Glass Sections or Windows in Your Garage Door: Is It Worth It?
If you’re looking for a way to enhance your home’s curb appeal, updating your garage door is a great place to start. A garage door with glass windows or an all-glass garage door can add a stylish touch, providing a modern look that can make your home stand out. However, like with any decision, there are trade-offs when adding glass to your garage door. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is The R-Value And U-Value?
R-value and U-value are two terms you’ll often hear when talking about the energy efficiency of a garage door. R-value measures how well your garage door and windows are insulated. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation factor. On the other hand, the U-value tells you how well an insulating glass unit (IGU) will hold in heated or cooled air. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating performance.
Do R-Value And U-Value Work Together?
While lower U-values indicate better insulating performance, higher R-values indicate better thermal resistance. Essentially, the R-value and the U-value work together to provide maximum energy efficiency. When choosing a garage door, it’s essential to strike the right balance between the two. Look for a door with a high R-value and a low U-value to ensure your garage stays well-insulated, regardless of the weather. With the right garage door, you can save money on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
Why Are Glass Doors Less Insulating?
The most significant point of weakness in the glass used for garage doors is thermal bridging. This happens when a conductive material, such as steel, frames the windows. This means that heat energy can quickly transfer from one side of the glass to the other, leading to significant energy loss.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve the energy efficiency of your garage door. Upgrading to a polyurethane-insulated frame is one option. This frame type is designed to minimize thermal bridging, thus reducing energy loss. Additionally, selecting thick, insulated glass panels can make a big difference.
What Should You Look for In a Garage Door with Glass?
If you go for an all-glass garage door, be aware that the insulation value will be much lower than that of a steel, vinyl or fibreglass door. This is because you can’t add additional insulation to the glass like you can to other materials. For instance, Wayne Dalton’s Model 8800 has an R-value between three and 4.5. Therefore, you can expect some heat loss.
However, if you’re worried about the insulation value because you live in a cold climate, opting for a garage door with window inserts will give you a much higher insulation value while still providing visual impact. For example, Wayne Dalton’s Model 8700 vinyl garage door offers an R-value of 11.75 and can accommodate many glazing options.
Our All-Glass Garage Doors
At Creative Door ServicesTM, we carry various full-glass garage doors by Wayne Dalton in single-pane and insulated configurations. You can choose between frosted, tempered, or tinted glass or accentuate your door frame with a pop of colour from our wide selection of powder coat paint finishes.
If you’re looking for something unique, Wayne Dalton’s Model 8450 Luminous™ is the answer. With glass mounted on an aluminum platform, the panels appear to float on a frameless structure.
Our Garage Doors Have Glass Window Configuration Options
We also carry several garage door models that offer the choice of various window configurations. For example, Wayne Dalton’s classic carriage house doors have 16 different window configurations.
If you’re thinking of something more modern, you can go with a classic steel garage door with vertical window columns or a double row of horizontal windows. Wayne Dalton’s Model 9100-9605 garage doors have polyurethane foamed-in-place insulation and are constructed with a steel-polyurethane ToughGard® backer to keep the cold out. Plus, the glass can be insulated or tempered for improved thermal performance.
Insulated Glass Garage Doors for Every Taste
At Creative Door ServicesTM, we understand that every homeowner has different preferences and requirements, so we offer a wide selection of doors to fit every taste and budget. Whether you’re looking for a classic, traditional style or something modern and sleek, we have you covered.
We also carry a variety of openers to fit every need and budget. From basic models to advanced smart openers that connect to your smartphone, we have the right opener for you.
To learn more about our products and services, contact us today. One of our door experts will be happy to help you in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.