Should You Insulate Your Existing Garage Door in Calgary?

If your garage door is old and uninsulated, two options exist: add an insulation kit to the existing door, or replace the door with an insulated one. Both work, but they serve different situations and produce different results. Here is an honest comparison for Calgary conditions.

Garage Door Insulation Kits

Insulation kits contain polystyrene or foil-faced batt insulation panels that press into each door section from the inside. They typically achieve R-4 to R-8 depending on the material thickness used. For a single-layer steel door that currently has R-0 to R-2, this is a meaningful improvement. Kits cost $100–$250 for a double door, and installation is a DIY project that takes 2–4 hours.

The limitation of insulation kits is that R-8 is significantly below the R-12 that we recommend for Calgary attached garages. A kit is a reasonable temporary improvement for an older door you plan to keep for a few more years, but it does not achieve optimal insulation performance. Weight is also a consideration — adding insulation weight to an existing door requires checking that the spring tension can handle the added load. A spring adjustment may be needed after adding kit insulation.

Door Replacement — The Better Long-Term Solution

A new triple-layer polyurethane-injected door achieves R-12 to R-18 and is structurally engineered to achieve that performance consistently. A new door also brings new springs, cables, rollers and weatherstripping — eliminating aging hardware concerns at the same time. For doors that are 15+ years old or in poor condition, replacement is almost always the better investment even though the upfront cost is higher.

Ready to book? Call (825) 438-2406 or visit our contact page. Same-day service across Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks and surrounding communities.