Most garage doors don’t have insulation, but you should consider investing in it. This insulation can regulate your garage’s temperature and save energy use. You’ll have to choose from a few insulation types, such as polyurethane and polystyrene. By understanding these differences, you can find the best insulation for your home.

What Is Polyurethane?

Polyurethane insulation is common in homes; manufacturers use it in construction, furniture, and car seats. This polymer consists of different organic units that come together with urethane links. The insulation requires a professional to spray foam inside of the garage door’s panels. Then, it expands into all the crevices while bonding to the door’s surface. Polyurethane insulation is high quality and does a great job of dampening sound while regulating the flow of heat in and out of your garage.

What Is Polystyrene?

Polystyrene insulation comes as pre-formed sheets that the manufacturer will attach to the inside of garage door panels. Polystyrene is made from styrene, also known as Styrofoam. This material is sturdy and will last a long time, but the sheets do not fit into each crevice as tightly as polyurethane. This design choice is purposeful. The panels aren’t stiff, but the insulation doesn’t regulate heat flow as well as polyurethane.

Key Differences

While both types of insulation are effective, you should be aware of their key differences to get the right insulation for your home. Polyurethane is a more expensive form of insulation, but it makes up for that price by saving you money with its energy efficiency. As stated previously, polystyrene insulation is effective but doesn’t regulate heat flow as efficiently as polyurethane.

While polyurethane has advantages, you should be careful with thin garage door panels. Thin garage door panels dent easily, and filling them with this strong insulation can only exacerbate the problem, potentially creating small waves on your panels.

Polyurethane and polystyrene garage door insulation have advantages and disadvantages, so figuring out which is right for you can be tricky. However, getting that insulation is easy when you work with us at Steel City Garage Doors. We’re a garage door company in Pittsburgh you can count on to deliver top-quality products and customer service. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to find the perfect garage door insulation for your home!