To insulate or not to insulate... that is the question

[matstng]

I'm shopping for new garage doors for my home and wanted to ask everyone for some input. I wrench in a backyard shop so I really only use my front garage for storing cars and I'm not totally convinced insulation is worth it. I have a two story with living space over the garage and the doors face east so there is no afternoon sun on them.
Three car garage with two doors (16' and an 8')
We're looking at a carriage style with big windows which does defeats some of the insulation thing although I will be tinting them to minimize the looky-loos.

Now for the question/poll:
What would you do?
Buy doors with no insulation?
Buy doors with preinstalled insulation?
Buy doors with no insulation and insulate them yourself after they're installed?
Keep the old wood doors that your wife can't stand.

Thanks for your input.
Matt

 

[justanengineer]

If you pay to heat the space, you might as well have insulated doors. If you dont, theres no point.

 

[Steevo]

If it is unconditioned space (no heat or A/C), then don't waste money on insulated doors.
If you want to heat or cool it, then I'd go with factory-insulated doors.
I used them on my shop, and they make a big difference.

 

[matstng]

Yes, this is an unconditioned space. And being in SoCal, we don't get too much of a temp range. We may see 32º twice a year and 100º+ a half dozen times.

 

[wrenchguy]

Yes, this is an unconditioned space. And being in SoCal, we don't get too much of a temp range. We may see 32º twice a year and 100º+ a half dozen times.

don't waste ur money insulating them. anyways u wouldn't believe how much wind comes thru the joints insulated or not. hell i seen guys working on stuff outdoors 12 months a year out there. good luck

 

[Gary S]

If you really want it done, do it right.

 

[Lambo nut]

don't waste ur money insulating them. anyways u wouldn't believe how much wind comes thru the joints insulated or not. hell i seen guys working on stuff outdoors 12 months a year out there. good luck

I put small strips of closed cell foam between each panel of my overhead doors. I get no air through them.

Kevin

 

[ed_h]

With the mild climate, insulation probably won't pay for itself soon, but in general, many people overlook the effect attached garage insulation has on the house. Attached garage temperatures will be intermediate between indoors and outdoors. The more insulation you have on the garage exterior walls (and doors), the warmer the garage will be even with no independent heating. For the walls facing the garage, your house thinks it's warmer outside, and loses less heat.

Similar in cooling season.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I say buy insulated doors and be done with them. Insulation is an investment.
While you may think that you don't need the insulation now, 3-4 years down the road my bring something else. Having the entire garage insulated, will prevent wide temp swings.

 

[matstng]

Turns out the insulation is only a $200 up charge. Sounds like a no brainer.

We took a drive thru the neighborhood last night and my wife has found the doors she wants. The local installers are coming to give us a formal quote and to show the color options.

What about openers????? I was told I should upgrade my one year old 1/ 2HP opener to a 3/4 HP do to the increased weight of the insulated door. I currently have an old swing up wood door which is very heavy and opens easily.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Good decision on the insulation.

If your 1/2 hp opener is opening the old wood doors fine, I would leave them. I can't imagine the new doors are heavier than the old ones unless they are solid wood too.

 

[OldNeons]

If you really want it done, do it right.

Couldn't agree more! On that note, now that insulation is IN, go for the lift master 3800/8500 style jackshaft drive openers and get rid of all that noise and clutter from the old style openers

 

[matstng]

Couldn't agree more! On that note, now that insulation is IN, go for the lift master 3800/8500 style jackshaft drive openers and get rid of all that noise and clutter from the old style openers

I can't afford to play that game.
The original conversation started with my wife wanting a door that cost twice as much as what she's thinking now. I was able to stall long enough that she's changed her mind. That, or I'm about to walk into something I can't get out of.

 

[Moose97]

If insulated are only a little more I would go that route. I live in Texas. Hot summers and sometimes cold winters. I built my mothers house and insulated all the walls and ceiling and bought the insulated doors. Her garage never gets above 85 and never gets below 60. I also found that the extra cost was minimal.

 

[chadman]

I would buy the insulated doors. They are a lot quieter especially when the wind blows.

 

[Kevin C]

The insulated Clopay's that I bought are skinned with sheet metal on both sides with a foam core in the middle. That seems to make for a much more sturdy door compared to sheet metal on one side and open foam on the back. That, and as others have pointed out they do a good job of noise reduction. For me, that's a small price to pay to keep the neighbors happy.

I know mine seal pretty tightly. All I did was put felt on the door frame and Home Depot weather stripping on the perimeter.

 

[matstng]

We've ordered the doors and have scheduled them to be installed in a couple weeks. With the insulation.

Thx, Matt

 

[James Aiello]

I put in insulated doors but my space was heated... also was a write off on that years taxes!!! win win!

 

[matstng]

also was a write off on that years taxes!!! win win!

Oh, Good thinking
Thanks

 

[matstng]

New (Insulated) doors are in. We're very pleased with the result.
Thanks everyone for the input

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice looking place and those doors fit the place.