These days, there are so many different companies out there offering the same projects, it’s not always easy to know if the information they provide is sincere. So, if you’re wondering whether your new garage door actually does have an R‑16 thermal resistance value, you’ve come to the right place. There’s a simple way for you to find out, and it won’t take you any longer than 20 minutes.
First, you need to understand how garage door manufactures measure the R‑value; they take a reading at the centre of a door section, then measure the section’s thermal conductivity. But don’t worry, you don’t need any fancy tools to do it yourself.
So, let’s imagine that you’ve got an adjoining garage, it’s insulated, but not heated, and you think you’ve got a garage door with R‑16 thermal resistance and weather‑stripping around the edges and between the door sections. We’re talking about a door that’s about 45‑mm‑thick and injected with polyurethane foam.
On a cold morning, go into your garage and turn the key in your car. You don’t want to start the engine yet, but just turn it until the dashboard comes on and you can see the temperature displayed. Write down the temperature. Then, start the car and drive around town for ten to 15 minutes. Check the temperature on the dashboard and then note the difference between the temperature in your garage and the temperature outside.
For instance, if, in your garage, the temperature read +5°C and outside it reads ‑15°C, you’re garage door is keeping the garage at least 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. You can run the same test in the summer, in which case the garage door should be keeping the garage cooler.
Shopping for a new garage door?
Why not give us a call at:
- London: 519-685-9797
- Mount Pleasant: 905-304-9700
- Guelph: 519-821-4400
- Goderich: 519-482-3251
We’re experts in our field and are truly the best people to help you make a well‑informed decision. We can also email you over an estimate, or come out to your home to discuss your needs in person.
If you’re not sure what you want just yet, browse through our image gallery or play around with our Design Centre.
Add new comment