With UK households facing rising energy costs, many of us are considering ways in which we can make our homes more energy efficient. And while we’re all aware of the benefits of quality double-glazing and the effectiveness of wall and loft insulation, many of us often overlook the importance of insulating our garages.
So how important is it?
Well, that depends on a couple of things. If your garage is attached to your home, you may be surprised to learn that it is probably the weakest link in your home’s thermal retention. Garages are typically unheated and uninsulated, making them cold and uninviting in the winter and like sweltering ovens in the summer. Adding insulation to a garage will help to moderate temperature extremes whilst helping to retain the heat in your attached living space. This could mean a reduction in your heating bill – something we’re all looking to achieve!
Or, if like many Brits, you use your garage as a workshop, home office or gym, then a warm and cosy space is even more important. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to simply add a heat source to your garage. Sufficient insulation and heat-retention methods are essential in creating a comfortable space that you’ll want to spend time in.
If your garage is neither of those things, it still wouldn’t be wise to completely discount the need for insulation. A warmer garage without extremes of temperature will better protect stored items such as paint and other liquids. Or if your garage is simply the place where you store your car, exposure to icy temperatures can lead to brittle windshield wipers, thickening of essential car fluids, or even negatively affecting your car battery.
Should my garage door be insulated?
We’ve concluded that insulating our garages is important, but that leads us to the question; what about our garage doors?
Your garage door takes up a large proportion of one of your garage’s external walls. This means there is potential for significant heat loss in gaps under and around the door. If the door is single-skinned and uninsulated, precious heat can literally pass straight through it! This would surely defeat the purpose of your other heating efforts.
Insulated Garage Doors
Replacing your garage door with an insulated one is a no-brainer if you need a warmer garage. However, you may be surprised at some of the other benefits investing in a new garage door will give. These often include convenient, electric operation, a reduction in noise, significantly higher security, and reliable safety features. Not to mention access to a wide selection of designs and options.
Some of the best designs for insulated garage doors include:
The Roller Garage Door
The Roller Garage Door is a contemporary door and uses a curtain of interlinked slats. Each slat has a twin-walled profile that is filled with a foam-insulating core. They are a made-to-measure option, meaning a perfect, snug fit to keep out those draughts. Look for a door with a weatherseal fitted to the bottom of the curtain and for complete watertight protection, find an installer who offers the additional seal that is fitted to the ground underneath the door. This is particularly important if your garage is on a slope or it has an uneven floor.
The Sectional Garage Door
Sectional garage doors are becoming increasingly popular. This is partially due to their stunning good looks but also because they offer a complete package in security, safety and performance. Using thick, fully insulated panels, sectional garage doors are also usually made-to-measure for a perfect fit. In addition to a bottom weather seal, some manufacturers offer a sectional door with seals around the top and sides, plus innovative double-folded-seals within the underside of each panel. When it comes to insulation, the more seals, the better so be sure to look for this when researching a door.
The Side-Sliding Garage Door
Side-sliding garage doors, such as the Vertico, use the same tried and tested insulated slats used on roller garage doors. If you’re in and out of your garage quite regularly, this design allows partial opening, meaning your garage is less exposed to the elements, so heat will be better contained. They have a striking appearance so as well as being super functional, a side-sliding door packs an impressive punch in the style department too!
Yes, a made-to-measure, insulated garage door will be more expensive than an off-the-shelf up and over door, but the benefits will make it an investment you won’t regret. Garages are quite often the biggest ‘room’ in our homes and are home to some of our most valuable possessions. Creating a warm environment will improve the lifespan of your stored items, whilst transforming your garage into a comfortable, usable space. All year round.
Discover some of our most popular insulated garage doors:
SeceuroGlide Original
SeceuroGlide Sectional Elite
SeceuroGlide Vertico
