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NASA TECH garage door insulation ?

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rlitman

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074LR5QF5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

One of the questions on the Amazon site was about the dimensions: "It comes in 9ftx2ft panels that are about 1/3rd of an inch thick." It may provide a wind barrier, but that means there's no way it has an R value of 8. It's probably closer to R1.

It says R8 up top, and R6 lower down. My guess is that you're right, and their R value claims are BS. They're probably thinking that the air gap between the raised section of the panels and their product makes up for much of the difference.
 

bobj49f2

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I saw a product like Reflectix on a Youtube video being demonstrated by a garage door company. It didn't look like it would do much insulating, way too then to give much of a barrier. I need something for the inside of my stamped steel doors. The Reflexix product looks like it would be super easy to install but again, not much of an insulator. It also wouldn't add as much weight to the doors as the other, thicker type of insulation.
I am most concerned about keeping heat in my 30'x50' pole building during the Wisconsin winters. I have two overhead doors, one 10'x10' and 10'x15'.
 

manwithtools

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I saw a product like Reflectix on a Youtube video being demonstrated by a garage door company. It didn't look like it would do much insulating, way too then to give much of a barrier. I need something for the inside of my stamped steel doors. The Reflexix product looks like it would be super easy to install but again, not much of an insulator. It also wouldn't add as much weight to the doors as the other, thicker type of insulation.
I am most concerned about keeping heat in my 30'x50' pole building during the Wisconsin winters. I have two overhead doors, one 10'x10' and 10'x15'.

Rigid foam insulation, available in kits or just buy the sheets and cut to a press fit size for your door panels. I think I used 1-1/2" in mine several years ago.
 

Slednut

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Rigid foam insulation, available in kits or just buy the sheets and cut to a press fit size for your door panels. I think I used 1-1/2" in mine several years ago.

My daughter and SIL did this a couple weeks ago to both doors, I think its R-Tech from HD. $16 a sheet.
 

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OccupantRJ

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My daughter and SIL did this a couple weeks ago to both doors, I think its R-Tech from HD. $16 a sheet.

Were any spring tension adjustments needed? I am going to insulate my door like that, and am considering covering it with aluminum trim coil. Very likely I may have to weigh the door and go to a stronger spring.
 

manwithtools

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Were any spring tension adjustments needed? I am going to insulate my door like that, and am considering covering it with aluminum trim coil. Very likely I may have to weigh the door and go to a stronger spring.

Negative, if you are adding only insulation and some aluminium trim sock, I'll bet your doors are none the wiser.
 
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Slednut

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Were any spring tension adjustments needed? I am going to insulate my door like that, and am considering covering it with aluminum trim coil. Very likely I may have to weigh the door and go to a stronger spring.

When they called me about doing it I warned them of the extra weight but the doors work the same.

He pulled them up half way by hand and the door didn't move. They added 8 pounds to each door.
 

bobj49f2

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Anyone have an opinion on this product? I like it because it has a washable surface facing inside. I plan to do some welding and occasional painting and since my shop is going to be a business with customers coming by I need to keep it nice looking. I also like that they say on their website "The panels are made with the same OEM-grade product used by garage door manufacturers, giving your garage identical performance and appearance as a pre-insulated door " The one problem I would have is I have 10' wide doors, their kits are for 7-9 foot doors. The height of the doors are 10' and 15' so I'd need to buy extra kits to do both.

https://www.matadorinsulation.com/product-details
 

gnpenning

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I have more questions than answers.
Do not allow any sparks from welding or grinding hit the insulation. It will melt. It is also a little hard to clean. A little late now but a steel backed door with a thermo break would have worked out better for your application.
 

bobj49f2

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I'm not concerned about sparks hitting the door, well maybe a little. I'm more concerned about cleaning it and keeping it from looking like I did a DIY project. The building had the doors I have in it when I bought the property so I'm not going to change them. In the building I just sold the insulated doors cleaned up really nice with a bucket of water and some TSP. I would like to do the same with these doors. The Matador product is probably what I'm looking for but with the size of my doors cost about $500 to buy the kits. I suppose the foil lined products would be the next best thing.
 
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f6john

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I have insulated doors from the factory which are probably just marginal in r value but better than nothing. My problem is I can see daylight all around the edges. Bought new exterior weatherstripping yesterday at Lowe’s but they didn’t have clay colored trim nails so now I have to find (new to the area) a siding supply house to get the nails.
 

Mechtech

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I did the inside of my garage door with the Reflectix type mentioned earlier. Used two layers and construction adhesive to hold it in. Cut big enough to fit under the lips on the back side of the door and stick it down. Had it that way for years now and it looks the same as when installed. No adjustments to the door opener or spring tension needed.

I can't say what the R value is but the outside of the door will have frost on it even with the inside heated to a steady 60 degrees.
 

bobj49f2

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While surfing the web for information I came across a video on Youtube by guy who did his doors with foam panels. He said he contacted a door specialist who told him not to glue the panels in because the foam won't expand or contract with heat or cold the metal doors will. My doors are facing the north so I don't think I'd have much to worry about but I would suspect doors facing south, especially in a warm area would have this affect. I don't know, just passing it along for everyone to think about.
 

bradpac

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There are quite a few lawsuits open regarding the R value claims of reflective insulation like that. It can provide some help with reflecting heat, but it doesn't block heat like a conventional insulation. You have to have an air space where the heat can disperse for it to work for anything otherwise it just comes through the material. An example of an application where you might see some success is having it mounted to the rafters or an attic where you have venting between the rafter bays from soffit to ridge, but even in those circumstances I'm a skeptic.

For your application some foil face polyiso board would be a better alternative. The foil is acting as a fire barrier since polyiso foam itself isn't fire rated. Polyiso rigid board insulation is a proven R6/1". And would probably need a little more spring tension if attached to a garage door.
 
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