Your garage door is most likely the largest physical entry point to your home. Ensuring your garage door is insulated will minimize heat transfer and ultimately maximize financial savings. To gain a better understanding of the importance of insulation, here is a quick rundown on the science behind heat transfer and home insulation options.
First, let’s look at heat transfer.
Heat is transferred one of three ways; conductive, convective and radiant. Conductive heat is transferred through two or more substances touching. Think of when you touch a hot surface, this is conductive. Convective heat is the transfer of heat through a liquid, such as steam. Radiant heat is transferred via infrared radiation rays (you can’t see them) and unaffected by air current. Think of going outside and feeling the sun on your face, or heat radiating from patio tiles on a sunny day.
Now, let’s look at insulation options.
Traditionally, homes have been insulated with conventional insulating materials like fiberglass, styrofoam, rock wool and blow-in cellulose. These insulators slow down the transfer of conductive or convective heat by absorbing it. They do not however block heat. The rate at which heat is transferred through the insulation material is the R-value. Most important, these conventional insulations do not insulate against radiant heat transfers. And it is also important to note here, all materials radiate radiant heat.
Studies show 65-80 percent of heat loss through walls during the winter months is radiant. And in the summer up to 93 percent of a home’s heat gain is from radiant heat. Based on these statistics, the need to insulate one’s home against radiant heat is very apparent.
Blocking radiant heat transfer is achieved by using a radiant barrier which reflects/blocks heat rather than absorbing it. Aluminum is an excellent radiant barrier as it is naturally reflective with a low emissive rate (the amount of energy radiated.) The aluminum Smart Garage Roll-Up-Door is a natural choice to ensure your home is insulated to minimize the radiant heat transfer of your home. Roll-up Door can be insulated with an 98% thermal break insulation that can be applied even after the door has been installed.
