In recent years, glass garage doors have exploded in popularity due to their practicality and sleek, modern design. Adding these eye-catching architectural features to your home can do wonders for both curb appeal and functionality. Just like with any other home renovation option, though, glass garage doors come with pros and cons. To make a well-informed decision on whether to install them in your home, it’s important to understand their benefits and drawbacks.
Pro #1: Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal
The contemporary style of these doors will breathe new life into the façade of your home. Because the glass is see-through, your garage can blend in with the rest of your home’s design for a more modern look. With a variety of glass options, including clear, frosted and tinted, you can further customize the style to complement your home’s individuality.
Pro #2: Natural Light
The garage is typically one of the darkest rooms in the house, but glass doors do a fantastic job of letting natural light in. Your garage can go from a dark and dreary storage location to a cheery and inviting space with this infusion of natural light. If your garage doubles as a home gym, living room or workshop, you might find that the extra light is a godsend. Not only does it make things more pleasant and energetic, but it also makes it easier to do chores in the garage.
Pro #3: Energy Efficiency
Contemporary glass garage doors, contrary to popular belief, can actually save a lot of energy. Many are built with insulating gases between the panes of glass, which greatly improves their thermal performance. By lowering heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, this insulation helps keep your garage at a consistent temperature. As an added bonus, glass doors let in more natural light, which means less need for artificial lighting and more money saved on utility bills. In addition, some glass doors have low-emissivity (low-E) coatings that reflect infrared radiation, which further helps to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer.
Pro #4: Visibility
You can see clearly through a glass garage door from any angle. If you want to keep an eye on your property or kids playing in the driveway, you can easily watch what’s going on outside your garage while still inside of it with the door closed. Another way this vision improves safety is by letting you see potential dangers before opening the door.
Glass doors, which transform your garage into a showpiece from the outside, are the perfect way to display cherished items like vintage automobiles or motorcycles. If you run a home business out of your garage, a high level of visibility can be a great way to attract clients by showcasing your work in progress and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Con #1: Privacy Concerns
Glass garage doors have many benefits, but their see-through nature can be an issue for individuals who prioritize seclusion. For those who like to keep their possessions hidden or use their garage for storage, the fact that passersby can look right into your area can be a dealbreaker. Anyone who uses their garage as a living or working space may also find this lack of seclusion problematic. Nevertheless, options exist to lessen the impact of this problem. You can achieve different levels of privacy using different types of tinted, textured or frosted glass, all of which allow light to pass through. Although it somewhat negates the point of having glass doors, some homeowners choose to install retractable shades or curtains for further privacy.
Con #2: Security Risk
When contrasted with more conventional solid doors, glass garage doors could be more dangerous. Your property may become an even more tempting target for burglars if they can see what’s in your garage. Garage doors constructed of modern tempered or laminated glass are more secure than those made of solid wood or metal, but that doesn’t mean they’re not vulnerable. Many manufacturers provide reinforced glass alternatives and extra locking mechanisms to solve these security issues. To further discourage would-be intruders, you can set up security systems, motion-sensor lights or surveillance cameras.
Con #3: Cost
In comparison to more conventional garage door materials like wood or metal, the upfront cost and ongoing maintenance of glass doors tend to be much higher. In fact, luxurious, tailor-made glass garage doors can cost several times as much as the average door. Door dimensions, glass type and quality, framing material and extras like insulation and personalized decorations all play a role in the final cost. Furthermore, compared to conventional doors, the cost of replacing broken glass can be higher.
Con #4: Maintenance
Glass garage doors, in comparison to other options, usually necessitate more regular and meticulous maintenance. Glass surfaces show fingerprints, smudges and water spots more easily, so you have to clean them more often. If the door is particularly large or you live in a region where dust, pollen or other environmental elements can easily contaminate the glass, the cleaning process can take even longer.
Con #5: Lack of Durability in Extreme Weather
Glass garage doors can handle most weather although they can be more prone to breaking in severe storms than other types of doors. Particular danger comes from strong winds, which could cause flying debris to crack or break the glass panels.
Excessive heat or cold might potentially distort the glass, causing it to expand and compress and eventually put a strain on the seals. Condensation, which can be stubborn to remove, can build between glass panes in colder regions. Some glass garage doors need extra strengthening to pass local building regulations in hurricane- or tornado-prone regions.
Glass Garage Doors vs. Carriage House Style Garage Doors
A variety of houses, including colonial-, craftsman- and farmhouse-style homes, can benefit from the beautiful and traditional appearance of carriage house doors; these doors take their inspiration from the swing-out doors of horse-drawn carriage homes. They can liven up the outside of your house with their ornamental hardware, windows and panel designs. Glass garage doors, on the other hand, provide a more contemporary and elegant look that can be a striking architectural feature. And even though they are cheaper and require less upkeep than glass doors, carriage house doors don’t let in as much light.
Glass Garage Doors vs. Modern Steel Garage Doors
Similar to glass doors, modern steel garage doors have their benefits and drawbacks but are still a popular choice. Steel doors are well-respected for their longevity, safety and few upkeep requirements. Insulation makes them more energy efficient, and they’re cheaper than glass doors.
You can paint modern steel doors to match any style, giving you a lot of creative flexibility to choose from. However, even though steel doors can have windows added to them, nothing beats the natural light and airiness of doors made entirely of glass.
If you’re thinking about adding glass garage doors to your home, you need to get an expert’s opinion, and ADS Automatic Door Specialists is here to help. We also help homeowners in San Diego, CA, with garage door repairs, overhead commercial doors and much more. Contact us today to learn more about the pros and cons of glass garage doors.
