Usually, we buy only one garage door in our life: when we build a new house or when we renovate. That’s why consumers immediately reach for reliability, durability, style and appropriate insulation. When time comes to shop for a new garage door, what are the elements consumers should consider and analyze to make the right choice? Garaga, one of the most important door manufacturers in Canada, presents those 8 simple points to evaluate at the purchase of a garage doors.
1. Insulation and R-Value
An insulated door will keep the garage area and the rooms above and besides the garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, resulting in energy savings. If you use the garage for a work shop or recreation area having a insulated door will keep temperature more consistent. The higher the R-Value the better the insulation i.e. R-16 is better than R-8 by 50%.
2. Insulation Type
The two types of insulation are polyurethane and polystyrene. Polyurethane provides twice the insulation value as polystyrene (white styrofoam).
3. Placement of Insulation
Insulation can be injected under pressure (polyurethane) or placed between the metal skins in the form sheet (polystyrene). Pressure injecting fills the complete cavity of the door and adheres to the metal skins. This adhesion greatly reduces the chance of the skin separating from the insulation causing the door to sound tinny. Inserting a sheet of styrofoam between the metal skins leaves voids and the glue may not hold causing the skin to separate from the insulation.
4. Metal Thickness (Gauge)
The lower the gauge the thicker the material i.e. 14 gauge is thicker than 18 gauge. The thicker the material the stronger the door. Garaga recommends a thicker gauged metal skin combined with a pressure injected insulation, so it provides the best impact resistance.
5. Hardware
This is the track, hinges and re-enforcement plates. The hardware is the back bone of the door system as it carries the weight of the door, provides the connection between the panels (hinges) and provides the anchor point for the fasteners which hold the hinges to the panels. Having a thicker gauged hardware system will ensure the door system will last longer.
6. Thermal break
Having a thermal break in the door system means that the front metal skin does not contact the back metal skin along the length and at the ends of the door panels. Without the thermal break, both heat and cool will be allowed to move from the outside of the door to inside the garage reducing the insulation value of the door. Metal end caps may allow frost build up and the door sections to freeze together.
7. Rollers
Rollers which ride in the track and carry the weight of the door come in 3 styles: nylon, nylon with ball bearings and metal with ball bearings. Nylon rollers with ball bearings will last longer than nylon rollers without ball bearings and are quieter than the metal rollers with ball bearings.
8. Weather Seal
The weather seal on the outside top and sides of the garage door as well as the weather seal on the bottom of the door is what prevent wind, rain and snow from entering the garage. The type of weather seal used should not be overlooked. A good weather seal is made up of two parts, the seal gasket and the holder. A plastic holder with screw cover can match the colour of your door and hide the screws that hold it to the door frame giving you a professional finished look. Garaga recommends that the seal gasket should be made of rubber and not vinyl so if will not split or crack.
Making the right choice is not an easy task, that’s why Garaga always produces its garage doors with the best materials on the market, increasing the level of security and insulation of each door. We never have a second chance to make a good impression: consumers always find in Garaga reliability, durability and stylishness to make the right choice. If you need more information about garage doors and for making a reliable choice, don&#t hesitate to log on www.garaga.com.
