Today’s garage doors have evolved from functional into a form of creative expression. Glass garage doors ooze style and boost the curb appeal of any home. Homeowners want to keep up with new trends to make their garages look more attractive and unique.
On a street filled with standard garages, glass doors stand out. They add a sleek and sophisticated look that catches the eye. But there’s more to these doors than aesthetics. They offer functional versatility. Gone are the days of limiting garage doors to the garage. With glass, you can bring the indoors outdoors or turn your herb garden into a greenhouse.
Like with any big investment, research ensures the best outcome. Many factors influence your glass garage door choice. This guide covers benefits, types of doors, creative uses and frequently asked questions. Once you’ve finished reading, you’ll be ready to elevate your space with a glass garage door.
Benefits of Glass Garage Doors
Why should you choose a glass garage door over wood, steel or aluminum? Consider these benefits:
- Stylish design: Glass is sleek and sophisticated. Incorporating a glass garage door into your home or restaurant adds instant flair. Glass makes a statement and remains in style even as trends change.
- Natural light: Glass allows natural light into a space, making it brighter and seem larger. It turns a dark, gloomy garage into a more inviting place. When placed in a home’s interior, glass garage doors bring the sun’s warmth in.
- Energy efficiency: Insulated glass panels increase energy efficiency. They keep rooms warm in winter and cool in summer, meaning you enjoy lower energy bills.
- Low maintenance: Standard garage doors need regular repainting. Maintaining your glass doors is as easy as cleaning your windows. All you need is soap, water and a can-do attitude.
- Outdoor enjoyment: You can enjoy the beauty of nature from the comfort of the inside.
- Curb appeal: Houses with glass garage doors have elevated curb appeal. Garages are a visible part of a home’s exterior, and beautifying them appeals to buyers. If your house is on the market, a glass garage door can increase its value.
- Customization: You have endless choices for finish, style and color options. Complementing the existing look of your home or restaurant or making a bold statement is easy.
- Strength and durability: If you consider glass doors fragile or brittle, think again. Shatterproof glass and reinforced aluminum frames increase durability. They’re built to withstand the elements and damage.
- Return on investment (ROI): A glass garage door is an investment that boosts your home’s resale value. Adding a high-quality fixture gives your living space that extra wow factor and maximizes ROI.
Glass Garage Door Options
Clear or frosted? Single-panel or bifold? Laminated or insulated? You can choose the design, material and finish that best suits your needs. Some popular types of doors include:
- Single-panel: Made from one panel of tempered glass, these doors offer increased durability.
- Insulated: Insulating material separates the panes of glass. It’s a costlier option that suits areas with cooler or hotter temperatures.
- Bifold/trifold: The accordion-like design of these doors allows them to fold open.
- Lite-block: These doors have multiple opaque panels to limit visibility and enhance privacy.
- Frosted: Like lite-block, the frosted panels increase privacy without sacrificing elegance.
- Bespoke: Enjoy a custom-made door with your choice of frame, glass and embellishments.
Let’s not forget the most important feature of this type of garage door — the glass! Consider the door’s aesthetic and function. You’ll choose from glass features such as:
- Glass type: Choose between standard and tempered glass. The latter is stronger and shatters into regular-sized pieces rather than sharp, jagged shards.
- Paneling: Full-view panels give an uninhibited view of the outside (and inside). The more glass panels, the more light exposure. You may prefer partial panels over complete glass paneling for privacy or style.
- Opacity: The more opaque the glass, the less transparent it is. Some prefer opaque glass for privacy or safety. Glass garage doors offer three opacity levels — clear, obscure and frosted. Tinted or mirrored panels add a contemporary look while retaining privacy.
Glass garage doors offer an array of customization opportunities. If you’re unsure where to start, a professional garage door company can offer advice.
Creative Glass Garage Door Ideas
With a little imagination, a glass garage door serves as so much more! Take it from the garage to the patio, pool, garden or gym. Here are eight glass garage door ideas:
1. Indoor/Outdoor Living for Modern Homes
Glass garage doors maximize living space and reduce the electricity needed to light a room. Converting a garage into a room, home office or studio has become common. Full-view glass panels bring the interior and exterior together. Imagine uninterrupted garden views from the kitchen or an airy opening from the living room onto the patio.
2. Restaurant Glass Garage Doors
Glass doors make a stylish addition to a restaurant’s patio seating area. There are several ways you can use glass garage doors for your restaurant, such as:
- Modern full-view glass garage doors can separate your restaurant’s interior and exterior.
- Floor-to-ceiling glass garage doors opening onto outdoor patio seating accommodate warmer days.
