Finding a new garage door is not a decision someone should take lightly. If you want the best experience at home, then every choice matters. For that matter, you should want to have optimal results. However, how can you know if it’s not within your field?

How Thick Should Your New Garage Door Be?

Well, we can start by inspecting each option on the table. That way, we can begin to formulate a more nuanced perspective. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be jumping to conclusions? Below, we’ve arranged a small table. While these aren’t standardized measurements, they are accurate enough to use as a rule of thumb.

• Normal Thickness: Typically, garage doors are between half an inch to 1 inch thick. This is thick enough to provide some separation between you and the external environment. However, in the end, it’s only a small sheet of material. Thus, it tends to be susceptible to dents. Plus, thinner doors are far less energy-efficient.
• Heavy Duty: Perhaps, you’ve seen a few of the double paneled doors out there. Those offer an enhanced degree of protection for your garage. Since they contain twice the material, they offer at least twice the resistance. That way, if something comes into the garage, it doesn’t give in to the pressure. Plus, you may even see a small reduction in your monthly energy expenses.
• Well Insulated: These are among the thickest stores you’ll see on the market. Most of the time, they are marketed to people who would like to have the most energy-efficient doors. Since garage doors are so large, they offer a huge surface area. When they are not well insulated, heat transfers from your home to the outdoors easily. Therefore, by using the thickest doors possible, you’ll reduce that effect.

Why Would You Need a Thicker Door?

Okay, so now that you’ve seen your options. We can talk about your needs. What would you like to see out of your garage? Depending on your lifestyle, certain choices may make more sense than others. For example, suppose you live far up north. If that’s the case, then the winters out there could get rather cold.

Would you happen to have an attached garage? When your garage is attached to the house, then it’s impossible for it not to have an impact on your energy bill. Thus, you’ll be far more likely to see an impact on your monthly energy expenses by upgrading to a thicker door. Especially in the wintertime, you’ll notice the cost reductions.

Single Layer Doors Offer Very Little Insulation:

That said, if your door has only a single layer at the moment, you’ve probably noticed the energy bill already. When they are thin, heat transfers through them without any impedance. Thus, as soon as the house heats up, it cools right back down. Plus, suppose someone were to hit the garage door. The thinner the door, the more likely such a hit would be to leave dents.

Double Layer Doors Are Better for Durability:

Sometimes, a small tap on the garage door is unavoidable. Let’s say that you got a big truck. On top of that, you’ve got a few hobbies that involve playing around with tools in the garage. Inevitably, you wind up tapping the garage door. Had it been made with a single layer, then that hit would have probably left a mark. However, since you had a door with more than one layer, you can hardly notice scratch. Thus, it’ll be a lot longer before you need a replacement. If you had asked us, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

As Layers Increase, So Does the Energy Efficiency:

Additionally, you’ll see an increase in efficiency with an added layer. As the doors get thicker, it gets more difficult for your air conditioner to leak outdoors. Since there is a lot more material for things to travel through, far fewer things make it.

Other Factors to Consider for Your New Garage Door

On top of the door’s thickness, there are also a few other size measurements you should keep in mind. Although you may assume standardized sizes will work, they don’t always fit things perfectly. Depending on your interior dimensions, your options may be limited due to circumstances.

• Headspace: The distance between the top of the garage opening and the roof is called the headspace. If the door is thicker than this, it won’t lift up when you try to open it. Since there isn’t enough room for the door to maneuver, at best, you get to see the door jammed. We suggest using a tape measure before you make any final decisions. That way, you’ll know for sure how well it will fit.
• Double Garages: In some homes, you will have a garage that’s extra-wide. These are large enough for two cars to move through the door without needing additional garage doors in Rhode Island. However, you’ll have to ensure anything you purchase is of sufficient size for those purposes. Otherwise, it’ll only go to waste. At the end of the day, who wants that?
• Custom Sizes: Ultimately, you won’t see these things all that often. However, on some occasions, you’ll run across the garage with customized dimensions. If that is your case, you will have to order an appropriate replacement for the door. Otherwise, it might take some time to find something that will fit.