Let’s explore the difference between insulated and non-insulated steel garage doors. Steel garage doors come in various different types, so let’s take a look at what they are composed of below.

Steel Garage Doors are Layered

What layer one and two is composed of:

• Garage doors that are not insulated are made from a single sheet of molded steel. Typically, they are 2” thick. Garage door manufacturers will offer a panel of Styrofoam insulation, which reduces the incidence that the insulation will catch on fire.

Layer three is composed of:

• This layer features steel sheets with insulation between them. The insulation is usually composed of Styrofoam or polyurethane.

Polystyrene and polyurethane

The two main types of insulation in steel garage doors.

Polystyrene:

• Commonly known as Styrofoam, it’s used to make coffee cups and protective packing material for larger items.
• In terms of insulation, it’s less effective than polyurethane. Polyurethane is twice as effective as polystyrene.

Polyurethane:

• This has high thermal resistance. They feature chemical composite of several products, which area mixed together.
• Polyurethane is found in all kinds of different things, such as bumpers on cars and more.

Durability:

Knowing how durable steel garage doors are is extremely important.

• Since polyurethane adheres to the walls of the door, it offers twice the resistance of a door with the same thickness insulated with a Styrofoam panel.

Soundproofing:

• Obviously, an insulated door will be less sound proof than an insulated door.
• A non-insulated door is ideal for an unheated garage (or shed).

If you are considering installing a steel garage door in Orange County, reach out to the experts at OC Garage Doors and Gates for more information. We offer several years of experience in dealing with different types of garage doors and can confidently answer any questions you may have.