The R-value of your garage door has considerable implications for the energy efficiency of your home. Understanding your garage door’s R-value can help you to make choices and take actions that improve your home’s energy efficiency.

The Meaning of Your Garage Door’s R-value

Just like your home’s insulated walls and windows have an R-value, so does your home’s garage door. The R-value refers to its thermal resistance. Thermal resistance is a material’s ability to prevent unwanted air exchange and the loss or gain of heat with the outdoors. During your next Orange County garage installation, there are many reasons to keep the door’s R-value in mind.

Manufacturer’s Ratings of Garage Door R-values

Each garage door manufacturer rates their doors with an R-value. This measurement is taken at the center panel of the door. The result is posted on the product’s label and in its owner’s manual. In reality, the manufacturer’s rating of the R-value is a best-case scenario. The door’s actual performance will depend on its installation and the entire door assembly.

The U-rating of the Garage Door Assembly

The actual performance and energy efficiency of your garage door is measured as its U-value. The U-value refers to the inverse of the R-value. The U-value is a better measure of the door’s actual performance in real-world conditions. Over time, the polyurethane foam insulation in the garage door will degrade as it is exposed to heat and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The door’s U-value also takes into account the entire garage door assembly. This includes any gaps on its sides and bottom, faulty weather stripping and gaps in the joints of the panels. Windows in the garage door also impact its performance.

Choosing an Energy-efficient Garage Door

An insulated garage door with multiple layers of insulation generally has the best performance at preventing unwanted air and heat exchange with the outdoors. If this is not a possibility for your home, a wooden garage door also provides a great deal of thermal resistance. A professional installation and regular inspections are also important to maximizing the energy efficiency of your home’s garage door.