A generation ago, folks in Toronto may have given you some strange looks if you had told them you were considering installing glass garage doors. Fast forward to the present day and they are quickly becoming all the rage. As garages are used less for housing cars or power tool workshops and are increasingly being converted into additional living spaces, glass is an obvious choice to enable the diffusion of natural light.

What Do I Need to Know about Glass Garage Doors?

Unsurprisingly, glass garage doors differ in several ways from other types of overhead garage doors. These doors also differ from each other in several ways and some will be more suitable than others for your intended use. Most people who consider installing glass in their garage, do so to improve the view looking out of the garage. You also need, however, to remember how the garage will look from the outside. You want to increase curb appeal where possible, but you probably also want to retain a degree of privacy in your home. Either way, you needn’t be afraid of choosing glass for your door. Here are some of the ways they can differ from more conventional garage doors:

• An Archetypal Design – Glass Garage Doors are usually built with a paneled design, including a grid pattern, which separates each pane of glass. These grids are typically made of metal or wood, in the same way that window frames are.
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• The Types of Glass Used – While conventional garage doors often feature glass windows in their design, glass doors will almost always feature strengthened glass for safety and security. It is also usually designed to resist attempts at foul play.
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• Different Levels of Opacity – Just because a door – or a window, wall, or floor, for that matter – is made of glass, doesn’t mean it has to be transparent. Glass can be manufactured to all levels of opacity, from completely clear, all the way through to obscure. You can also opt for frosted glass and different colors of tinting.
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• Specially Treated Glass – As glass is typically associated with areas of heat loss, it has been necessary to overcome concerns about glass garage doors leading to bigger energy bills – especially considering the type of winters we go through in Toronto and other surrounding towns. Treated glass is available to increase the amount of heat transferred from sunlight, and also to help retain internal heat.
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• Specialized Materials – Glass can be produced to serve many functions these days, and you may decide that you want specialized glass for a variety of purposes. Insulating glass keeps the heat in, thanks to two panes of glass separated only by a 6-12mm gap of dry air. Bullet-proof glass provides improved security thanks to its laminated plate. If you want to reduce glare, you may opt for perforated glass, which features small holes in plate or sheet glass.
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As you can see, glass doors differ significantly from other types of overhead garage door replacements, primarily due to the characteristics of the glass itself. Glass doors typically make a garage look cleaner and more spacious. The exact type you choose will likely be determined by the use you have planned for your garage. Don’t forget to consider the material’s performance throughout the entire year – if you are remodeling your garage in the summer, you may still want to go for a heat-retaining design. Likewise, in winter, you might still want to go for anti-glare tinting or perforated glass.