- Folding glass doors in place of walls allow natural light to flood in and can open in summer for a breezy feel.
Benefits of using glass garage doors for restaurants include:
- Maximize the space between your outdoor and indoor restaurant spaces.
- Use glass garage doors as a movable wall or partition in commercial settings.
- Enjoy extra seating all year round by allowing for cold and hot weather.
- Suit your restaurant style with unlimited customization options.
- Showcase your restaurant and set yourself apart from your competition.
3. Pool House Glass Garage Door
If you want to ramp up the style of your pool house, add a glass door! This trend proves that glass garage door uses are not limited to garages. It opens up the space, making it seem larger. Sit in the pool house while watching the kids play outside. You can give your outdoor pool area a modern makeover. A glass garage door can function as a partition to make an extra outdoor space for socializing in any weather.
4. Glass Door Greenhouse
Glass garage doors are your garden’s best friend! Converting your garage may be more cost-effective than building a greenhouse. You can also transform part of your garden into an oasis using glass doors to seal it off.
Climate control is an important consideration. Installing insulation can help regulate temperature. The unique aspect of using glass garage doors for your greenhouse is that you control the setup.
5. Chicken Coops
Gone are the days of owning a shabby-looking chicken coop. Spruce up your coop with a contemporary-style glass garage door.
Your chicken coop benefits from:
- Natural light with a greenhouse effect for a warmer winter.
- Less maintenance on your chicken coop.
- Easier cleaning and disinfecting compared to wood.
- An easier-to-open ventilation system for your chicks in warmer months.
- A modern and neat shed in your garden.
As chicken coop popularity rises, consider incorporating glass garage doors and windows. Your flock will enjoy the natural light and greenhouse effects in the winter!
6. Collection Showcase
Glass garage doors make a great display method. Show off your range of restored cars, sporting trophies or crafts. Whatever you’re displaying, glass doors both protect and showcase your precious collection. Add LED lighting to put your treasures in the spotlight.
7. Workshop Transformation
Take your workshop from dim and dingy to light and airy. Incorporating a glass garage door adds much-needed ventilation. The natural light makes it easier to see and find the necessary tools. If you work with paints or chemicals, open the doors to let the air in. Relish the view of the outdoors while creating, fixing, restoring or DIYing.
8. Room Dividers
Use glass garage doors to add charm and warmth inside your home. Open the space between the kitchen and dining room to chat with your guests while cooking. Section off part of your living room to create a home office or gym space. Glass doors are a stylish alternative to normal doors or walls. For inspiration, search Pinterest or chat with your local garage door provider.
Glass Garage Door Frequently Asked Questions
Before installing a glass garage door in your home or restaurant, you might have some reservations about cost, performance and safety. We’re here to clear the air by answering some common questions about glass garage doors.
Are Glass Garage Doors Insulated?
The short answer is no — standard glass garage doors are not insulated. However, choosing insulative glass and polyurethane-insulated frames solves this problem. Insulation may be less of a concern if you live in a moderate climate. It does save you on HVAC costs and increases your home’s energy efficiency.
How Much Are Glass Garage Doors?
Glass garage door costs depend on factors such as:
- Size and style: On average, larger doors cost more than smaller doors. Whether you choose a single-panel door or a more custom design also impacts the price.
- Materials: The frame materials and the glass type influence cost. Materials affect durability, functionality, insulation and visual appeal. Aluminum frames resist corrosion but are less energy efficient. Choosing tempered, laminated, frosted or insulated glass impacts how much you’ll spend.
- Installation: Glass garage doors require professional installation. The cost depends on the size and complexity of the job. Additional features, such as smart garage door openers or automated blinds, increase these expenses.
Are Glass Garage Doors Safe?
Glass garage doors are safe. Tempered glass is tough enough to withstand the elements and avert break-ins. It is shatterproof, but should it shatter, it will break into even pieces to minimize injury risk. A security film applied behind the panels prevents the glass from breaking apart. If you’re concerned about visibility, frosted glass restricts viewing access to your space.
These doors’ increased visibility helps reduce accidents when you’re reversing out of the garage. The materials resist rotting and corrosion, so there is less chance of damage. When installed in a home or restaurant, they give a clear view of the outside to detect any threats.
Contact BlackHawk Garage Door Today
Glass garage doors offer a modern alternative to standard garage doors. At BlackHawk Garage Door, we provide expert advice to assist you in decision-making. We’ve served Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities for over 10 years. Customer satisfaction and exceptional results drive everything we do.
Browse our selection of residential or commercial garage door options. For your next commercial or residential glass garage door project, contact BlackHawk Garage Door.
