door. Steel back insulated doors are very quiet, run smoothly and are attractive on the inside and out.

When shopping for a new garage door in Logan, Utah be sure to do your homework. Think about what you will be doing inside your garage and choose a door that will provide the most comfort to you and your family, is most cost efficient and most secure. R-value and curb appeal is important too! To find all the information you need just go to our website at anderson-doors.com.

All three garage door choices are good choices, it just all depends on what you need!

Single-layer or Non-insulated garage door                     Double-layer or Vinyl back insulated garage door           Triple-layer or Steel back insulated garage door

See our full selection of garage doors at Anderson-Doors.com!