How to Determine the R-Value of Your Garage Door

Does your head hurt when you hear the term “R-value”? This phrase has undoubtedly come up more than once if you undertake any DIY house improvement like improving or planning for a garage door replacement. Let our specialists at Omaha Garage Door Repair walk you through everything you must know about R-values.

What Is Garage Door R-Value?

Construction workers and engineers use R-values to compare the heat resistance of different materials. R-value is a number that represents how well a material can insulate against heat. The higher the R-value, the better the material is at resisting heat flow.

R-values measure a material’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the material’s insulating qualities. However, an R-16 value is not necessarily twice as good as an R-8 rating. The heat resistance and energy savings of R-16 are not necessarily twice as great as those of R-8. Instead of a 50% improvement in energy efficiency, a value of R-16 may only represent a 5% reduction in heat flow.

R-values are important for determining the energy efficiency of a product. For example, considering the chemical composition and thickness of insulation, you can calculate the R-value. Before purchasing a door with a high R-Value rating, you must consider a few things regarding R-Value and your door.

Questions to Ask About Your Garage

• Is your garage used for your vehicle, and is it opened numerous times daily?
• A workshop, living space, or storage facility that is rarely used?
• Space for both storage and other activities?
• Does the garage have insulation? 
• Is the environment temperature controlled with a heating and cooling vent?
• Does it extend underneath any of your living areas?
• Is it connected to your home?

To insulate your garage door, you must first understand how the space is primarily used. For example, a high R-Value might not be necessary if your door opens multiple times throughout the day. That is because the slightly warmer air in the garage will escape whenever the door is opened.

If you have a workshop in your garage or you heat your garage but only open it during the summer, then you may want to consider a slightly higher R-Value. For a better understanding of R-Value and the improvement in energy efficiency as a percentage, see the list below.

Garage Door R-Value Reality Check

Insulation R-value	Amount of Heat Flow Reduce By This Insulation	Improvement in Energy Efficiency vs the Lowest R-value
R-8	90%	–
R-12	93%	+3%
R-16	95%	+5%
R-20	96%	+6%
R-32	97%	+7%

As you can see from the chart, there is a significant decrease in heat flow as the R-value increases. So, for example, going from R8 to R20 results in a 90% reduction in heat loss. However, the heat flow reduction only increases by 6% as you approach R20. The higher the R-value, the less heat can flow through that material.

R-value is only one piece of the puzzle when insulating your garage and maintaining your desired temperature. There are other factors to consider, such as the door’s material and construction.

The R-value is not the most efficient way to measure the heat loss of a door. The U-value, which measures the insulation of a whole unit, such as a door or home, is a more accurate measure of heat loss. In the future, R-value will be replaced with a U-value, but until then, the R-value is still the industry standard.

Garage Door Repair Near Me

If you do not know what an R-value is, choosing the type you need for your door can be a headache. A garage door is an investment that you do not want to waste by selecting the incorrect type of door. Omaha Garage Door Repair can assist you if you are uncertain of what you are doing. 

With our more than ten years in the garage doors Omaha industry, you can be confident that you will have the best type of door for your garage. Omaha Garage Door Repair provides various door services, including installation, garage door repair, installation, maintenance, and garage door spring replacement. We also offer premium insulated doors and openers. Call us right now for free estimates.