Polystyrene Vs Polyurethane Which Is Safer Garage Doors

However it s also a better insulator than polystyrene.

Polystyrene vs polyurethane which is safer garage doors.

Garage doors insulated with polystyrene sandwiched between two steel layers will have a quieter operation and energy efficiency than a non insulated door however they are not as energy efficient as foam injected polyurethane. For overhead sectional garage doors the better choice for insulation is polyurethane whenever possible. In the case of polyurethane for overhead garage door insulation you can expect r values from approximately r10 up to r17 5. Polystyrene is the higher quality insulation polystyrene is similar to the material in a styrofoam cooler.

Polystyrene does not fit as tightly as the urethane foam in the end corners of each panel leaving air pockets. Because polyurethane comes in a denser form it is more expensive. Hollow metal doorswith this core type are most often used at exterior openings and can be fire rated up to 3 hours. It can also come apart over time due to being repeatedly bent and folded with door operation.

Let s examine the advantages of each. The first level of insulated door core is the polystyrene which is a slab of foam that is placed in the core of the door. Generally this foam results in a lower r value for the door. Certainly the best insulators for garage doors are polyethylene polystyrene polyurethane and fiberglass.

You ll also get additional strength from this type of insulation. With polystyrene you can get an r value from r10 to r17 5. An additional advantage is the extra strength polyurethane insulation adds. Some manufacturers do not glue their polystyrene to the panels so it does not add to the stiffness of the panels.

While the addition of polystyrene garage door insulation will quiet the door s operation and add some energy efficiency it is not as energy efficient as polyurethane. Some insulation types include layers of aluminum on both sides to reflect radiant heat and prevent overheating. Therefore garage door insulators must have a high r value and also be lightweight. The thermal benefits of polyurethane are known to be better than polystyrene as it offers an improved r value per inch than that of polystyrene insulation.

Bonded directly to your garage door it increases stiffness making it more resistant. Today s manufacturer s often use polyurethane in 2 layer construction and polystyrene in 3 layer construction. Polyurethane the higher density of polyurethane makes it more expensive but also a better insulator than polystyrene. Polystyrene popular because of it s value and simplicity of installation polystyrene is the less expensive option of the two.

The two most common materials used for garage door insulation are polystyrene and polyurethane. Polyurethane fills the entire panel and makes the garage door panel feel really solid.