When shopping for a new garage door, you are bound to be hit with the question of R-value at some point or another. This rating, usually displayed somewhere on the packaging of the door or on the manufacturer‘s web pages, usually indicates a number between 0 and 10 or 11, sometimes followed by a decimal point.
In short, the R-value is a number that reflects the effectiveness of the door’s insulation, or how energy efficient it is. The number is derived from a mathematical formula that looks at such things as the thickness of the insulation and its chemical properties. Generally speaking, the higher the resulting number, the better the energy efficiency.
But there are a couple of things to consider when looking at the R-values of garage doors. Some manufacturers base their R-value rating on a small section of the door’s center, producing a higher number, while others use the entire door, resulting in a lower number. The number also doesn’t take into account installation. For example, a professional job done by a garage door contractor can mean a seamless, snug installation – and a more energy efficient garage door.
If you need a rule of thumb to go on when comparing the R-values of insulated doors, go by this: if you live in a moderate to temperate climate, seek an R-value of at least 3, while if you live in a colder, harsher climate, try to find an R-value of around 10. Also, since high R-value doors tend to cost more, consider why you need an insulated garage door in the first place and how it fits into your home’s overall energy saving needs.
