Insulation

[Krarl]

I got a garage door that was installed without a brace, and it eventually broke. It's time to replace it, and I want a better insulated door. I'm likely going to use Home Depot to purchase the door, and I have a friend who's retired, and used to install garage doors, he has offered to install it.

I am wondering if I should spend more and buy an 18+ R-Value door, or if it's smarter to buy a 6.5 R door, and install an 8 R insulation kit. The cost savings is anywhere from $500 to $1000.

Does adding an 8 R insulation kit to a 6.5 R door make it a 14.5 R door?

Thanks

For reference, my house has a full basement, and the garage door is on the West side of the basement. All other sides of the basement are mostly in-ground, with just the garage door side exposed. The basement walls were recently insulated, so the door is definitely a weak link.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Buy the 18R door. Then there is no increase in weight or thickness of door. The insulation is protected within the metal cover of the door, no accidental of damaging or tearing off the after market insulation. This is what I did and it will just look better in the future.

 

[James-W]

I am going to suggest checking out the price of a door from a local door place. You may be pleasantly surprised as to the cost of the door and the price of installation.

 

[matt_i]

I was really happy with a Haas 2" thick door that I got from a local door place, I waited until the shipment came in, picked up the parts at their shop, and then I put it in, all parts included. Would do any future doors the exact same way.

 

[Fixin'Stuff]

Buy the R18.5 door. There is no place on a pre-insulated door to add the aftermarket insulation because the cavity on the backside of the door is already insulated and closed off. You would have to glue the additional foam to the new door and bevel the edges quite a bit so that the door can bend at the sections to open.