Best Way to Insulate a Garage Door?

[Bird]

I have an uninsulated 4 panel steel overhead garage door (7' x 16'). What would be the best way to insulate it without making it too heavy for the garage door opener? Sheets of styrofoam? Fiberglass? Glued in place? Or metal straps or mesh to hold it in place? The rest of the garage is quite well insulated, but the morning sun on that door makes the garage get pretty hot.

 

[kc5dlo]

What I did on my doors in my shop was to use the 4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch foil faced styrofoam. I simply measured each opening on the inside of the door and cut the foam to snap fit with a utility knife. The foil faces the inside of the shop and I was really impressed with the results. It's much cooler now especially when standing next to the closed door and the sun is shining on it.

 

[MrJimi]

Bird, don't forget to paint the outside of your door white to reflect the heat, that will help allot
Jim

 

[Bird]

4x8 sheets of 1/2 inch foil faced styrofoam

I've wondered how much difference the foil would make and didn't know whether it should be facing inside or out. Where did you buy it?

And, Jim, fortunately the door is already white; baked enamel I guess?

 

[slowrev]

I've wondered how much difference the foil would make and didn't know whether it should be facing inside or out. Where did you buy it?

And, Jim, fortunately the door is already white; baked enamel I guess?

If you put the foil on the inside, you can paint it with latex paint. I stuck mine to the metal door with caulk. Works well and the foil protects the foam a bit.
I got mine at the local building supply, it was called Tuff-R I believe.

I have also done shop ceilings with the foil faced foam. No compalints.

Ben

 

[flwiii]

I second or fourth the styrofoam. Just ordered an insulated garage door and thats what's inside for insulation. The daughter drove through the old non-insulated one.

 

[Bird]

If you put the foil on the inside, you can paint it with latex paint

I sure don't want to paint anything if I can help it. And I see both Tuff-R and Super Tuff-R on Lowe's website. According to their website, both sides have the foil; just different types. I guess I'll try to get by Lowe's in the next few days and have a look.

And thanks to everyone for the responses.

 

[texasjohn]

I just put up a metal building... I used e-foil on the sides. That's got a silver side as a radiant barrier, 2 layers of bubbles, then white plastic material on the other side. Silver side goes out to reflect radiation from sun. white side goes inside and reflects inside light and brightens things up a lot. It is very light material. Am sure you could use it to good effect. I guess you would glue it to the door. It is not true insulation because of the way R values are computed.. there is some malarky about why R value can't be done for it. I do know it stops air from entering, reflects radiation, provides 2 air pockets with bubbles .... and keeps the building OK when it is 97 and sunny, as it is now.

I have some left over... am thinking about applying it to the rollup door sto insulate them... might busst the bubbles however... haven't investigated sufficiently yet on that point.

 

[Bird]

The garage faces east so it gets the sun in the morning, but not in the afternoon. However, at the present time, the outside temperature is 100 and the temperature in the garage is 89.

 

[Iowachild]

I sure don't want to paint anything if I can help it. And I see both Tuff-R and Super Tuff-R on Lowe's website. According to their website, both sides have the foil; just different types. I guess I'll try to get by Lowe's in the next few days and have a look.

And thanks to everyone for the responses.

Just my 2 cents here: Go with the Super Tuff-R. It's a much stronger product.